Health Sciences

School of Physiotherapy

Staff Profile

Julie Bernhardt Qualifications Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy), Lincoln, Australia. PhD (Physiotherapy), La Trobe University, Australia. Email

Positions :

- Associate Professor, Neuroscience Program, School of Physiotherapy, La Trobe University.
- Program Director, Early Stroke Rehabilitation Program, National Stroke Research Institute.
- Melbourne Health, Allied Health Research Co-ordinator.

Research / Interests :

- Very early stroke rehabilitation.
- Evidence into practice.

PhD Thesis :

1998
Bernhardt J. Observational kinematic assessment of upper limb movement. School of Physiotherapy, La Trobe University.

Publications / Journals :

2006
Bernhardt J, Dewey H, Collier J, Thrift A, Lindley R, Carter R, Donnan G. About AVERT (a very early rehabilitation trial). International Journal of Stroke. In press, accepted 27/05/2006.

2006
Bernhardt J, Chan J, Nicola I, Collier JM. Little therapy, little physical activity: Rehabilitation within the first 14 days of organised stroke unit care. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. In press, accepted 19/04/2006.

2006
Griffin A and Bernhardt J. Strapping of the hemiplegic upper limb delays onset of shoulder pain: A randomised controlled trial. Clinical Rehabilitation. 20:287-295.

2005
Carey L, Abbot D, Egan G, O’Keefe G, Jackson G, Bernhardt J, Donnan G. Evolution of brain activation with good and poor motor recovery after stroke. Neurorehabilitation and repair. 20:24-41.

2005
Bernhardt J, Borschmann K, Crock D, Hill K, McGann A, De Gori, M. Stand up and be counted: Measuring time spent upright after hip fracture and comparison with community dwelling older people. Physiotherapy 91:215-222.

2005
Carey L, Abbot D, O’Keefe G, Bernhardt J, Donnan G. Motor impairment and recovery in the upper limb after stroke: Behavioural and neuroanatomical correlates. Stroke 36: 625-629.

2004
Bernhardt J, Dewey H, Thrift A, Donnan G. Inactive and alone: Physical activity within the first 14 days of acute stroke care. Stroke 36; 1005-1009.

2002
Bernhardt J, Matyas T, Bate P. Does clinical experience predict observational kinematic assessment accuracy of upper limb movement pattern following stroke? Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 18; 141 -149.

2001
Bernhardt J, Bate P, Matyas T. Training improves observation accuracy in novice clinicians. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation 82; 1611-1618.

2000
Wales L and Bernhardt J. A case for slow to recover rehabilitation services following severe acquired brain injury. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy 46; 143-146.

1999
Kent P, Keating J, Bernhardt J et al. Evidence based practice. Leading article. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy 45; 167-171.

1998
Bernhardt J, Bate P, Matyas T. Accuracy of observational kinematic assessment of upper-limb movements. Physical Therapy 78(3); 259-270.

1998
Bernhardt J, Hill K, Ellis P, Denisenko S. Serial changes in balance and mobility during rehabilitation following stroke. Physiotherapy Research International 3(2); 109-122.

1997
Hill K, Ellis P, Bernhardt J, Maggs T, Hull S. Balance and mobility outcomes for stroke patients: A comprehensive audit. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy 43(3); 173-180.

1996
Hill K, Bernhardt J, McGann A, Maltese D and Berkovits D. A new test of dynamic standing balance for stroke patients: Reliability, validity and comparison with healthy elderly. Physiotherapy Canada 48(4); 257-262.

1993
Kent P, Hill K and Bernhardt J. Functional prediction post stroke. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy 39: 281-289.

Book Chapter :

2004
Bernhardt J and Hill K. We only treat what it occurs to us to assess: The importance of knowledge based assessment. In. Science-based rehabilitation: Theories into practice. Refshauge K, Ada L and Ellis E (Eds). Elsevier. Butterworth Heinemann. Edinburugh, UK. (pp15-48).

Editorial/Peer Review Roles (current) :

- Stroke.
- Australian Journal of Physiotherapy.
- Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
- International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation.
- Advances in Physiotherapy.

Awards and Scholarships :

2004
Ian Potter Travel Scholarship.

2003
Stroke Society of Australasia, Overseas Study Scholarship.

2002
Stroke Society of Australasia, Peter Bladin New Investigator Award.

2001
NHMRC Part Time Postdoctoral Training Fellowship.

1996
Australian Postgraduate Award (Scholarship).

1994
Reawarded La Trobe University Postgraduate Studentship.

1993
Awarded La Trobe University Postgraduate Studentship.

Grants :

Honorary Appointments (current) :

- Senior Fellow, School of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne.
- Board Member, National Stroke Foundation.
- Victorian Allied Health Representative, Australian Stroke Trials Network.
- Apraxia Guidelines, Stroke Working Group, National Stroke Foundation.

Memberships and Affiliations (current) :

- Member, Australian Physiotherapy Association.
- Member, Australian Physiotherapy Association, Neurology Special Group.- Member, Stroke Society of Australasia.
- Member, Australian Stroke Trials Network.
- Chair, Clinicians Research Network.

Research Students (current) :

2006 - Ibuki A.
Tone reducing ankle foot orthoses in the management of spasticity after stroke. (co-supervision of PhD, School of Orthotics, La Trobe University).

2006 - Lau A.
Early recovery after stroke: The effect of very early mobilisation. (co-supervision of Physiotherapy Honours, La Trobe University).

2005 - Sharpley T.
Determining differences in stroke unit care: Melbourne versus Trondheim. (supervision of Masters, School of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne).

2006 - Sorbello D.
The effect of very early mobilisation on complications after stroke. (co-supervision of Physiotherapy Honours, La Trobe University).

2006 - Zhao H.
Validitation of an early (day 0) modified Rankin Score as a surrogate measure of Quality of Life after stroke. (co-supervision of Advanced Medical Student, University of Melbourne).