Alison Rushton, Western University

Research

Read how they describe their research on their Western University profile.

Exercise Fatigue Feasibility Long Covid Physical Therapy Post Covid-19 Randomized Trial Rehabilitation

Latest papers

Implementation of an Advanced Practice Physiotherapy Clinical Placement in Pediatric Rheumatology: A Case Report
Physiotherapy Canada. Physiotherapie Canada · 2026
Exploring the preoperative experiences of patients in a disruptive recovery trajectory following lumbar spinal fusion surgery: a secondary analysis of a qualitative study.
Physiotherapy theory and practice · 2026 · senior author
Association between cervical spine clinical active range of motion and pain or disability in people with neuromusculoskeletal neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
PloS one · 2026

All 81 publications

Latest funding

The SHAPE Cohort: A Community-Governed Longitudinal Study of Arthritis-Related Pain Among 2S/LGBTQIA+ Adults in Canada
CIHR · 2026 · Co-investigator
$699,849
Exploring the Impact of Frailty and Perspectives of Patients with Frailty in Acute Care
CIHR · 2024 · Supervisor
$120,000
Co-design of the Rehabilitation, Equity, and Musculoskeletal Health in Aging (REIMAGINE) research action plan: Mobilizing action towards equitable access to rehabilitation among aging Canadians with musculoskeletal conditions
CIHR · 2024 · Co-investigator
$19,990

All 7 grants and awards

81 publications.

01

Implementation of an Advanced Practice Physiotherapy Clinical Placement in Pediatric Rheumatology: A Case Report

Herrington J, Li H, Beattie K, Robarts S, Rushton A, Dhir J

Physiotherapy Canada. Physiotherapie Canada20261 citations

DOI: 10.3138/ptc-2024-0014

02

Exploring the preoperative experiences of patients in a disruptive recovery trajectory following lumbar spinal fusion surgery: a secondary analysis of a qualitative study.

Vatandoost S, Abbasalipour S, Tawiah A, Rushton A

Physiotherapy theory and practice2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1080/09593985.2026.2709173 PMID: 42560706

03

Association between cervical spine clinical active range of motion and pain or disability in people with neuromusculoskeletal neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Soltanabadi S, Vatandoost S, Bayattork M, Lukacs MJ, Rushton A, Walton DM

PloS one2026

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0353504 PMID: 42497145

04

Physical measures of physical functioning as prognostic factors in predicting outcomes for neck pain: Protocol for a prospective longitudinal cohort study.

Begum R, Parikh P, Walton D, Rushton A

PloS one2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0354102 PMID: 42467623

05

Establishing the Reliability of a Functional Performance Test Battery That Incorporates the QASLS Tool in Pre-Elite Female Field Hockey Players.

Cooke R, Herrington L, Martin J, Rushton A, Heneghan N, Soundy A

Sports (Basel, Switzerland)2026

DOI: 10.3390/sports14050198 PMID: 42188574

06

Patients' experiences with musculoskeletal spinal pain: a qualitative systematic review.

El Chamaa A, Kowalski K, Begum R, Parikh P, Rushton A

European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1007/s00586-025-09518-0 PMID: 41191109

07

Experiences of telehealth e-mentoring within postgraduate musculoskeletal physical therapy education in Canada and the United Kingdom.

Rushton A, Yeung E, Sadi J, Johnson W, Tyros I, Nazareth M, Gillis H, Heneghan NR

Musculoskeletal science & practice2026First author

DOI: 10.1016/j.msksp.2026.103635 PMID: 42603471

08

International consensus on sports, exercise, and physical activity participation during post-operative interventions for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: An e-Delphi study.

Tucker S, Heneghan NR, Rushton A, Gardner A, Russell E, Soundy A

PloS one2026

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0322346 PMID: 41729948

09

An interpretive description of patients' experiences of physical functioning in neck and thoracic pain over time: protocol for a prospective longitudinal qualitative study.

Begum R, El Chamaa A, Parikh P, Walton DM, Rushton A

BMJ open2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-120001 PMID: 42660562

10

Patient satisfaction with advanced practice physiotherapy internationally: A systematic mixed studies review.

