Skip to main content
Professor Robert van Deursen PhD

Professor Robert van Deursen

PhD

Professor of Rehabilitation Science

School of Healthcare Sciences

Email
vandeursenr@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 206 87687
Campuses
Room 2F25A, Cardigan House, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XW

Overview

I was born in the Netherlands where I obtained a BSc in Physiotherapy (1981); between 1982 and 1992 I worked in various rehabilitation settings; I obtained an MSc (cum laude) in Movement Science (1994) at the Free University, Amsterdam; and a PhD in Biomechanics and Locomotion Studies (1997) at The Pennsylvania State University.

I joined the School of Healthcare Studies, Cardiff (1998); established the Research Centre for Clinical Kinaesiology (1999); became Director of Physiotherapy (2004); and am now Professor of Rehabilitation Science (2013).

My expertise is in the area of movement analysis and biomechanics applied to clinical problems in rehabilitation. My research interests include the rehabilitation of joint instability in relation to the development of osteoarthritis; the prevention and rehabilitation of lower limb complications due to diabetic neuropathy; and mobility problems in neurological conditions. Defining functional recovery and determining the effect of exercise on patients in the presence of movement disorders is a common thread in this research. I have recently established a new Gait Real-time Analysis Interactive Lab (GRAIL); a system to provide real-time movement feedback to patients whilst they are moving.

Biography

I obtained a BSc in Physiotherapy in Utrecht, the Netherlands in 1981 and between 1982 and 1992 worked as a physiotherapist in various rehabilitation settings in the Netherlands, India, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

I studied at the Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Free University, Amsterdam for an MSc (cum laude) in Movement Science (1991-1994) and at the Center for Locomotion Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, USA (1994 -1997) for a PhD in Biomechanics and Locomotion Studies.

I joined the Department of Physiotherapy Education, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff in 1998 as Lecturer/Research Co-ordinator; established the Research Centre for Clinical Kinaesiology in 1999. I became Senior Lecturer in 2002, Reader in 2010, and Professor of Rehabilitation Science in 2013. I was Director of Physiotherapy from 2004 to 2012 and Director of Research from 2005 to 2013.

My research is in the area of movement sciences within a clinical/rehabilitation context which has been submitted for the Research Assessment Exercise 2007 and the Research Excellence Framework 2014.

(hyperlink to: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/research/impact-and-innovation/quality-and-performance/ref-2014/academic-schools/healthcare-sciences).

I am a member of the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot chaired by Prof. Peter Cavanagh. The working group produced clinical guidelines in 2008 and 2016 for the Consultative Section of the International Diabetes Federation. The guidelines are part of the updated "International Consensus on the Diabetic Foot"   and "Practical Guidelines on the Management and Prevention of the Diabetic Foot".

(hyperlink to: http://iwgdf.org/)

I have been a member of the Executive Council of the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB) from 2009-2012.

(hyperlink to: https://isbweb.org/)

As Visiting Professor for the MGM Institute of Health Sciences I have assisted in the establishment of the MGM Centre of Human Movement Science. The movement analysis laboratory was sponsored by the ISB and was established in 2015.

(hyperlink to: http://mgmudpt-nm.edu.in/index.php/departments/human-movement-sciences/mgm-centre-of-human-movement-science

Professional memberships

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

International Society of Biomechanics

Publications

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

Teaching

My main area of teaching is in clinical biomechanics and movement analysis applied to rehabilitation of patients. I lead the MSc module called Clinical Kinaesiology and Tissue Pathology in Cardiff, teach an MSc module in Movement Science in Zürich, Switzerland and regularly deliver invited lectures in the UK, continental Europe in the area of clinical biomechanics and its application in rehabilitation research.

My research interests include the prevention and rehabilitation of lower limb complications due to diabetic neuropathy, mobility problems in chronic neurological disease, and rehabilitation of joint instability after knee injury. The effect of exercise on patients in the presence of movement disorders is a common thread in this research. This includes collaborative research with other schools within Cardiff University and with fellow researchers in the area of biomechanics in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and India and Australia. The research predominantly involves biomechanics applied to the clinical field of rehabilitation. Biomechanics is a powerful tool to explore movement but is not always well understood within the clinical environment. However, the need for good research in the area of rehabilitation is clearly present. It is therefore important to make biomechanics more available for research in this area by developing clinically relevant research methods and procedures so that appropriate evidence becomes more readily available.

Supervision

Areas of expertise

External profiles