Associate Professor John Booth

Fields of research: Exercise Physiology, Rehabilitation and Therapy (excl. Physiotherapy)

Contact Details

Phone: +61 2 9385 8710
Fax: 51551
Email: john.booth@unsw.edu.au

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John is a renowned Exercise Physiologist based on leadership in his profession as a clinician and clinical educator. His teaching, research and clinical practice is in exercise for musculoskeletal pain, with a special interest in chronic pain. He lead the development of musculoskeletal and workplace rehabilitation curriculum at UNSW that equips new graduates with the real-life skills required for professional practice.

He has made significant contributrions to the exercise physiology profession over the last 2 decades through national committees, providing expert opinion, and the delivery of clinical education events including webinars, podcasts, and workshops. Since 2017 John has been a mentor for clincians in regional Australia as part of the Pain Revolution's vision that all Australians have access to the knowledge, skills and local support to overcome persistent pain. He was recognised as a fellow by Exercise and Sports Science Australia in 2020 for his contribution to the exercise physiology profession and community.

University role:

Accredited Exercise Physiologist

Grants:

2019 - Tom Penrose Community Service grant, Exercise and Sports Science Australia.
2016 - Major research equipment and infrastructure initiative (MREII).
2017 The Sydney partnership for health, education, research and enterprise (SPHERE) - 4 year study for community-based study on OA treatment and management

Awards:

2020 Fellow membership to the Australian Exercise and Sports Association
2019 UNSW Medicine Education Team Award for Educational Excellence in Educational Design or Development
2019 UNSW School of Medical Sciences SOMS Teacher of the Year award

Keywords:

musculoskeletal conditions

patient education

chronic pain

exercise therapy

interdisciplinary practice

Research

Research activities:

While exercise is first line treatment for chronic musculoskeletal pain, there is considerable uncertainty about the optimal exercise type and dose. The focus of John's research is concerned with identifying the optimal approach concerning exercise prescription for chronic musculoskeletal pain. His current research includes understanding and improving the education that clinicians are delivering during exercise treatment for musculoskeletal pain.

John led an international group of clinicians and pain scientists in authoring a clinical practice paper to guide exercise professionals designing and delivering exercise interventions for chronic musculoskeletal pain. This paper was the first to provide clear and practical guidelines for the delivery of evidence-based exercise interventions that align with contemporary pain rehabilitation practices. The paper generated significant interest internationally, with translation to French in 2020.

Socio-economic Objective (SEO) tags:

Allied Health Therapies (excl. Mental Health Services)

Teaching & Supervision

I am available to supervise:

Yes

Areas of supervision:

John's area of interest is exercise and musculoskeletal pain. This includes developing a better understanding of the relationship between exercise and musculoskeletal pain and ways to optimise outcomes for exercise treatment. Nearly all clincial guidelines for musculoskeletal pain inlcude education. John is particularly intesterested in research to better understand the education that clincians are currently delivering during their exercise treatments for chronic MSK pain. This will permit the development and trial of more efficacious combined exercise and education interventions that are targeted to specific musculoskeletal conditions/patient subgroups. Currently John is undertaking research that examines how combining exercise and pain education influences pain and other treatment outcomes during exercise with musculoskeletal pain.

Currently supervising:

PhD. School of Medical Sciences, UNSW. The use of pain neuroscience education and exercise in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain

PhD. Prince of Wales Hospital, UNSW. Mediators of healthcare use in relation to chronic low back pain

Supervision keywords:

musculoskeletal conditions

exercise physiology

chronic pain

back pain

clinician perspectives

Teaching:

John is in the unique position of being able to draw on 20 years of clinical and industry experience as a practicing Exercise Physiologist, to develop contemporary curriculum in musculoskeletal rehabiliation and occupational rehabiliation that is highly relevant to a rapidly evolving workplace. His primary area of interest is the assessment and treatment of chronic musulosketetal pain. He places considerable emphasis on critical thinking and problem solving through student-centred learning modalities including flipped classes, case study tutorials, team-based learning and interactive online learning activities. His teaching approach is to design and deliver innovative, relevant, and engaging curriculum that motivates, engages, and equips students with practical skills and confidence in preparation for professional practice.John has a strong interest in developing exercise as medicine curriculum in undergraduate medicine at UNSW and inter-professional teaching with exercise physiology and other health professions.

