Staff profile

Dr Nora Shields

Associate Professor, Postgraduate Coordinator

Faculty of Health Sciences

School of Allied Health
Department of Physiotherapy
Centre for Sport and Social Impact

Melbourne (Bundoora)

 

Qualifications

PhD Trinity College Dublin, BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy Trinity College Dublin, Grad Dip Stats Trinity College Dublin, Grad Cert Higher Education La Trobe University

Membership of professional associations

Member of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists

Area of study

Physiotherapy

Brief profile

Dr Shields' research focuses on physical activity for people with disability, in particular for people with Down syndrome and cerebral palsy. She has completed four randomised controlled trials on exercise programmes for people with disability, and is currently a chief investigator on a NHMRC funded trial to investigate the effects of a community based progressive resistance training for young adults with Down syndrome. She is a co- author of two evidence-based clinical reports for the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) on exercise prescription. She has presented at several national and international conferences including the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine and the World Congress of Physical Therapy. In 2010, her research work was recognised at the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine Conference where she was awarded the Cerebral Palsy League Community Research Prize.  Her research has been the basis for over 45 peer-reviewed publications. She regularly reviews articles for high quality peer-reviewed journals.

Research interests

Disability

- Increasing participation in physical activity, exercise and sport among people with disability

Rehabilitation

- Please contact me to discuss a topic.

Teaching units

PTY3EHW  Exercise for Health and Wellbeing

PTY5ELG   Early life-span and gender specific conditions

Recent publications

 

 

1.   Shields N, Synnot A, Barr M. Barrier & facilitators to physical activity in children with disabilities: a systematic review. British Journal of Sports Medicine (in press).

2.   Shields N, Bruder A, Taylor N, Angelo T. Getting fit for practice: an innovative paediatric clinical placement provided physiotherapy students opportunities for skill development. Physiotherapy (in press).

3.   Bruder A, Taylor N, Dodd K, Shields N (2012). An observational study of the interventions used by physiotherapists in rehabilitation after distal radius fracture. Physiotherapy (in press)

4.   Peiris C, Taylor N, Shields N (2012). Patients value patient-therapist interactions more than the amount or content of therapy during rehabilitation: a qualitative study.  Journal of Physiotherapy  (in press)

5.   Carlon S, Shields N, Dodd K, Taylor N (2012). Differences in habitual physical activity levels of young people with cerebral palsy and their typically developing peers: A systematic review. Disability & Rehabilitation (in press)

6.   Peiris C, Taylor N, Shields N (2012). Additional Saturday allied health services increase habitual physical activity among patients receiving inpatient rehabilitation for lower limb orthopedic conditions: a randomized controlled trial.  Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 93, 1365–1370.

7.   Sakzewski L, Carlon S, Shields N, Ziviani J, Boyd R. (2012). Impact of intensive upper limb rehabilitation on quality of life in a randomised trial for children with unilateral cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 54, 415-423.

8.   Dodd K, Taylor N, Shields N, McDonald E, Prasad D, Griffin A (2011). Progressive resistance strength training can improve the muscle strength and endurance, fatigue, and quality of life of adults with multiple sclerosis: a randomised controlled trial. Multiple Sclerosis, 17, 1362-1374. 

9.   Peiris C, Taylor N, Shields N (2011). Extra physiotherapy reduces length of stay and improves functional outcomes and quality of life: a systematic review. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 92, 1490-1500. 

10. Barr M, Shields N (2011). Barrier & facilitators to physical activity in children with DS. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 55, 1020-1033. 

11. Bruder A, Taylor N, Dodd K, Shields N. (2011). Exercise for the rehabilitation of upper limb fractures in adults: A systematic review. Journal of Physiotherapy, 57, 71-82.

12. Shields N, Bruder A, Taylor N, Angelo T. (2011). An alternative clinical experience can positively change physiotherapy student attitudes. Disability and Rehabilitation, 33, 360-366.

13. van de Water A, Shields N, Taylor N. (2011). Systematic review on outcomes in patients with fracture of proximal humerus. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow surgery, 20, 333-343.

14. Chase J, Shields N (2011). A systematic review of the efficacy of non-pharmacological, non- surgical and non-behavioural treatments of functional chronic constipation in children. Australian and New Zealand Continence Journal, 17, 40-50.

15. Carlon SL, Shields N, Yong K, Gilmore R, Sakzewski L, Boyd RN. (2010). A Systematic Review of the Clinimetric Properties of Quality of Life Measures For School Aged Children with Cerebral Palsy. BMC Pediatrics, 10, 81.

16. Wollersheim D, Merkes M, Shields N, Liamputtong P, Wallis L, Koh L, Reynolds F. (2010). Physical and Psychological effects of Wii video game use among older women. International Journal of Emerging Technologies, 8, 85–98.

17. Taylor N, Brusco T, Watts J, Shields N, Peiris C, Sullivan N, Kennedy G, Teo CK, Farley A, Lockwood K, Radia-George C. (2010). A study protocol of a randomised controlled trial incorporating a health economic analysis to investigate if additional allied health services for rehabilitation reduce length of stay without compromising patient outcomes. BMC Health Services Research, 10, 308.

