Recruiting for Research

The MACP is committed to encouraging post-graduate education and research. The Association is keen to facilitate research in the musculoskeletal arena and consequently is willing to consider applications to access the membership with research questions. This is for MACP members, Associate members or Affiliate members only.

In order that the MACP is only involved in research conducted in accordance with Good Clinical Practice & Research Governance guidelines, and in order that the members are not inundated with requests the MACP has instigated a process by which applications are considered.

Researchers can apply to:

Recruit members via the MACP Social Media channels:- currently Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Linked In. Images are required for social media - 1 size being 1:1 square (1080 x 1080 pixels) or a landscape rectangle (1200 x 630 pixels) and the other size needs to be 1080 x 1350 pixels for Instagram. Images make the post stand out more than just text. Without an image we cannot do an Instagram post for you.
Post an invitation on the Research page of the MACP website to members to participate in their research study and as a Research News article - the latter can be accompanied by an image (we will use one of the images above).
All requests to recruit members are made through the Research Officer using the appropriate application form (click here).

Please complete the document electronically and enclose copies of the documentation requested. Once your application has been received it will be considered by the MACP Research Officer or a member of the Research Committee in their stead and a decision conveyed to you as soon possible. Please ensure that you leave adequate time for this review process when planning your research as the MACP can not guarantee to complete reviews within specific timescales.

Applicants must provide evidence of a 'favourable opinion' from the National Research Ethics Service or from a University Ethics Committee. For researchers wishing to access members working for the NHS, a favourable opinion from NRES, or documentation from NRES stating that the study does not need consideration, is required.

Latest Research Studies:

Here are some of the studies that are/have been supported this year and over the last few years:

