Associate ProfessorFereshteh Pourkazemi

Project Opportunities

Title: Investigating the impacts of visual arts on primary chronic pain

Summary of opportunity:

This project consists of a series of studies investigating the physiological, social and psychological impacts of visual arts on patients with chronic pain.

Opportunity synopsis:

Over the recent years, there has been a growing evidence on the impacts of arts on health and wellbeing.  The application of arts in health aims to enhance individual and community health and wellbeing and has ‘clear artistic vision, goals and outcomes' (WHAT / CAHP).  The arts may directly improve the health and wellbeing of people with different health issues, or indirectly, can equip patients with resilience to see through the adversity.  For instance, the evidence has demonstrated the associated between listening to music and reduced physiological markers of stress (Chanda et al, 2013; Koelsch 2014) improved perceived control over pain in patients with fibromyalgia (Linnemann 2015), and significant decrease in agitation and behavioural problems of patients with dementia (Tsoi KKF et al 2018).  While there is a significant body of evidence supporting the impacts of music on health and wellbeing, the impacts of visual arts on patient's health and wellbeing seems to be overlooked.  The aim of these series of projects are in investigate the physiological, social and psychological impacts of visual arts on patients with chronic pain.

Project Opportunities

Title: Investigating the impact of pain after the first ankle on development of chronic ankle instability

Summary of opportunity:

This project consists of a series of longitudinal studies investigating the impact of pain on development of chronic ankle instability after an index (first) ankle sprain.

Opportunity synopsis:

The high prevalence of recurrent sprains and residual symptoms following ankle sprain is a significant health issue resulting in high financial burdens on the society.  These residual symptoms include pain, swelling, episodes of "giving way", feeling of instability, and mechanical joint laxity.  Development of one or more of these symptoms after acute ankle sprain is referred to as chronic ankle instability (CAI).  Recent studies have found pain and weakness to be the main complaints of participants with CAI.  Pain was reported by 73% of individuals with CAI; 52% of these reported having pain with a duration of more than 10 years.  However, no study to date, has investigated whether pain after an index ankle sprain is a contributing factor to development of secondary impairments and consequently, CAI.  The aim of these series of projects is to investigate the physiological, psychological, and neuromuscular impacts of pain after and index ankle sprain on development of CAI.