Staff Profile
Dr Samantha Yoward
Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy
I came to York St John University as a lecturer practitioner in physiotherapy in 2003 and became a full time lecturer in 2005 in advance of commencing part time doctoral level study which I completed in 2011. I have taught across physiotherapy, occupational therapy and health studies programmes and have also contributed to the Masters level provision. My current teaching and learning support is generally within physiotherapy. Additionally I co-teach post-graduate Continuing Professional Development days on falls management.
My main areas of interest are in neurology and research and I am especially interested in falls and balance in people with neurological impairments as well as exploring self-management in neurology.
I am the level 4 co-ordinator for the students on the full time physiotherapy programme and lead the professional development level 4 module. I also lead the dissertation module at level 6 and teach on the level 5 neurology module. I am committed to supporting students undertaking research at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels and supervise PhD students.
- School – School of Science, Technology and Health
- Email – l.yoward@yorksj.ac.uk
- Phone – 01904 876 331
Teaching
I teach undergraduate modules at level 4 for Professional Development which includes introducing evidence based practice, at level 5 for neurology and at level 6 for the dissertation module. I also support a problem-based module for pre-registration MSc students on patient management. I supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students undertaking research. I also teach postgraduate continuing professional development days on falls management.
Professional Activities
- Registrant of the Health and Care Professions Council
- Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
- Member of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Neurology
- Fellow of the Health Education Academy
- Member of the cross-School Ethics Committee
Research
I completed a PhD in 2011 which focussed on balance measurement in people who have multiple sclerosis. This also involved a national survey of neuro-physiotherapists to explore the use of outcome measurement for balance and walking in practice.
I have completed an externally funded study exploring self-management needs in people who have progressive multiple sclerosis.
I am in the process of working on a collaborative project undertaking a systematic review on the evidence for self-management education for balance, falls and mobility for people who have multiple sclerosis.
I have supervised a number of student projects in a range of areas including resistance training for weight management, experience of violence and aggression among physiotherapy students on placement and the self-management knowledge and use by physiotherapists working in neurology. I supervised two PhD students who both successfully completed their doctorate programme in 2018 in the areas of collaborative decision-making and accelerometry.
Publications
Publications:
Thompson, J, Yoward, S, Dawson, P (2016) The role of extended scope practitioners in musculoskeletal care with focus on decision making and clinical outcomes: a systematic review of quantitative and qualitative research. Musculoskeletal Care.
Yoward, LS, Doherty, P, Boyes, C (2008) A survey of outcome measurement of balance, walking and gait amongst physiotherapists working in neurology in the UK. Physiotherapy, 94, 125-132.
Yoward, LS, Doherty, P, Boyes, C (2008) Outcome measurement by physiotherapists who work in neurology. Synapse, Spring, 14-17.
Poster presentations (actual presenter underlined):
Anderson J, Green A, Yoward LS, Hall H (2016) Criterion validity of an ankle or waist mounted Actigraph GT3X accelerometer in measurement of body position and step count at ER-WCPT Congress (4th European Congress). 11th-12th November 2016 Liverpool
Yoward LS, Doherty P, Boyes C (2012) The reliability and validity of the Berg balance scale (BBS) for people who have multiple sclerosis (MS): a literature review presented at the Physiotherapy Research Society (Sheffield Hallam University)
LS Yoward, P Doherty, C Boyes Clinical movement analysis society UK and Ireland satellite meeting on Rehabilitation of gait and posture (Birmingham) April 2007 poster presentation ‘Balance and walking measurement by physiotherapists working in neurology’.
LS Yoward, P Doherty, C Boyes Association of Chartered Physiotherapists Interested in Neurology national conference (Sheffield) March 2007 poster presentation ‘Balance and walking measurement by physiotherapists working in neurology’.
Presentations:
YSJ research methodologies conference (York) November 2006 presentation ‘A survey of the practice of measurement of balance amongst neuro-physiotherapists’.
Yorkshire AHP research and effectiveness forum/School of Professional Health Studies research conference (York) July 2006 presentation ‘Balance measurement in Neuro-rehabilitation’.
Yorkshire AHP conference (Huddersfield) September 2005 Presentation and poster presentation: ‘Balance measurement in neuro-rehabilitation’.
School of Professional Health Studies research conference (York) April 2005 Presentation ‘Outcome measurement of balance in neuro-rehabilitation’.
Poster presentations:
Selected for poster presentation at UKGrad poster competition May 2007.
Clinical movement analysis society UK and Ireland satellite meeting on Rehabilitation of gait and posture (Birmingham) April 2007 poster presentation ‘Balance and walking measurement by physiotherapists working in neurology’.
Association of Chartered Physiotherapists Interested in Neurology national conference (Sheffield) March 2007 poster presentation ‘Balance and walking measurement by physiotherapists working in neurology’.
YSJ research day (York) November 2005 Poster presentation ‘Balance measurement in neuro-rehabilitation’.
