Philippa Nicolson

My research focuses on improving the management of chronic musculoskeletal conditions (primarily hip and knee osteoarthritis) in older adults.

In June 2020 I commenced a Versus Arthritis Foundation Fellowship, developing and testing an exercise intervention for the oldest adults (aged 80 years or older) with hip and knee osteoarthritis and common co-morbidities. The fellowship programme of work includes a systematic review; analysis of cohort data to identify the impact co-morbidities have on mobility and function among people with hip/knee osteoarthritis; patient and clinician prioritisation of programme components, and a randomised feasibility trial and qualitative evaluation to test whether the programme can be delivered.

I am undertaking my fellowship part-time, alongside working as a research physiotherapist at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre.

I am a member of the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) International Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis working group, a member of Osteoarthritis Research International (OARSI) and a committee member of the Council for Allied Health Professions Research Oxfordshire. I have ongoing collaborations with colleagues at Keele University and the University of Sydney, and have co-supervised one PhD student to completion with Prof David Hunter.

Since qualifying as a Physiotherapist from the University of Otago (New Zealand) I have worked in orthopaedic inpatient and outpatient departments in New Zealand, the UK and Australia, and continue to work clinically at weekends at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre.