Staff profiles
Maria Burton
MPhil, BA(Hons), MCSP
Phone 0114 225 5468
E-mail m.burton@shu.ac.uk
Since qualifying in 1978 I have held a number of physiotherapy NHS appointments, predominantly in musculo-skeletal and paediatric fields of practice. I joined Sheffield Hallam University in 1995 as a physiotherapy lecturer. I am one of two research co-ordinators for the physiotherapy subject group. This role allows me to assist physiotherapy staff to develop research ideas and form collaborations across university faculties.
My research interests centre on outcome measurement, particularly following treatment of musculo-skeletal trauma / disease in both adults and children. This has led to involvement in a wide variety of quantitative and qualitative research projects, including measurement of hip development using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), assessment of bone density in children with cerebral palsy using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) through to interviews examining the change in quality of life following major bone reconstruction in children.
I gained my MPhil from the University of Sheffield, based on work examining the change in physical and functional ability and the impact on quality of life in adults who were treated for severe limb trauma or congenital deformity with limb reconstruction surgery.
Currently I am seconded to the Centre for Health and Social Care Research and involved in the collaborative study Lab4living on the Future Bathrooms project. The Lab4living has the capacity to deal with a broad spectrum of design needs and therefore I am discussing the design needs of children and young people with various paediatric groups.
Over the past 15 years I have published and presented the findings of research projects at a number of conferences in the UK, Europe and Canada. The projects listed below are currently underway. The project; 'A long term evaluation of the physical, functional and psychosocial effects following limb reconstruction for disproportionate short stature' is currently being written up ready for publication.
Most recent publication
Whitby, Elspeth H. FFDRSCI; Bell, Michael J. MbBS, BSc; Rigby, Alan S. MSc; Burton, Maria. MPhil. Measuring Hip Development Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging.Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. 27(8):898-902, December 2007.
Research projects and funding bodies
Along term evaluation of the physical, functional and psychosocial effects following limb reconstruction for disproportionate short stature
BotulinumToxin - an adjunct in lower limb reconstruction. Can it reduce pain and enhance quality of life? Sheffield Hospital Charitable Trust
Development of a study examining treatment of Perthes disease and Prader Willi Syndrome, Cavendish Hip Appeal
A comparison of the long term effects of children who were treated with either limb reconstruction or primary amputation as a result of congenital lower limb deformity. Birth Defects Foundation
How quickly does bone density fall in cerebral palsied children following immobilisation? Sheffield Children's Hospital - Children's Appeal 2003
A pilot study to trace the development of the hip from 20 weeks gestation to the first year of life using magnetic resonance imaging. Sheffield Children's Hospital Funding - Children's Appeal 2001
