Dr Simone Dorsch

Senior lecturer
SOAH

Simone Dorsch

Areas of expertise: stroke; rehabilitation; evidence-based practice

Phone: 02 9739 2277

Email: Simone.dorsch@acu.edu.au

Location: ACU North Sydney Campus

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2393-1719

Simone is a physiotherapy clinician, researcher and educator. She has 30+ years experience in stroke, brain injury and aged care rehabilitation. She is a senior lecturer at the Australian Catholic University in North Sydney and a Director of the StrokeEd collaboration. She has a Master of Health Science and a PhD from the University of Sydney. Her research focuses on the relationship between loss of strength and activity limitations after stroke and interventions to increase strength and strategies to increase amounts of exercise in rehabilitation. She teaches workshops on evidence-based stroke rehabilitation and increasing amounts of exercise in rehabilitation in Australia and internationally.

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Select publications

  • English C, Ceravolo MG, Dorsch S, Drummond A, Gandhi DB, Halliday Green J, Schelfaut B, Verschure P, Urimubenshi G, Savitz S (2022). Telehealth for rehabilitation and recovery after stroke: State of the evidence and future directions. Int J Stroke. 2022;17(5):487-493. DOI: 10.1177/17474930211062480
  • Dorsch S, Ada L, Sorial T, Fanayan E (2021). The Relationship Between Strength of the Affected Leg and Walking Speed After Stroke Varies According to the Level of Walking Disability: A Systematic Review, Physical Therapy, 101 (12) December 2021. DOI: 10.1093/ptj/pzab233
  • Scrivener K, Dorsch S, McCluskey A, Schurr K, Graham PL, Cao Z, Shepherd R, Tyson S. (2021) Correspondence: Author response to Vaughan-Graham et al. J Physiother. 2021 Jul;67(3):231. DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2021.06.016
  • Scrivener K, Dorsch S, McCluskey A, Schurr K, Graham PL, Cao Z, Shepherd R, Tyson S (2020). Bobath therapy is inferior to task-specific training and not superior to other interventions in improving lower limb activities after stroke: a systematic review. J Physiother. 2020 Oct;66(4):225-235. DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2020.09.008
  • Paim T, Low-Choy N, Dorsch S and Kuys S (2020). An audit of physiotherapists' documentation on physical activity assessment, promotion and prescription to older adults attending out-patient rehabilitation, Disabil Rehabil. 2022;44(8):1537- 1543. DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2020.1805644
  • Dorsch S, Elkins M (2020). Repetitions and dose in stroke rehabilitation. Journal of Physiotherapy.
  • 66(4), pp. 211-212. DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2020.04.001
  • Hassett L, van den Berg, M, Lindley, RI, Dorsch S et al. (2020). Digitally enabled aged care and neurological rehabilitation to enhance outcomes with Activity and MObility UsiNg Technology (AMOUNT) in Australia: A randomised controlled trial. PLOS Medicine 17(2): e1003029. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003029
  • De Sousa DG, Harvey LA, Dorsch S, Varettas B, Jamieson S, Murphy A, Giaccari S (2019). Two weeks of intensive sit-to-stand training in addition to usual care improves sit-to-stand in people who are unable to stand up independently after stroke: a randomised trial. Journal of Physiotherapy 65(3); 152-158. DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2019.05.007
  • Hillig T, Ma H, Dorsch S (2019). Goal-oriented instructions increase the intensity of practice in stroke rehabilitation compared with non-specific instructions: a within-participant, repeated measures experimental study. Journal of Physiotherapy 65:95-98. DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2019.02.007
  • Dorsch S, Weeks K, King L, Polman E (2019). In inpatient rehabilitation, large amounts of practice can occur safely without direct therapist supervision: an observational study. Journal of Physiotherapy 65:23-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2018.11.004
  • DeSousa D, Harvey L, Dorsch S, Glinsky J (2018). Interventions involving repetitive practice improve strength after stroke: a systematic review Journal of Physiotherapy 64:210-221. DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2018.08.004
  • Dorsch S, Ada L, Alloggia D (2018). Progressive resistance training increases strength after stroke but this may not carry over to activity: a systematic review. Journal of Physiotherapy 64:84-90. DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2018.02.012
  • McCluskey A, Lannin NA, Schurr K, & Dorsch S. (2017). Chapter 40: Optimising motor performance and sensation following brain impairment. In M Curtin, M Egan & J Adams (Eds.). Occupational therapy for people experiencing illness, injury or impairment: Promoting occupation and participation (7th ed.). Elsevier.
  • Scrivener K, Tourany R, McNamara-Holmes M, Schurr K, Dorsch S and Dean C (2017). Feasibility of a Nurse-Led Weekend Group Exercise Program for People after Stroke. Stroke Research and Treatment Article ID 4574385. DOI: 10.1155/2017/4574385
  • de Sousa DG, Harvey LA, Dorsch S, Leung J, Harris W (2016). Functional electrical stimulation cycling does not improve mobility in people with acquired brain injury and its effects on strength are unclear: a randomised trial. Journal of Physiotherapy 62(4):203-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2016.08.004
  • Hassett L, van den Berg M, Lindley RI, Crotty M, McCluskey A, van der Ploeg HP, Smith ST, Schurr K, Killington M, Bongers B, Howard K, Heritier S, Togher L, Hackett M, Treacy D, Dorsch S, Wong S, Scrivener K, Chagpar S, Weber H, Pearson R, Sherrington C. (2016). Effect of affordable technology on physical activity levels and mobility outcomes in rehabilitation: a protocol for the Activity and MObility UsiNg Technology (AMOUNT) rehabilitation trial. BMJ Open 6;6(6). DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012074
  • Dorsch S, Ada L, Canning CG. (2016) Lower Limb Strength Is Significantly Impaired in All Muscle Groups in Ambulatory People With Chronic Stroke: A Cross-Sectional Study. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 97(4):522-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2015.10.106
  • Dorsch S, Ada L, Canning CG (2014). EMG-triggered electrical stimulation for very weak upper limb muscles following stroke: a randomised controlled feasibility study. Clinical Rehabilitation 28(5); 482-490. DOI: 10.1177/0269215513510011
  • Dorsch S, Ada L, Canning CG, Al-Zahrani M, Dean C (2012). The strength of the ankle dorsiflexors has a significant contribution to walking speed in people who can walk independently after stroke: an observational study. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 93(6): 1072-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2012.01.005
  • Alzahrani M, Dean C, Ada L, Dorsch S and Canning CG (2012). Mood and balance are associated with free-living physical activity of people after stroke residing in the community. Stroke Research and Treatment 2012, 470648. DOI: 10.1155/2012/470648
  • Sherrington C, Pamphlett PI, Jacka JA, Olivetti LM, Nugent JA, Hall JM, Dorsch S, Kwan MM, Lord SR (2008). Group exercise can improve mobility among older people in an outpatient rehabilitation setting: a randomised controlled trial. Clinical Rehabilitation 22; 493-502. DOI: 10.1177/0269215508087994
  • Ada L, Dorsch S, Canning C (2006). Strengthening interventions increase strength and improve activity after stroke: a systematic review. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy 52; 241-248. DOI: 10.1016/S0004-9514(06)70003-4

