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Research

ACPOHE’s dedicated Research Team is driving forward high‑quality, practice‑changing work that strengthens the evidence base for occupational health physiotherapy. Our researchers bring together academic expertise, clinical insight, and real‑world workplace experience to explore the questions that matter most to our members, employers, and the wider profession. Their work is helping to shape national conversations, influence policy, and ensure that occupational health physiotherapy continues to deliver meaningful impact for workers and workplaces.

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Get Involved

We believe research is strongest when it is collaborative. Whether you’re an experienced researcher, a clinician with a great idea, or an organisation interested in improving workplace health, there are many ways to contribute:

For ACPOHE Members share your workplace evaluations, audits, or service innovations, and access support to develop your own research ideas.

For Employers, Partners & Funders ACPOHE welcomes partnerships and funding that help expand our research capacity and deliver projects with meaningful, national impact. Together, we can strengthen the evidence base for occupational health physiotherapy and improve the health of the working population.

For ACPOHE Members

share your workplace evaluations, audits, or service innovations, and access support to develop your own research ideas.

For Employers, Partners & Funders

ACPOHE welcomes partnerships and funding that help expand our research capacity and deliver projects with meaningful, national impact. Together, we can strengthen the evidence base for occupational health physiotherapy and improve the health of the working population.

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Current Research

Our research portfolio continues to grow, with projects that reflect the breadth and value of OH physiotherapy. Current work from our members includes:

Evaluating the effectiveness of early intervention physiotherapy in preventing long‑term sickness absence

Exploring the competencies required for modern OH physiotherapy practice

Investigating the career pathways and development needs of the OH physiotherapy workforce

Evaluating the effectiveness of early intervention physiotherapy in preventing long‑term sickness absence

Exploring the competencies required for modern OH physiotherapy practice

Investigating the career pathways and development needs of the OH physiotherapy workforce

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ACPOHE Webinars & Research Cafés

The aim of our webinars and research cafés are  to present, appraise and discuss the latest research relevant to our field, identify gaps in the research and help establish links between academic institutions and all of our members.

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Regional Network

Date 06/10/2026
Time 10:00-11:30
Wales Regional Network - October 2026
If you're an OH physio based in Wales join us for this community get-together once a quarter.

NEW!

Date 08/10/2026
Time 11:00-12:00
New Discoveries in the Causes of Fibromyalgia-type Chronic Pain
‘Sngception’ – a novel anatomical and neurological pathway for chronic pain. The perception of acid sensation is most commonly felt after fatiguing exercise. This muscle soreness is defined as, ‘pain resulting from overuse’ in the English dictionary. In other… ‘Sngception’ – a novel anatomical and neurological pathway for chronic pain. The perception of acid sensation is most commonly felt after fatiguing exercise. This muscle soreness is defined as, ‘pain resulting from overuse’ in the English dictionary. In other languages this soreness is given a term indicating it is distinguishable from other types of pain (e.g., “courbature” in French, “muskelkater” in German, “sng” in Taiwanese). Tissue acidosis, which also occurs in ischemia and inflammation, is a potent factor for activating proton-sensing ion channels/receptors to trigger pain, as has been demonstrated in humans and animal models. The acid-sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC3) is perhaps the most acid sensitive of ion channels in somatosensory neurons and is involved in perception of acid-induced chronic pain in experimental animal models. Yet, intriguingly, ASIC3 is also expressed in proprioceptors (muscle-length, or limb-position, detecting neurons) where it functions as a mechanically sensitive ion channel involved in mechanotransduction. Within many proprioceptor organs, ASIC3-expressing pain-associated (group III and group IV) and proprioceptor (muscle spindle) sensory nerve terminals come into close proximity, which could enable a cross-talk between them. We have recently found strong evidence for a neurobiological basis for such cross-talk underlying a separate acid-induced ‘sngception’, that can be distinguished from classical nociception. I.e., that it is detected and transmitted by specific somatosensory neurons. In a recent study, we show the first evidence that sng and pain can be segregated and distinguished separately both in humans and other animals. We show in mouse models how sng chronic pain is initiated, and how sngception is transmitted and contributes to chronic hypersensitivity. Elucidating this mechanism and distinct neuroanatomical pathway may offer opportunities for development of therapeutics against at least some types of hard-to-treat pain, e.g. certain types of fibromyalgia.
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Our Research Community

Your insight can help shape the future of occupational health physiotherapy.

Contact us to learn more about getting involved.

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