Exercise & Health Sciences
Exercise & Health Sciences
ECU's Exercise and Health Sciences students have access to cutting-edge teaching and research facilities, including state-of-the-art sports science laboratories. In addition, our purpose-built Health and Wellness building includes an occupational therapy teaching suite, nutrition laboratories, and the Edith Cowan University Health and Wellness Institute. We strive for excellence in teaching and learning, and nurture the development of an active research culture.
Master of Nutrition and Dietetics students undertake ground-breaking research
Master of Nutrition and Dietetics students David Bryant and Lauren Rosser have recently conducted a project to investigate malnutrition in children with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and to examine whether current supplement regimes are effective in addressing fat soluble vitamin deficiency.
The project, based at Princess Margaret Hospital, was under the supervision of hospital dietitian Kelly Josh and ECU lecturer Dr Therese O'Sullivan, and involved conducting a medical record audit of 50 children with CF and comparing results with international standards. It is the first time a project of this type has been run in WA.
Results from this research will give a better picture of the nutritional status and needs of local children with CF, and contribute to more tailored dietetic intervention and monitoring to help improve the lives of these children.
Research that's on the pulse of muscle therapy
School of Exercise and Health Sciences' Professor Nosaka and Master of Science (Sports Science) student Henry Banyard are investigating the effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMFT)for exercise-induced muscle damage that typically experienced by athletes.
The technique is being used with volunteers, in whom delayed onset muscle soreness has been induced by eccentric exercise of the elbow flexors. If the treatment proves to have benefits, it could offer a relatively cheap and portable addition to the range of treatments available to our elite athletes.
ECU Professor Named WA Australian Of the Year 2012
Congratulations to Professor Donna Cross who was named the WA Australian of the Year 2012. Professor Cross is the Foundation Professor at ECU's Child Health Promotion Research Centre.
The award recognises her tireless work to improve the health of young people through research and community programs to address issues including bullying, drug use, road safety and obesity.
Promising ECU Researcher Awarded a Research Scholarship by the Cancer Council
PhD in Sports Science student, Greg Levin, was recently awarded a top-up Ancillary PhD Scholarship by the Cancer Council of Western Australia.
The $12,000 scholarship supports the work of promising young PhD students with a research interest in cancer, and will allow Greg to conduct research into the effects of exercise on the mental health and quality of life of cancer survivors.
Greg is currently working with the team at ECU's Health and Wellness Institute, and hopes to understand why and how cancer survivors experience a boost in self‑esteem and quality‑of‑life when they combine exercise with their treatments.
"ECU enhanced my research skills and helped me gain experience."
"My Masters by Research was hard work but it would have been much harder without the guidance and support of ECU staff and supervisors. They kept me on track, enhanced my research skills and helped me gain employment as a research assistant in the area of Child and Adolescent Health Promotion. Anyone wishing to further their career should consider postgraduate studies at ECU. They're flexible, supportive and focused on you achieving your goals."
Patricia Cardoso
Masters by Research (Public Health) graduate
Vario Wellness Clinic - Open to the community
Our Vario Wellness Clinic is staffed by allied health professionals and is open to the community for consultation.
You can book consultations for Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Psychology, Clinical psychology and Exercise physiology.
The clinic also runs a range of programs designed for specific health conditions and populations. Programs include:
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Overweight children/adults
- Veterans
- Over 50s
- Muscular skeletal conditions
Please see the Vario Wellness Clinic website for information on services.
Research that makes a difference
Our Exercise & Health Sciences researchers undertake relevant research making a real difference to the local community and society as a whole.
Areas of strength include Exercise, Sports Science and Rehabilitation Research, Health and Ageing, Child Health Promotion, Anti-Bullying and Preventative Health.
Smart 100 list
Professor of Child and Adolescent Health, Donna Cross, earned a place in The Bulletin's Smart 100 list for her ground-breaking work on child health promotion, particularly her research in prevention of bullying, depression and obesity.
The Bulletin's Smart 100 recognises 100 of the most innovative and creative people working in various industries across Australia.