Projects

  • Sherrington C, Lindley R, Crotty M et al (Chief investigators). Bongers B, Treacey D, Dorsch S et al (Associate investigators). Affordable technology to improve physical activity levels and mobility outcomes in rehabilitation. NHMRC 2013 $1.4m.
  • Desousa D, Harvey L, Dorsch S and Liu J. Does cycling with electrical stimulation (ES) improve strength and walking ability in stroke survivors? A randomised controlled trial. National Stroke Foundation 2013, $11450.
  • Schurr K, Dorsch S, Sherrington C, McCluskey A, Togher L. Optimising Rehabilitation Outcomes. Ingham Health Research Institute, Western Zone Research Infratructure 2008, $152 500
  • Dorsch S, Ada L, Canning C. The effectiveness of EMG triggered electrical stimulation in increasing strength and activity in acute, very weak stroke patients. Physiotherapy Research Foundation 2006, $4967
  • Dorsch S, Ada L, Canning C. Does EMG-triggered electrical stimulation improve strength and activity in acute, very weak stroke? NSW Physiotherapists Registration Board 2006, $7476

Accolades and Awards

  • Australian Postgraduate Award 2007
  • ACU finalist in National 5-minute research pitch competition 2017
  • ACU Vice-Chancellor's award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning 2018.

Appointments and Affiliations

  • Senior Lecturer, SOAH, Faculty of Health Sciences, ACU
  • Director of the StrokeEd collaboration, 2010 to present
  • Committee member: The PEDro Education and Training committee
  • Committee member: Education and Practice, International Neurological Physiotherapy Association
  • Working party member: Strength guidelines and Standing balance guidelines for the Stroke Foundation Living Guidelines

Editorial roles

Reviewer for:

  • Journal of Physiotherapy
  • Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine BMC Neurology
  • Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation
  • Clinical Rehabilitation
  • Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
  • Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy
  • BMJ Open

International journal review panels

  • Invited reviewer for the NHMRC of the National Stroke Foundation clinical guidelines 2017
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