November 2025 -Looking into the education and training needs of health and care professionals working in UK rehabilitation settings relating to #rehabilitation #technologies - survey link here - University of Nottingham
August 2025 - To understand the current management of UK based physiotherapists for frozen shoulder and assessing whether practice has changed since the publication of the FROST trial in 2020 - survey link here - MMU
June 2025 - Investigating the attitudes and perceptions of MSK physiotherapists towards sleep in the assessment of MSK conditions. Uni of Herts. You can also access the survey link here.
May 2025 - Delphi Study - Best practice of non-pharmacological conservative management for people with lumbosacral radicular pain: a Delphi study - MSc Research project, KCL. For full information click here
May 2025 - Survey participants required for research on Acute Lateral Ankle Sprains - if you are a UK-based HCPC Physio with relevant experience - we'd appreciate your support for this MSc Research project - Uni of Herts
May 2025 - to investigate current UK Physiotherapy practice regarding the assessment of psychosocial factors in individuals presenting with musculoskeletal conditions - Uni of Herts
April 2025 - Calling all UK Physios who manage lower limb stress fractures! Can you spare 10 minutes to support an MSc research project? The following survey aims to gain an understanding in current UK physiotherapy practice in the assessment, diagnosis and management of lower limb stress fractures
April 2025 - Calling all MSK physios. Please support this research into MSK pain and menopause. Your insights are crucial! Please take part here. Uni of Hertfordshire MSc student.
March 2025 - QMUL research team asking for NHS MSK physios/service managers to complete survey on how their service is organised - to inform a programme of research on community appointment days https://zurl.co/YIRDq
March 2025. Chronic Ankle Injury survey - Brunel University - mentored by MACP member
February 2025 - in the current practice of clinicians in the identification and management of hip dysplasia - http:// https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/brunel/hip-ax-survey
February 2025 - Delphi Study - Are you a Physiotherapist working at an advanced level of practice and specialising in the shoulder? Our research team at the University of Stirling is interested in conducting a pilot study using radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy for the treatment of adhesive capsulitis. To develop a credible clinical treatment protocol, we are first conducting a Delphi Study to gain expert clinical opinion to determine the best anatomical treatment sites around the shoulder for this condition.
January 2025 - Survey Participants required for Masters Research Project - the aim of this survey is to explore the current use of patient education by UK MSK physiotherapists in the treatment of Rotator Cuff-Related Shoulder Pain - https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/herts/patient-ed-rcrsp-survey (Uni of Herts)
November 2024 - Survey Participants required for Masters research project - if you are a UK HCPC registered physiotherapist working at an advanced level of practice and your role includes the requesting of MRI and/or Plain Film Radiography - https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/herts/xray-and-mri (Uni of Herts)
October 2024 - The utilisation of clinical practice guidelines for suspected cauda equina syndrome in primary care services in England: A national survey - Somerset NHS Foundation Trust - https://forms.office.com/e/pSjHUp55h4
October 2024 - Sciatica - a survey to establish research priorities in spine-related leg pain to help shape the directions of future research efforts. Please follow the link below to learn more and participate.
https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/oxford/research-priorities-for-spine-related-leg-pain-sciatica - SPRING (Spine-related Leg Pain Research and Innovation Group)
September 2024 - Interviewing professionals supporting joint replacement patients with exercise to take part in an about how to help patients to be more active before surgery. To find out more about the study please visit https://www.bristolbrc.nihr.ac.uk/research/research-projects/supporting-exercise-before-joint-replacement/
February 2024 - Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist’s use of attentional focus: An online survey of United Kingdom (UK) Physiotherapy practice during lower limb rehabilitation. https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/herts/msk-physiotherapy-use-of-attentional-focus - University of Herfordshire
December 2023 - Physiotherapists' input needed for a survey on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - University of Hertfordshire
September 2023 - Primary Care Clinicians needed for Focus groups on managing persisten backpain - University of Southampton
July 2023 - Calling all UK physios - share your perspectives on using Fit Notes in practice - positive, negative or indifferent! https://salford.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/fitnote
June 2023 - Calling all UK based HCPC registered physiotherapists to participate in the following study: “Strength exercise prescription parameters in adult individuals with musculoskeletal dysfunction: an on-line survey of current United Kingdom based physiotherapy practice
https://herts.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/222-strength-exercise-prescription-parameters-in-adult-ind
May 2023 -Assessing return to running readiness: an online-survey of current United Kingdom physiotherapy practice in postpartum patients.
https://herts.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/assessing-postpartum...
A survey of UK NHS physiotherapy practice regarding ACL reconstruction (ACLR) or non-operative management.
Link to survey - https://forms.office.com/e/A3baGK8kJv
Paul Minty and Dr David Keene
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
January 2023 - The conservative management, rehabilitation and evaluation strategies used in stage 1 SL injuries in UK clinical practice.
https://forms.office.com/r/ff8BtuApQL
Martin Holmes, Uni of Birmingham
November 2022 - A survey of UK Physiotherapists regarding the management of patients with suspected Cauda Equina Syndrome
https://sunduni.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5aNsw0hJFA7Olb8
