B.App.Sci. Phty espanolfarm.com., PHd, APA, Sports Physio.

Multi-Directional Instability of the Shoulder

Mary Mgarey has been associated with the School of Physiotherapy (University of South Australia) for a very long time, teaching at postgraduate level in the Masters programs in Manipulative, Sports and Orthopaedic Physiotherapy. In 2003, we introduced a new program that combines all three former programs into one exciting new Master of Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapy and a new two year program for students with less background in musculoskeletal physiotherapy, which has now, sadly, been discontinued by the University. I continue to be involved in teaching on these programs.

I also have a passion for the shoulder – both in clinical practice and research. I continue to be involved in research into aspects of shoulder examination and management and I am currently employed outside the unversity in a consultative role as a specialist shoulder and elbow physiotherapist.

My third major interest is sport and sports physiotherapy – in particular the influence of motor control on sports performance, injury prevention and performance enhancement.

I have been heavily involved with the sport of softball as a physiotherapist, fitness and conditioning coach, injury prevention advisor and scorer over a number of years. In my non-academic life, I love sport of most forms and have become keenly involved in supporting my family’s sporting pursuits. Each year, I attend Softball Australia’s Youth Development Camps at Blacktown Olympic Park in Sydney as the physiotherapist to the camp, ensuring that my on-field sports physitoherapy skills remain current. In 2005, I travelled with the Australian team to Junior Men’s World Softball Championships in Canada, where the team was successful, winning the gold medal for the third time. I will be applying for the equivalent position with the Australian Junior Women’s World Softball Championships in South Africa in 2011 if the timing of the championships allows.

In 2008, I undertook exams to become a Fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists as a clinical specialist in the field of Musculoskeletal Physiotheapy (subspeciality: Shoulder complex disorders) and in November 2009, I was successful in the equivalent exams to become a Fellow in the field of Sports Physiotherapy. I was also elected to the Council of the Australian College of Physiotherapists for the term 2010 – 2012.

While fellowship of the Australian College of Physiotherapists is not an academic award, it provides me with greater depth of understanding of the evidence supporting advanced practice of sports and musculoskeletal physiotherapy and a higher level of clinical skills in these fields, thus allowing me to provide better depth of knowledge in my teaching. Our physiotherapy students and prospective students value the level of commitment to the profession of the academic and clinical staff with whom they interact and such a position adds prestige to our program and our School.

I was honoured in 2009 to be awarded Life Membership of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Australia for services to the association over many years.