Staff Profile
Dr Charikleia Sinani
Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy
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I worked as a physiotherapist in Greece and in the National Service for several years, specializing in neurological rehabilitation, particularly children with neurodevelopmental disorders. In 1999 I was awarded a Scholarship from the ‘State Foundation of Scholarships’ (Greece) to do my MSc (full-time) in Neurorehabilitation at Brunel University and a PhD (part-time, partially funded) in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder at University of Leeds.
My first teaching job was as a lab teaching assistant in the Sports and Exercise Department (Leeds). In 2003 I worked as a senior lecturer in Physiotherapy at Manchester Metropolitan University and in 2004 I moved to Leeds Metropolitan University. In 2014 I became the principal lecturer and the Head of Physiotherapy at the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at York St. John.
In 2005, I was appointed as leader of the Yorkshire Allied Health Professionals Research Network (AHPRN) formerly known as the National Physiotherapy Research Network (NPRN). Since then the Network has grown and changed its structure. In January 2013, the Yorkshire Hub of the Allied Health Professionals Research Network amalgamated with the York Allied Health Professionals Research and effectiveness forum and the NIHR North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire comprehensive local research network to form a Pan Yorkshire speciality Allied Health Professionals research network.
The aim of this network is to:
- Achieve greater AHP research engagement and research collaborations
- Promote the development of high-quality innovative research activity and expand AHP research capacity across the region
- Raise the profile and impact of Yorkshire AHP research activity
- Identify local AHP research priorities
- Achieve wider dissemination of AHP research findings
- Encourage greater utilisation of research in the development of practice, in the planning and management of AHP services and in AHP leadership and professional development.
Qualifications
- PhD School of Education, Special Educational Needs, Psychology, University of Leeds - 2007.
- MSc Neurorehabilitation, Health, Brunel University - 2001.
- Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE), Faculty of Sport and Education, Leeds Metropolitan University- 2009.
- BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, Technological Educational Institution of Thessalonica, Greece - 1998.
- Diploma in Radiology/Radiography, Thessalonica, Greece - 1994.
- School – School of Science, Technology and Health
- Email – c.sinani@yorksj.ac.uk
- Phone – 01904 876 470
- Postgraduate Research Supervisor
Further information
Teaching
I currently teach and lead on the following modules:
MSc (pre-reg) Physiotherapy – Audit Research and Service Evaluation (Module Director)
- MSc (pre-reg) Physiotherapy – Research in Physiotherapy (Module Director)
- MSc (pre-reg) Physiotherapy – Long Term Conditions
- BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy - Advancing Practice
- BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy - Evidenced Based Principles in Neurological Practice
- BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy - Dissertation
I am also involved in PhD supervision and in other courses than physiotherapy such as Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Sports and Exercise Therapy and CPD scheme.
Professional activities
Internal committees at York St John University
- Member of the Faculty Advisory Group on Student Fitness for Professional Practice
- Member of the Faculty Quality and Standards Committee
- Member of the Faculty Research Committee
- Member of the Faculty Mitigating Circumstances Committee
External professional memberships and activities
2012 to present: Co-ordinator of the Pan Yorkshire Specialty AHP research network.
2010 to present: CSP Approved External Examiner.
2009 to present: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA),
2005 to present: Leader of the Yorkshire Allied Health Professionals Research Network (AHPRN).
2005 to present: Member of the Allied Health Professionals Research Network (AHPRN).
2005 to present: Member of the York AHP Research and Effectiveness Forum.
2006 to present: Theme co-ordinator for the Yorkshire AHPRN: i) children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders, ii) children with Cerebral palsy.
2002 to present: Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC),
2002 to present: Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (MCSP)
Research professional committees and affiliations
- Peer reviewing
Book Reviewer: Journal of Physiotherapy.
Conference abstracts: World Congress in Physical Therapy (WCPT)
Grants: Action Medical Research (AMR), Program Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR), Physiotherapy Research Foundation (PRF), Research for Patient Benefit Scheme (RfPB), Scottish Executive Health Department (HSRC).
Journals: Child: Care, Health & Development, Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, Physiotherapy, Research in Developmental Disabilities.
Research
Research interests and expertise
I am interested in developmental cognitive neuropsychology and developmental psychology, and the application of research in rehabilitation focusing on children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders particularly children with Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD or otherwise known as dyspraxia).
Other areas of research interests and expertise include: praxis, imitation and its application to motor learning, imagery, transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and its application to clinical populations, laterality/hand preference, quantitative and qualitative methodologies, mixed- methodologies and single case studies.
Research and other scholarly activity
2010: Book Reviewer for the journal Physiotherapy
2010: Abstract Reviewer for the 2011 World Congress in Physical Therapy (WCPT).