Rob Tyer, University of Sunderland
August 2022 - an e-survey which aims to understand current rehabilitation practice for patients aged 50 and over with any distal fracture of the radius. We are a group of clinical academics working with Professor Stephen Gwilym and David Keene at NDORMS in Oxford who are working on a programme of research aiming to optimise outcomes after wrist fracture.
https://healthsurvey.hfac.keele.ac.uk/index.php/833228?lang=en
James Lindley - First Year MBChB student, Keele University Medical School
July 2022 - Are you an experienced physiotherapist who treats foot and ankle problems? If so, please consider taking part in our Focus Group Study exploring practice in Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction #PTTD. Email for more details: cho.pun.21@ucl.ac.uk
June 2022 - Late-stage rehabilitation and return to sports for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACL-R) in the NHS: A Physiotherapy Survey - Sarah Jones, University of Birmingham
June 2022 - Current scope of practice of First-Contact Practitioners and their management of persistent Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain - A Barker, University of Hertfordshire
May 2022 - A qualitative research study to investigate the practices and techniques that musculoskeletal physiotherapists use to manage the risk of cauda equina syndrome in their lower back pain/and or sciatica patients. The study will also seek to investigate the underlying experiences and beliefs which inform the practices.
May 2022 - SCJ Survey participation request - The assessment and management of patients with atraumatic sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) instability: an online survey of current United Kingdom (UK) physiotherapy practice.
May 2022 - Physiotherapists working in orthopaedic foot and ankle clinics: A UK-wide survey investigating the role and scope of practice: Physiotherapists working in orthopaedic foot and ankle clinics: A UK-wide survey investigating the role and scope of practice (onlinesurveys.ac.uk)
April 2022 - RA-UK are running a priority setting partnership, looking to establish the top research priorities in regional anaesthesia. The link below will take you to an online survey where you can submit up to 3 ideas on what you think should be researched. Your ideas will be vital and are much appreciated!
https://forms.office.com/r/Z3RNfQV99c
March 2022 - Opportunity to contribute to exciting research study! RA-UK is excited to launch a priority setting partnership seeking to identify the 10 most important research questions in regional anaesthesia. To contribute please click on the link below.
https://forms.office.com/r/Z3RNfQV99c
March 2022 - Identifying the top 10 research priorities relating to problematic hip replacements and redo, or revision surgery - Rebecca Kearney - Problematic Hip Replacement Priority Setting Partnership, James Lind Alliance
March 2022 - Management of patellar tendinopathy: An online survey of current physiotherapy practice in the UK - Michael Ewang (main researcher) & Andrea Moulson (research supervisor) - Uni of Hertfordshire
February 2022 - Understanding cervical spine radiculopathy assessment practices by UK Physiotherapists - Dr Michael Mansfield - UEA, PhD
January 2022 - post operative rehabilitation following anterior shoulder instability, for British Elbow and Shoulder Sociaty
February 2022 - Understanding cervical spine radiculopathy assessment practices by UK Physiotherapists
December 2021 - MMU survey - CSP funded UK survey investigating the experiences of physiotherapists in relation to litigation
November 2021 - Do you facilitate (paid or unpaid) people living with Osteoarthritis to manage their physical activity goals? Would you like to help develop a physical activity tool that assists people living with Osteoarthritis to maintain, adapt and plan their physical activity? For more information, please contact Zoe Silsbury (SilsburyZ@cardiff.ac.uk).
November 2021 - Achilles Tendinopathy survey by Dr Alex Scott, University of British Columbia
July 2021. Imperial College London are trying to define the diagnostic pathway of suspected ACL injury in areas of MSK health, such as: NHS trusts, private clinics and elite sports. If you or your workplace are interested in contributing, please click the following link for more information. Click here email contact: n.allott21@imperial.ac.uk
June 2021. Are you a UK based physiotherapist who assesses & manages persistent LBP? Please complete this survey - "ideal/model" answers can be obtained to cross-reference your knowledge so perfect for CPD & portfolios for FCPs and APPs. This survey is simple to complete and should take about 15 minutes:
https://www.health.herts.ac.uk/elearning/LBP-Research/
Dr Mindy Cairns
June 2021. Please consider supporting this focus group study - Co-design and acceptability of a physical activity intervention for people with Osteoarthritis. Link to the Information sheet here. SilsburyZ@cardiff.ac.uk .
Are you an MSK physio working in the UK? Are you interested in helping us explore how we delegate tasks to physiotherapy assistants/techs/support workers? Then please complete our survey, it takes approximately 15 minutes to do so. Access our survey on https://bit.ly/MSKphysioDELEGATION
Take part in the @BritPACT #PsoriaticArthritis (PsA) priority setting partnership survey with @LindAlliance to help identify the top 10 unanswered questions you want PsA #research to address:
https://oxford.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/psa-psp-survey-1 #PrioritisingPsA
Calling Physios’s who make fitness for work decisions as part of their role.. Help with research in Occupational Health and receive
2 x FREE CPD Opportunities
#ThePredictorSurvey USE THIS LINK:
https://mmu.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/thepredictorsurvey
Are you a UK-based physio normally working in an MSK setting? If so, please spare a few mins to help Emma with her MSc project. Findings will help establish how physios assess & manage breathing dysfunction in patients with MSK complaints. See:
https://herts.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/assessment-and-management-of-breathing-dysfunction
Delphi-consensus survey for UK-based physiotherapists and manual therapists managing patients with chronic low back pain survey

Dr Colette Ridehalgh
MACP Research Officer