I am a Chartered Physiotherapist with expertise in neurological rehabilitation and experience across clinical, industrial and academic settings. I lead the 'Technology Assisted Rehabilitation' research theme at the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre where, working collaboratively, we co-design and evaluate technologies which promote recovery from neurological injury.

Rachel qualified as a physiotherapist in 1995 and spent the early years of her career employed within the NHS, specialising in neurological rehabilitation. Completing an MSc in Neurological Physiotherapy in 2003, she transitioned into an academic role at Sheffield Hallam University alongside continued clinical practice. Rachel developed a specific interest in exercise solutions within neurological rehabilitation and pioneered collaboration with the industrial sector to co-develop adapted exercise equipment to address unmet needs for this clinical population. Successfully completing a PhD focussed on exercise for people living with stroke, her post-doctoral portfolio comprises multiple projects which aim to co-design, evaluate and implement rehabilitation technologies.

Rachel is currently employed as a Principal Researcher at Sheffield Hallam University where she is based within the School of Health and Social Care and co-located at the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre. Collaborating with engineers, exercise scientists, healthcare professionals and psychologists, she advances technologies which aim to enable movement and improve quality of life for complex clinical populations.

Specialist areas of interest

Exercise prescription
Neurological rehabilitation