Position 
Head of Discipline  

Qualifications
BSc (UNSW) GDManipTher (Cumb) MHPEd (UNSW) PhD (UNSW)

The ultimate aim of Dr Ginn’s research is to improve the diagnosis and treatment of mechanical shoulder dysfunction.

The shoulder is the fourth most frequent site of musculoskeletal pain reported by patients to health practitioners. Shoulder pain is associated with significant disability and loss of quality of life as most daily activities requiring the use of the upper limb are detrimentally affected. Shoulder pain is also associated with significant financial costs to the individual and to the community with many workers with chronic shoulder pain which has proved resistant to treatment, unable to resume full time work.

Normal shoulder region function is reliant on co-ordinated muscle activity to provide dynamic joint stability as well as large ranges of movement With the use of electromyographic techniques this laboratory is interested in understanding the changes in shoulder muscle recruitment patterns and activity levels associated with various types of shoulder dysfunction as well as during the performance of shoulder exercises. Although evidence from clinical trials indicates that exercise therapy is effective in the treatment of shoulder pain, lack of specific knowledge of normal and abnormal shoulder muscle function has prevented the development of optimal, specific shoulder exercise treatment to date.

This laboratory is also involved in clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of conservative treatment for shoulder dysfunction; studies evaluating the validity and reliability of components of the physical examination of the shoulder; and shoulder region profiling in various sporting populations.

Titles of some of her recent publications are available.

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