Davis C, Noblet T, Breach J, Mistry J, Maddigan K, Kowalski K, Rushton A

PloS one2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0342674 PMID: 41671298

The SHAPE Cohort: A Community-Governed Longitudinal Study of Arthritis-Related Pain Among 2S/LGBTQIA+ Adults in Canada

Co-investigatorCIHR2026Op. Gr. Adv. 2S_LGBTQI+ Heal. Thr. Res. - Musc Health/Arth 2S/LGBTQI+ Ind/Comm

Principal investigators: Primeau, Codie; Kwag, Michael

Keywords: 2s/Lgbtqia+ Health; Allostatic Load; Arthritis; Chronic Pain; Community-Based Research; Health Equity; Musculoskeletal Pain; Pain Trajectories; Patient-Oriented Research; Population Health

$699,849

Exploring the Impact of Frailty and Perspectives of Patients with Frailty in Acute Care

SupervisorCIHR2024Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Principal investigators: Lo, Erica

Keywords: Acute Care; Frailty; Liver Transplant; Physical Activity; Physical Therapy

$120,000

Co-design of the Rehabilitation, Equity, and Musculoskeletal Health in Aging (REIMAGINE) research action plan: Mobilizing action towards equitable access to rehabilitation among aging Canadians with musculoskeletal conditions

Co-investigatorCIHR2024Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Principal investigators: Wong, Jessica

Keywords: Access; Aging; Co-Design; Dissemination; Equity; Musculoskeletal Health; Patient Engagement; Planning; Rehabilitation; Research Action Plan

$19,990

Developing a pan-Canadian Framework for Advanced Practice Physiotherapy

Co-investigatorCIHR2024Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Principal investigators: Tawiah, Andrews K

Keywords: Advanced Practice; Competency; Consensus Meeting; Nominal Group Technique; Physiotherapy

$20,000

Pursuing REduction in Fatigue After COVID-19 via Exercise and Rehabilitation (PREFACER). A randomized feasibility trial

Principal investigatorCIHR2023Project Grant

Principal investigators: Bobos, Pavlos; Bryant, Dianne M; Peters, Sue; Rushton, Alison

Keywords: Exercise; Fatigue; Feasibility; Long Covid; Physical Therapy; Post Covid-19; Randomized Trial; Rehabilitation

$130,050

ACTIVE for Health Symposium: Moving forward together for a stronger, healthier community

Co-investigatorCIHR2022Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Principal investigators: Thornton, Jane

Keywords: Accessibility; Community Engagement; Healthcare; Implementation; Knowledge Translation/Mobilization; Patient Co-Design; Physical Activity; Underserved/Marginalized Populations

$19,955

Back to Living Well: Implementation of a community-based program for the tertiary prevention of low back pain

Co-investigatorCIHR2022Project Grant

Principal investigators: Macedo, Luciana G

Keywords: Back Pain; Implemmentation; Knowledge Translation; Mixed-Methods; Pandemic; Physical Activity; Prevention; Qualitative; Self-Management; Tele-Rehabilitation

$359,550

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Joy MacDermid and Pavlos Bobos: 44 shared papers
Luciana Macedo and Lisa Carlesso: 37 shared papers
Joy MacDermid and Lisa Carlesso: 32 shared papers
Joy MacDermid and Julie Richardson: 32 shared papers
Joy MacDermid and Christina Ziebart: 26 shared papers
Joy MacDermid and Luciana Macedo: 21 shared papers
Alison Rushton and Katie Kowalski: 10 shared papers
Luciana Macedo and Julie Richardson: 9 shared papers
Joy MacDermid and David Walton: 8 shared papers
Julie Richardson and Jordan Miller: 7 shared papers
David Walton and Alison Rushton: 7 shared papers
Joy MacDermid and Jordan Miller: 6 shared papers
Genevieve Hladysh and Julie Richardson: 6 shared papers
Pavlos Bobos and Christina Ziebart: 6 shared papers
Alison Rushton and Heather Gillis: 5 shared papers
Steven Bray and Genevieve Hladysh: 4 shared papers
Lisa Carlesso and Julie Richardson: 4 shared papers
Meridith Griffin and Julie Richardson: 3 shared papers
Joy MacDermid and Alison Rushton: 3 shared papers
Lisa Carlesso and Jordan Miller: 3 shared papers
Pat Miller and Jasdeep Dhir: 3 shared papers
Julie Herrington and Alison Rushton: 3 shared papers
David Walton and Jordan Miller: 3 shared papers
Pavlos Bobos and Brent Lanting: 3 shared papers
Steven Bray and Luciana Macedo: 2 shared papers
Joy MacDermid and Jasdeep Dhir: 2 shared papers
Joy MacDermid and Genevieve Hladysh: 2 shared papers
Joy MacDermid and Siobhan Schabrun: 2 shared papers
Luciana Macedo and Jasdeep Dhir: 2 shared papers
David Walton and Katie Kowalski: 2 shared papers
Alison Rushton and Andrews Tawiah: 2 shared papers
Alison Rushton and Brent Lanting: 2 shared papers
Andrews Tawiah and Heather Gillis: 2 shared papers
Katie Kowalski and Brent Lanting: 2 shared papers
Meridith Griffin and Steven Bray: 1 shared paper
Meridith Griffin and Joy MacDermid: 1 shared paper
Meridith Griffin and Pat Miller: 1 shared paper
Meridith Griffin and Alison Rushton: 1 shared paper
Steven Bray and Pat Miller: 1 shared paper
Steven Bray and Alison Rushton: 1 shared paper
Joy MacDermid and Swati Mehta: 1 shared paper
Joy MacDermid and Samantha Doralp: 1 shared paper
Luciana Macedo and Alison Rushton: 1 shared paper
Lisa Carlesso and Alison Rushton: 1 shared paper
Pat Miller and Alison Rushton: 1 shared paper
Jasdeep Dhir and Julie Herrington: 1 shared paper
Jasdeep Dhir and Alison Rushton: 1 shared paper
Genevieve Hladysh and Alison Rushton: 1 shared paper
Julie Richardson and Alison Rushton: 1 shared paper
David Walton and Siobhan Schabrun: 1 shared paper
David Walton and Andrews Tawiah: 1 shared paper
Jordan Miller and Alison Rushton: 1 shared paper
Swati Mehta and Alison Rushton: 1 shared paper
Pavlos Bobos and Alison Rushton: 1 shared paper
Pavlos Bobos and Heather Gillis: 1 shared paper
Alison Rushton and Siobhan Schabrun: 1 shared paper
Alison Rushton and Christina Ziebart: 1 shared paper
Alison Rushton and Christine Meston: 1 shared paper
Alison Rushton and Allyson Page: 1 shared paper
Alison Rushton and Samantha Doralp: 1 shared paper
Alison Rushton and Paul Martin: 1 shared paper
Christine Meston and Allyson Page: 1 shared paper