08/2008 – present: Journal Reviewer for ‘Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology’, ‘Physiotherapy’, ‘Research in Developmental Disabilities’ and ‘Child: Care, Health & Development’.
2007- present: Grant Reviewer for NIHR schemes: Program Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR), Research for Patient Benefit Scheme (RfPB), Scottish Executive Health Department (HSRC), Physiotherapy Research Foundation (PRF), Action Medical Research (AMR).
Member of Research and Clinical Interest Groups: i) Leeds Cognition Group (Leeds University) http://www.psyc.leeds.ac.uk/research/cogn/, ii) Leeds University Motor Impairment Group, iii) International Society for research into DCD, iv) DCD-UK, v)DCD Yorkshire Forum.
Successful scholarships, awards and research grants
2014: Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP, AHPRN) (£3,000). Applicants: Dr. Charikleia Sinani (PI), and Dr. Angela Green.
2013: Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP, AHPRN) (£2,950). Applicants: Dr. Charikleia Sinani (PI), Dr. David Punt and Dr. Angela Green.
2012: Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP, PRF) (£20,000). Effects of a school based intervention program with minimal specialist support in children with movement difficulties. Applicants: Dr. Charikleia Sinani, Heather Angilley and Dr. Mary Chambers.
2009: Engagement Funding Bid (Leeds Metropolitan University) (£4,900).Title: Leeds Met, Boccia and Community – a partnership for Sport and Health. Applicants: Charikleia Sinani (PI), Pauline Fitzgerald and Liz Mackay, Bissas Athanassios and Chris Low, Chris Fitzgerald, Helen Dowden and Benita Powrie.
2009: Promising Research Fellowship, Leeds Metropolitan University (£12,924).
2006: Research Informed Teaching Funding (Leeds Metropolitan University) (£5,000). Applicants: David Moore (PI), Charikleia Sinani, Elizabeth Guest, Brigit Cooper, Carnegie, David Little, Carnegie and Steve Rennie 'Researching provision for autistic students in HE'.
1999: The ‘State Foundation of Scholarships’ in Greece awarded a scholarship for the completion of an MSc and a PhD (partially funded).
Publications and conferences
Peered reviewed publications
Anderson, A., Alexanders, J., Hayes, S., Fogaty, M., Sinani, C. (2014). Effects of ventilator versus manual hyperinflation in adults receiving mechanical ventilation: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials. Physiotherapy.
Scheffler, G., Mon-Williams, M., Waiter, G.D., Thomas, J., Sinani, C Williams, J. H. G. (submitted). Transcranial direct current stimulation in a case of hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology.
Sinani, C., Sugden & D.A. Hill, E. (2011) Gestural production in different samples of children with DCD and typically developing children. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 32 (4), 1270-1282.
Scheffler, G., Williams, J.H.G., Mon-Williams, M. & Sinani, C. (2010) Potential Facilitation of Upper Limb Performance in Children with Hemiplegia using TDCS. European Journal of Paediatric Neurology, 14 (6), November, p. 553.
Chapters in books
Sinani, C. (2010). Physical Education and children with hemiplegia. Workbook for parents and professionals. London: Hemihelp.
Chambers, M.E., Sugden, D.A., & Sinani, C. (2005) The nature of children with Developmental Coordination Disorder. In D.A. Sugden, M.E. Chambers (eds), Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder. (pp. 1-18). London: Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Book review
Sinani, C. (2013) Book Review: Michael Mandelstam, Quick Guide to Community Care Practice and the Law (2010) Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London. Physiotherapy, 99 (2), June, p.184.
Conferences
Invited Speaker
Sinani, C. ( March, 2010). Physical Education for Children with Hemiplegia. Disabled Living and Liverpool John Moores University, Coventry, UK.
Sinani, C. (May, 2010). Identification and assessment of children with movement difficulties (Developmental Coordination Disorder). 18thInternational Congress of Physical Education and Sport, Komotini, Greece.
Presentations
Scheffler, G., Mon-Williams, M., Helms, P. J. B., Thomas, J., Sinani, C., Williams, J. H. G. (May 2013).Transcranial direct current stimulation in a case of hemiplegic cerebral palsy: A pilot investigation. SINAPSE , Annual Scientific Meeting; Aberdeen, UK.
Angilley, H. &Sinani, C. (June, 2012). Is early intervention for children displaying movement difficulties effective when delivered by teacher assistants? 10thInternational DCD Conference, OuroPreto, MG Brazil.
Scheffler, G., Holt, R.J., Sinani, C., Mon-Williams, M., Helms, P.J.B., Williams, J.H.G. (October, 2012). Exploring Stakeholders’ views on receiving transcranial direct current stimulation in cerebral palsy.4th International Cerebral Palsy Conference, Pisa, Italy.
