Staff Profile
Martin Ackah
Lecturer in Physiotherapy
I hold a BSc in Physiotherapy and a master’s in public health (Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Disease Control) both from the University of Ghana. I am currently a final-year PhD candidate in Physiotherapy at Northumbria University. I have taught in higher education institutions in both West Africa and the United Kingdom and have supervised physiotherapy and occupational therapy students during their clinical placements. Clinically, I have managed a wide range of neurological conditions in special school settings and have gained extensive experience at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, and Albany specialist clinic in Ghana.
My research expertise includes systematic reviews, meta-analyses, Delphi, and mixed-methods studies. I have published in leading journals such as Disability and Rehabilitation, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Public Health, BMJ Open and PLOS ONE, among others. My research interests span global health, neurology and public health, with a particular focus on:
- Fatigue in neurological and other long-term conditions.
- Physical activity in populations with and without long-term conditions.
- Development of patient-reported outcome measures for chronic disease populations.
- Design and evaluation of complex interventions.
In September 2025, I joined York St John University as a Lecturer in Physiotherapy. In this role, I co-lead the dissertation module for final-year undergraduates and contribute to physiotherapy teaching across all year groups, with a particular emphasis on neurology and the integration of evidence-based practice.
- School – School of Science, Technology and Health
- Email – m.ackah@yorksj.ac.uk
Further information
Teaching
I teach across the BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy programme, co-leading the Dissertation module and contributing to Specialisms of Physiotherapy, Advanced Practice, and Foundations of Practice. I focus on integrating theory and practice, supporting students to develop research skills, clinical reasoning, and essential professional competencies. My aim is to nurture confident, reflective practitioners capable of delivering evidence-based physiotherapy.
Research
My research interests centre on understanding and managing symptoms such as fatigue that compromise functional capacity and quality of life among people with neurological and other chronic conditions. I am also interested in the development of patient-reported outcome measures. My current research investigates and exploring the conceptualisation and operationalisation of rest to optimise fatigue and activity management interventions in adults with long-term conditions.
Publications and conferences
Journal publications
Ackah M, Deary V, Abonie US, Hettinga FJ, Hackett KL. “Rest recharges my energy”; experiences and perceptions of rest in adults with long-term conditions and fatigue in rehabilitation: a qualitative study. Disabil Rehabil. Published online June 2025:1-12. doi:10.1080/09638288.2025.2512587
Ackah M, Abonie US, Hackett KL, Deary V, Owiredu D, Hettinga FJ. Exploring Rest Advice in Fatigue Interventions in Rehabilitation Among Adults With Long-Term Conditions: A Systematic Scoping Review of the Reporting of Rest in Randomized Controlled Trials. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2025;106(9):1422-1436. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2025.02.001
Ackah M, Hackett KL, Deary V, Hettinga FJ, Boakye H, Abonie US. How is wakeful rest operationalized and measured in daily life among adults with and without long-term conditions? A systematic scoping review. PM R. Published online September 2025. doi:10.1002/pmrj.70008
Agoriwo MW, Adorvlo PG, Junior PO, Mensa-Bonsu E, Ackah M, Atsivor B. System-level barriers account for non-compliance to physiotherapy among persons with Parkinson’s disease at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana: an explanatory mixed-method study. Afr Health Sci. 2024;24(4):332-342. doi:10.4314/ahs.v24i4.42.
Ackah M, Gazali Salifu M, Osei Yeboah C. Estimated incidence and case fatality rate of traumatic brain injury among children (0-18 years) in Sub-Saharan Africa. A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2021;16(12):e0261831. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0261831
Ackah M, Ameyaw L, Appiah R, et al. 30-day in-hospital stroke case fatality and significant risk factors in sub-Saharan-Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS Glob public Heal. 2024;4(1):e0002769. doi:10.1371/journal.pgph.0002769
Ackah M, Yeboah CO, Ameyaw L. Risk factors for 30-day in-hospital mortality for in-patient with stroke in sub-Saharan Africa: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2021;11(7):e049927. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049927.
Ackah M, Salifu MG, Ameyaw L, Boakye H, Yeboah CO. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on acute stroke admissions and case-fatality rate in lower-income and middle-income countries: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2022;12(4):e057893. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057893
Ackah M, Ameyaw L, Gazali Salifu M, et al. COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among health care workers in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2022;17(5):e0268711. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0268711
Abonie US, Ackah M, Mudawarima T, Rockson A. Effectiveness of physiotherapist-led exercise interventions for burn rehabilitation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2024;19(12):e0316658. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0316658
Ackah M, Ameyaw L, Salifu MG, Yeboah CO. Estimating the burden of hypertension and its significant risk factors among male commercial drivers in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2021;11(12):e053825. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053825
Abonie US, Ackah M, Kelly M. Effectiveness of pilates on fatigue in persons with chronic conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Disabil Rehabil. Published online June 2025:1-10. doi:10.1080/09638288.2025.2512406
Boakye H, Atabila A, Hinneh T, Ackah M, Ojo-Benys F, Bello AI. The prevalence and determinants of non-communicable diseases among Ghanaian adults: A survey at a secondary healthcare level. PLoS One. 2023;18(2):e0281310. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0281310
Ackah M, Ameyaw L, Salifu MG, et al. Estimated burden, and associated factors of Urinary Incontinence among Sub-Saharan African women aged 15-100 years: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS Glob public Heal. 2022;2(6):e0000562. doi:10.1371/journal.pgph.0000562
Ackah M, Owiredu D, Salifu MG, Yeboah CO. Estimated prevalence and gender disparity of physical activity among 64,127 in-school adolescents (aged 12-17 years): A multi-country analysis of Global School-based Health Surveys from 23 African countries. PLOS Glob public Heal. 2022;2(10):e0001016. doi:10.1371/journal.pgph.0001016
Ackah M, Boakye H, Yeboah CO, Bello AI. Physiotherapy practice patterns in the management of patients with knee osteoarthritis: A national survey on the use of clinical practice guidelines. Physiother Res Int J Res Clin Phys Ther. 2022;27(4):e1964. doi:10.1002/pri.1964
Ackah M, Salifu MG, Boakye H. Factors Associated with Serious Injuries among Adolescents in Ghana: Findings from 2012 Global School Health Survey. ScientificWorldJournal. 2021;2021:6622363. doi:10.1155/2021/6622363
Professional activities
Academic qualifications
- PhD candidate in Physiotherapy, Northumbria University
- Masters in public health, University of Ghana
- BSc. Physiotherapy, University of Ghana
Professional membership
- Member of the Health Care Professions Council
- Member of Ghana physiotherapy Association, UK
- Member of Allied Health Professional Council, Ghana
- Member of Ghana Physiotherapy evidence-based group
- Member of JBI- Evidence-Based Practice Research Group, Ghana