Media

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-booth-4587a474/

Publications related to this Person

Journal articles

Booth J; Moseley GL; Schiltenwolf M; Cashin A; Davies M; Hübscher M, 2017, 'Exercise for chronic musculoskeletal pain: A biopsychosocial approach', Musculoskeletal Care, vol. 15, pp. 413 - 421, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/msc.1191

Jones MD; Valenzuela T; Booth J; Taylor JL; Barry BK, 2017, 'Explicit Education About Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia Influences Pain Responses to Acute Exercise in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial', Journal of Pain, vol. 18, pp. 1409 - 1416, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2017.07.006

Jones MD; Taylor JL; Booth J; Barry BK, 2016, 'Exploring the mechanisms of exercise-induced hypoalgesia using somatosensory and laser evoked potentials', Frontiers in Physiology, vol. 7, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2016.00581

Jones MD; Booth J; Taylor JL; Barry BK, 2016, 'Limited association between aerobic fitness and pain in healthy individuals: A cross-sectional study', Pain Medicine (United States), vol. 17, pp. 1799 - 1808, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnv084

Hübscher M; Tu S; Stanton T; Moseley GL; Wand BM; Booth J; McAuley JH, 2015, 'Movement restriction does not modulate sensory and perceptual effects of exercise-induced arm pain', European Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 115, pp. 1047 - 1055, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-3085-5

Jones M; Booth J; Taylor JL; Barry BK, 2014, 'Aerobic training increases pain tolerance in healthy individuals', Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, vol. 46, pp. 1640 - 1647, http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000000273

Burrows NJ; Booth J; Sturnieks DL; Barry BK, 2014, 'Acute resistance exercise and pressure pain sensitivity in knee osteoarthritis: a randomised crossover trial', Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, vol. 22, pp. 407 - 414, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2013.12.023

Booth J, 2014, 'Approach to low back pain - Exercise physiology', Australian Family Physician, vol. 43, pp. 795 - 796

Booth J, 2010, 'Exercise in Musculoskeletal Pain Management', Pain Management in General Practice, vol. 1, pp. 10 - 10, http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=110880107381434;res=IELHEA

Booth J; Wilsmore BR; Macdonald AD; Zeyl A; McGhee S; Calvert D; Marino FE; Storlien LH; Taylor NAS, 2001, 'Whole-body pre-cooling does not alter human muscle metabolism during sub-maximal exercise in the heat', European Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 84, pp. 587 - 590, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004210100410

Harmer AR; McKenna MJ; Sutton JR; Snow RJ; Ruell PA; Booth J; Thompson MW; Mackay NA; Stathis CG; Crameri RM; Carey MF; Eager DM, 2000, 'Skeletal muscle metabolic and ionic adaptations during intense exercise following sprint training in humans', Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 89, pp. 1793 - 1803, http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jappl.2000.89.5.1793

Booth J; Marino F; Hill C; Gwinn T, 1999, 'Energy cost of sport rock climbing in elite performers', British Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 33, pp. 14 - 18, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.33.1.14

Marino F; Booth J, 1998, 'Whole body cooling by immersion in water at moderate temperatures', Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, vol. 1, pp. 73 - 81, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1440-2440(98)80015-7

Booth J; Marino F; Ward JJ, 1997, 'Improved running performance in hot humid conditions following whole body precooling', Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, vol. 29, pp. 943 - 949, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00005768-199707000-00014

Booth J; McKenna MJ; Ruell PA; Gwinn TH; Davis GM; Thompson MW; Harmer AR; Hunter SK; Sutton JR, 1997, 'Impaired calcium pump function does not slow relaxation in human skeletal muscle after prolonged exercise', Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 83, pp. 511 - 521, http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1997.83.2.511

Ruell PA; Booth J; McKenna MJ; Sutton JR, 1995, 'Measurement of sarcoplasmic reticulum function in mammalian skeletal muscle: Technical aspects', Analytical Biochemistry, vol. 228, pp. 194 - 201, http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/abio.1995.1339

Conference Papers

Jones M; Booth J; Taylor J; Barry B, 2013, 'Aerobic Exercise Training Increases Pain Tolerance In Healthy Individuals', in MEDICINE AND SCIENCE IN SPORTS AND EXERCISE, LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, Indianapolis, IN, pp. 197 - 197, presented at 60th Annual Meeting of the American-College-of-Sports-Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 28 May 2013 - 01 June 2013, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000330469701306&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1

Burrows NJ; John B; Sturnieks D; Barry BK, 2013, 'The Effect Of A Single Bout Of Resistance Exercise On Pain Sensitivity In Knee Osteoarthritis', in MEDICINE AND SCIENCE IN SPORTS AND EXERCISE, LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, Indianapolis, IN, pp. 647 - 647, presented at 60th Annual Meeting of the American-College-of-Sports-Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 28 May 2013 - 01 June 2013, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000330469705115&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1

Booth J; Day J, 2005, '11:1810. Functional restoration following lumbar disc replacement: effect of pre and post exercise treatment', in The Spine Journal, Elsevier BV, pp. S5 - S5, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2005.05.012

Booth JD; Wilsmore BR; MacDonald AD; Zeyl A; Storlien LH; Taylor NAS, 2004, 'Intramuscular temperatures during exercise in the heat following pre-cooling and pre-heating', in Journal of Thermal Biology, pp. 709 - 715, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2004.08.044