Scheffler G., Mon-Williams M., Helms P.J.B., Thomas J., Sinani C., Williams J.H.G. (October, 2012). A case study of transcranial direct current stimulation in hemiplegic cerebral palsy.4th International Cerebral Palsy Conference, Pisa, Italy.
Scheffler, G., Mon-Williams, M., Helms, P.J.B., Thomas, J., Sinani, C., Williams, J.H.G. (July, 2012). Transcranial direct current stimulation in hemiplegic cerebral palsy: A case study. The Society for Research in Rehabilitation (SRR), Summer Meeting. Leeds, UK.
Scheffler, G., Mon-Williams, M., Helms, P.J.B., Thomas, J., Sinani, C., & Williams, J.H.G., (May, 2012). Transcranial direct current stimulation in a case of hemiplegic cerebral palsy: A pilot investigation. 24th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability, Istanbul, Turkey.
Scheffler, G., Holt, R.J., 2, Sinani, C., Mon-Williams, M., Helms, P.J.B., && Williams, J.H.G. (May, 2012). Views on receiving transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in cerebral palsy: An Interview Study. 24th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability, Istanbul, Turkey.
Angilley, H. &Sinani, C. (June, 2012). Is early intervention for children with movement difficulties feasible and effective when delivered by teachers with minimal specialist support? Developmental Coordination Disorder & Handwriting UK Conferences, Edinburgh, UK.
Ainger,L., & Sinani, C. (February, 2011). A Combined Task-Specific and Progressive Resistance Strength-Training Group Programme for the Lower Limb in Chronic Stroke Patients; a Pilot Study. The Society for Research in Rehabilitation (SRR), Winter Meeting. Cardiff, UK.
Nabuzoca, D., & Sinani, C. (November, 2010). Continuities in Psychological Adjustment of Students with Special Needs. British Psychological Society. Psychology of Education Section Annual Conference.Milton Keynes, UK.
Sinani, C., & Sugden, D.A. (June, 2009). Patterns of praxic performance in different samples of children with DCD: evidence from a multiple case series analysis. 8thInternational DCD Conference(DCD VIII),Baltimore, Maryland, US.
Sinani, C., & Sugden, D.A. (June, 2009). Do task complexity and type of scoring influence the performance in DCD children? Insights from unimanual and bimanual hand postures. 8thInternational DCD Conference(DCD VIII),Baltimore, Maryland, US.
Sinani, C., & Sugden, D.A. (June, 2009). Single error analysis of representational gestural production in different sample of children with DCD. 8thInternational DCD Conference(DCD VIII),Baltimore, Maryland, US.
Sinani, C., & Sugden, D.A. (2007) Are praxic problems in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) due to pathology or developmental delay? Oral Presentation, DCD-UK, Newport, Wales.
Sinani, C., & Sugden, D.A. (2007) Patterns of praxic errors produced by clinical and school groups of children with DCD. European DCD Conference, Ede, Holland.
Sinani, C., & Sugden, D.A. (February, 2007) Quantifying differences and similarities in transitive gestural production between DCD children from schools and clinics and younger typically normally developing children. 7th International DCD Conference(DCD VII),Melbourne, Australia and European DCD Conference, Ede, Holland.
Sinani, C., & Sugden, D.A. (February, 2007) Patterns of errors produced in transitive gestures by clinical and school groups of children with DCD. 7th International DCD Conference (DCD VII), Melbourne Australia.
Sinani, C., & Sugden, D.A. (February, 2007) Co-occurrence of socio-emotional and behavioral features and co-ordination problems in clinical and school groups of DCD. 7th International DCD Conference (DCD VII), Melbourne, Australia and Poster, European DCD Conference, Ede, Holland.
Sinani, C., & Sugden, D.A. (2005) Differences in gestural production between clinical and school groups of children with DCD. DCD-UK, Oxford.
Sinani, C., & Sugden, D.A. (May, 2005) A comparison of Praxis Imagery in children with DCD and their age matched peers and a younger developing group. 6th International DCD conference (DCD-VI), Trieste, Italy.
Sinani, C., & Sugden, D.A. (July, 2005) Representations of intended actions in children with DCD compared to their aged matched peers and a younger developing group. International Conference on Postcognitivist Psychology, Glasgow, UK.
Sinani, C. (2005) Representations of previous learned actions requiring the use of and object in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). 2nd Research Annual Conference (RSAC), Leeds, UK
Sinani, C. (2004) A comparison of Praxis Imagery in children with DCD and their age matched peers and a younger developing group (primarily results). 1st Research’ Annual Conference (RSAC), Leeds, UK.