School of Physical Therapy
Rehabilitation Science
School of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Surgery
Rehabilitation Therapy
Department of Health, Aging & Society
Department of Surgery
Other

1 shared papers, latest 2024

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their CIHR grant from 2023

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Exercise Dear Professor Rushton, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Implementation of an Advanced Practice Physiotherapy Clinical Placement in Pediatric Rheumatology: A Case Report" (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your CIHR-funded project "Pursuing REduction in Fatigue After COVID-19 via Exercise and Rehabilitation (PREFACER). A randomized feasibility trial" (2023), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]

Alison Rushton

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

Implementation of an Advanced Practice Physiotherapy Clinical Placement in Pediatric Rheumatology: A Case Report

Exploring the preoperative experiences of patients in a disruptive recovery trajectory following lumbar spinal fusion surgery: a secondary analysis of a qualitative study.

Association between cervical spine clinical active range of motion and pain or disability in people with neuromusculoskeletal neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Physical measures of physical functioning as prognostic factors in predicting outcomes for neck pain: Protocol for a prospective longitudinal cohort study.

Establishing the Reliability of a Functional Performance Test Battery That Incorporates the QASLS Tool in Pre-Elite Female Field Hockey Players.

Patients' experiences with musculoskeletal spinal pain: a qualitative systematic review.

Experiences of telehealth e-mentoring within postgraduate musculoskeletal physical therapy education in Canada and the United Kingdom.

International consensus on sports, exercise, and physical activity participation during post-operative interventions for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: An e-Delphi study.

An interpretive description of patients' experiences of physical functioning in neck and thoracic pain over time: protocol for a prospective longitudinal qualitative study.

Patient satisfaction with advanced practice physiotherapy internationally: A systematic mixed studies review.

The SHAPE Cohort: A Community-Governed Longitudinal Study of Arthritis-Related Pain Among 2S/LGBTQIA+ Adults in Canada

Exploring the Impact of Frailty and Perspectives of Patients with Frailty in Acute Care

Co-design of the Rehabilitation, Equity, and Musculoskeletal Health in Aging (REIMAGINE) research action plan: Mobilizing action towards equitable access to rehabilitation among aging Canadians with musculoskeletal conditions

Developing a pan-Canadian Framework for Advanced Practice Physiotherapy

Pursuing REduction in Fatigue After COVID-19 via Exercise and Rehabilitation (PREFACER). A randomized feasibility trial

ACTIVE for Health Symposium: Moving forward together for a stronger, healthier community

Back to Living Well: Implementation of a community-based program for the tertiary prevention of low back pain

Frequent collaborators

Katie Kowalski

David Walton

Heather Gillis

Joy MacDermid

Julie Herrington

Andrews Tawiah

Brent Lanting

Paul Martin

Samantha Doralp

Christina Ziebart

Christine Meston

Allyson Page

Siobhan Schabrun

Tara Packham

Lisa Carlesso

Pat Miller

Jasdeep Dhir

Genevieve Hladysh

Julie Richardson

Jordan Miller

Swati Mehta

Meridith Griffin

Pavlos Bobos

Steven Bray

Luciana Macedo