Staff profiles
Dr Stephen May
PhD MSc BSc (Hons)
Phone 0114 225 2370
E-mail s.may@shu.ac.uk
Stephen May is a senior lecturer in physiotherapy in the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing. His first degree was in English literature, graduating from Oxford University in 1979. He qualified as a physiotherapist in 1990 from the Leeds School of Physiotherapy, and gained a MSc in Health Services Research and Health Technology Assessment in 1998 from Sheffield University.
Prior to his appointment at Sheffield Hallam University, Stephen worked as a physiotherapist in Chesterfield PCT. Whilst there he helped expand the physiotherapy service into primary care, introduced evidence-based guidelines and routine use of outcome measures, created an orthopaedic screening service and conducted audit and research.
Stephen achieved a Diploma in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy in 1995, and after several years involvement with the McKenzie Institute International co-authored with Robin McKenzie several books on this approach to musculoskeletal problems. In 2006 a fellowship was conferred on Stephen by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists for his contribution to physiotherapy. In 2008 he was awarded a PhD by previous publications entitled 'Development of Aspects of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy', which included the three books and eleven peer-reviewed publications.
His research interests are focussed on aspects of musculoskeletal physiotherapy, especially relating to mechanical diagnosis and therapy. Current work includes reliability studies on the use of mechanical diagnosis and therapy in extremity musculoskeletal problems.
Stephen has been involved in a number of publications, including three books on mechanical diagnosis and therapy that are used internationally, and several chapter in internationally available books. He has published over 20 articles in peer reviewed journals. These include explorations of patient satisfaction, clinical audit, secondary reviews from randomised controlled trials and a number of systematic reviews.
Research interests
- musculoskeletal area, especially low back pain, neck pain and shoulder pain, but not confined to these areas
- specialist in McKenzie approach of mechanical diagnosis and therapy
- very interested in the area of sub-classification / diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders
- very interested in the role of exercise for musculoskeletal problems
Have an extensive publication record with experience of undertaking both quantitative and qualitative work; have also completed a number of published systematic reviews.
Research outputs: key publications since 2001
May S, Nanche G, Pingle S (2011). High frequency of McKenzie's posturalsyndrome in young population of non-care seeking individuals. The Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy 19:48-54.
May S. Physical examination of the lumbar spine - which tests do clinicians agree on and which do what it says on the can? International Journal of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy 2010.5.3.3-10.
May S, Chance-Larsen K, Littlewood C, Lomas D, Saad M (2010). Reliability of physical examination tests used in the assessment of patients with shoulder problems: a systematic review. Physiotherapy DOI: 10.1016/j.physio.2009.12.002
May S (2010). Self-management of chronic low back pain and osteoarthritis. Nat Rev Rheum 6.199-209.
Fidvi N, May S (2010). Physiotherapy management of low back pain in India - a survey of self-reported practice. Physio Res Int DOI:10.1002/pri.458
May S, Lomas D. 2010. Posture, the lumbar spine and back pain. In: JH Stone, M Blouin, editors. International Encyclopedia of Rehabilitation.
May S, Ross J (2009). the McKenzie classification system in the extremities: a reliability study using McKenzie assessment forms and experienced clinicians. J Manip Physiol Thera 32:556-563.
Reeve S, May S (2009). Exploration of patients' perspectives of quality within an extended scope physiotherapists' spinal screening service. Physio Theory Pract 25:533-543.
Newsome RJ, May S, Chiverton N, Cole AA (2009). A prospective, randomised trial of immediate exercise following lumbar microdiscectomy: a preliminary study. Physiotherapy doi:10.1016/j.physio.2009.06.004
May S, Donelson R (2008). Evidence-informed management of chronic low back pain with the McKenzie method. Spine J 8.134-141.
Littlewood C, May S (2007). A contractile dysfunction of the shoulder. Manual Therapy 12.80-83.
May S (2007). Forschung zum Konzept (chapter 5). In: Saner-Bissig J (editor). McKenzie - Mechanische Diagnose und Therapie. Thieme, Stuttgart.
Hettinga DM, Jackson A, Klaber Moffett J, May S, Mercer C, Woby SR (2007). A systematic review and synthesis of higher quality evidence of the effectiveness of exercise interventions for non-specific low back pain of at least 6 weeks' duration. Physical Therapy Reviews 12.221-232.
Littlewood C, May S (2007). Measurement of range of movement in the lumbar spine - what methods are valid? A systematic review. Physiotherapy 93.201-211.
May S (2007). Patients' attitudes and beliefs about back pain and its management after physiotherapy for low back pain. Physiother Res Int 12. 126-135.
Mclean SM, May S, Klaber Moffett J, Sharp DM, Gardiner E (2007). Prognostic factors for progressive nonspecific neck pain: a systematic review. Physical Therapy Reviews 2007; 12: 207-220
Hettinga DM Jackson A, Moffett JK, May S, Mercer C, Woby SR (2007). A systematic review and synthesis of higher quality evidence of the effectiveness of exercises interventions for non-specific low back pain of at least 6 weeks' duration. Physical Therapy Reviews 12 . 221-232.
May S. Rosedale R (2007). A case study of a potential manipulation responder whose back pain resolved with flexion exercises. J Manip Physiol Thera 30.539-542.
Womersley L, May S (2006). Sitting posture of subjects with postural backache. J Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics 29.213-218.
May S, Littlewood C, Bishop A (2006). Reliability of procedures used in the physical examination of non-specific low back pain: a systematic review. Aus J Physio 52.91-102.
McKenzie R, May S (2006). The Cervical and Thoracic Spine: Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy. Spinal Publications New Zealand Ltd (2nd Edition).
May S (2006). Classification by McKenzie's Mechanical Syndromes: A survey of McKenzie-trained faculty. J Manip Physiol Thera 29.637-642.
Moffett JK, Jackson DA, Gardiner ED, Torgerson, Coulton S, Eaton S, Mooney MP, Pickering C, Gren AJ, Walker LG, May S, Young S (2006). Randomized trial of two physiotherapy interventions for primary care neck and back pain patients: 'McKenzie' vs brief physiotherapy pain management. Rheumatology 2006 Dec;45(12):1514-21
Stephen May. The prevention and management of simple low back pain. In: Smith J (Ed). The Handling of People (5th Edition). Backcare, Middlesex (2005).
Aina A, May S (2005). A shoulder derangement. Manual Therapy 10.159-163.
Sytte L, May S, Petersen P (2005). Centralisation - its prognostic value in patients with referred symptoms and sciatica. Spine 30.E293-E299.
Aina A, May S, Clare H. The centralisation phenomenon of spinal symptoms - a systematic review (2004). Manual Therapy 9.134-143.
McKenzie R, May S (2003). The Lumbar Spine: Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy. Spinal Publications New Zealand Ltd (2nd Edition).
May S. Implementation of outcome measures for musculoskeletal physiotherapy in primary care: an audit (2003). Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 19.189-198.
May S, McKenzie RA (2002). Mechanical diagnosis and therapy for cervical and thoracic spine. In Grant R (Ed), Physical Therapy for the Cervical and Thoracic Spine (3rd Ed). Churchill Livingstone, New York.
May SJ (2001). Patient satisfaction with management of back pain. Part 1: What is satisfaction? Review of satisfaction with medical management.
Part 2: An explorative, qualitative study into patients' satisfaction with physiotherapy. Physiotherapy 87.4-20.
