Research Interests
I began lecturing at SETU Carlow, primarily on the BSc Sports Rehabilitation and Athletic Therapy, in 2003. I qualified with a BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy from University of Manchester and an MSc Sports Physiotherapy from University College Dublin, and have extensive neuromusculoskeletal, manual therapy and advanced exercise prescription experience. I have supervised 4 students to completion at Masters level, in the areas of assessment, management and dysfunction in the hip and groin region. I am currently supervising one student at masters level, investigating the longitudinal effects of dry needling treatment on physical parameters at the hip, particularly strength and stability performance.
Current Research Students
| MSc | The longitudinal effects of dry needling of gluteus medius on hip strength and stability | Presidents Research Fellowship | Aaron Byrne | 2107 ongoing |
Past Research Students
| Award | Subject Area | Grant/Aid | Postgraduate student | Dates |
| MSc | The physical impairments associated with chronic groin pain
| Self funded | Rebecca O’Sullivan | 2008-2010 |
| MSc | Hip rotation : a comparison of normative values for multidirectional and sagittal plane sports and the relationship to femoral anteversion | Self funded | Ailbhe O’Nolan | 2011-2013 |
| Msc | Piriformis muscle length tests : a profile of reliability, normative values and location of stretch | Presidents Research Fellowship | Shauna Jordan | 2011-2013 |
| MSc | The immediate effects of dry needling versus manual pressure release of myofascial trigger points on hip muscle length and strength in multidirectional athletes | Presidents Research Fellowship | Mairead Kennedy | 2013-2105 |
Areas of interest as a supervisor include
- Advanced exercise rehabilitation
- Neuromusculoskeletal assessment
- Movement dysfunction
- Manual therapy
- Dry needling
- Hip and groin dysfunction
Papers
McCarthy Persson U, O’Sullivan R, Morrissey D & Wallace J (2016). The ability of athletes with long-standing groin pain to maintain a stable lumbopelvic position : A laboratory study. Physical Therapy in Sport. In Press
Conference Presentations
McCarthy Persson U, O’Sullivan R & Wallace J. Lumbopelvic stability in athletes with chronic groin pain. Presentation at 3rd International Movement Dysfunction Conference; Edinburgh, October 2009
Kennedy, M., Wallace, J., Dowling, M., McCarthy Persson, U. The Effects of Dry Needling Versus Manual Pressure Release of Myofascial Trigger Points of Hip Muscle Length and Strength. European College of Sport Science: Book of Abstracts of the 20th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science – 24th - 27th June 2015, Malmö – Sweden.
McCarthy Persson U, O’Sullivan R, Morrissey D & Wallace J. Lumbopelvic stability in athletes with chronic groin pain. Danish Sports Medicine Annual Conference, January 2016