18. Shields N, Taylor N. (2010). Effects of a student-led progressive resistance training program on muscle strength and physical function in adolescents with Down syndrome. Journal of Physiotherapy, 56, 187-193.

19. Mahy J, Shields N, Taylor N, Dodd KJ. (2010). Barrier & facilitators to physical activity in adults with DS. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 54, 795–805.

20. Shields N, Taylor N, Fernhall B. (2010). A study protocol of a randomised controlled trial to investigate if a community based strength training program improves work task performance in young adults with Down syndrome. BMC Pediatrics, 10, 17.

21. Willoughby K, Dodd K, Shields N, Foley S. (2010). Treadmill training in children with CP.  Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 91, 333-339.

22. Gilmore R, Ziviani J, Sakzewski L, Shields N, Boyd R. (2010). A balancing act: Children’s experience of modified constraint induced therapy. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 13, 88–94.

23. Shields N, Dodd KJ, Abblitt C. (2009). Children with Down syndrome do not perform sufficient physical activity to maintain good health or optimize cardiovascular fitness. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 26, 307-320.

24. Willoughby K, Dodd K, Shields N. (2009). Systematic review on effects of treadmill training for children with CP. Disability and Rehabilitation, 31, 1971-1979.

25. Shields N. (2009). Self concept is a concept worth considering (invited commentary). Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 29, 23-26.

26. Dunn N, Shields N, Taylor N, Dodd KJ. (2009). Comparing the self concept of children with cerebral palsy to parent perceptions of their child’s abilities and attributes. Disability and Rehabilitation, 31, 387 – 393.

27. Shields N, Taylor N, Dodd KJ. (2008). A systematic review comparing the self-concept of children with spina bifida to children with typical development. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 50, 733–743.

28. Shields N, Taylor N, Dodd KJ. (2008). Effects of a community-based progressive resistance strength training program on muscle performance and physical function in adults with Down syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 89, 1215-1220.

Older publications

  1. Dockrell S, Fallon E, Kelly M, Masterson B, Shields N. (2007). School childrens’ use of computers and teachers’ education in computer ergonomics. Ergonomics, 50, 1657 – 1667.
  2. Dunn N, Shields N, Taylor NF, Dodd KJ. A systematic review of the self-concept of children with cerebral palsy and perceptions of parents and teachers. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics 2007;27(3):55-71.
  3. Shields N, Loy Y, Murdoch A, Taylor NF, Dodd KJ. Self-concept of children with cerebral palsy compared with that of children without impairment. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 2007;49:350-354.
  4. Dunn N, Shields N, Taylor NF, Dodd KJ. A systematic review of the self-concept of children with cerebral palsy and perceptions of parents and teachers. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics 2007;27:55-71.
  5. Taylor NF, Dodd KJ, Shields N, Bruder A. Therapeutic exercise in physiotherapy practice is beneficial: a summary of systematic reviews 2002-2005. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy 2007;53(1):7-16.
  6. Shields N, Capper J, Polak T, Taylor NF. Are cervical pillows effective in reducing neck pain? New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy 2006;34:3-9.
  7. Shields N, Murdoch A, Loy Y, Dodd KJ, Taylor N (2006). A systematic review of the self concept of children with cerebral palsy compared with children without disability. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 48, 151-157.
  8. Shields N, Gormley J, O'Hare N (2005). Physiotherapist's perception of risk from electromagnetic fields. Advances in Physiotherapy, 7, 4, 170-175.
  9. Dodd K, Shields N (2005). A systematic review on the outcomes of cardiovascular exercise programs for people with Down syndrome. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 86, 2051-8.
  10. Shields N, Dodd K (2004). A systematic review on the effects of exercise programmes designed to improve strength for people with Down syndrome. Physical Therapy Reviews, 9, 109-115
  11. Shields N, O'Hare N, Gormley J (2004). An evaluation of safety guidelines to restrict exposure to stray radiofrequency radiation from short-wave diathermy units. Physics in Medicine and Biology, 49, 2999-301
  12. Shields N, O'Hare N, Gormley J (2004). Contraindications to short-wave diathermy: results of an Irish survey. Physiotherapy, 90, 42-53
  13. Shields N, O'Hare N, Boyle G, Gormley J (2003). Development and application of a quality control procedure for short-wave diathermy units. Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing, 41, 62-68
  14. Shields N, O'Hare N, Gormley J (2003). Short-wave diathermy and pregnancy: what is the evidence? Advances in Physiotherapy, 5, 2-14.
  15. Shields N, Gormley J, O'Hare N (2002). Short-wave diathermy: current clinical and safety practices. Physiotherapy Research International, 7, 4, 191-202
  16. Shields N, Gormley J, O'Hare N (2002). Contraindications to continuous and pulsed short-wave diathermy. Physical Therapy Reviews, 7,133-143
  17. Shields N, Gormley J, O'Hare N (2001). Short-wave diathermy in Irish Physiotherapy Departments. British Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 8, 9, 331-339
  18. Shields N, Gormley J, O'Hare N (2001). Short-wave diathermy: a review of existing clinical trials. Physical Therapy Reviews, 6,101-118
  19. Shields N, Dockrell S (2000). The prevalence of injuries among pianists in music schools in Ireland. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 155-160