معرفی
Rachel Rapson serves as an Honorary Clinical Associate Researcher at the University of Plymouth's School of Health Professions, where she focuses on pediatric rehabilitation research, particularly for children with cerebral palsy and neurodisabilities.
Her research interests span cerebral palsy management, balance assessment techniques, rebound therapy, and quality of life measurement in pediatric populations. Dr. Rapson has developed novel assessment tools like the Next Step test for measuring anticipatory postural adjustments in children with cerebral palsy, contributing significantly to standardized measurement in this field.
Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trend toward developing and validating assessment tools for pediatric movement disorders, with increasing emphasis on school-based interventions and family-centered care approaches. Her work often employs mixed-methods approaches and stakeholder engagement to ensure clinical relevance.
As a recent PhD graduate (2023) with the thesis titled 'An exploration of balance, its measurement and usual physiotherapy care in children with cerebral palsy, to inform a mixed methods feasibility RCT,' she continues to build her research portfolio with several high-impact publications appearing through 2025.
Her collaborative research network includes prominent figures such as Professor Jane Marsden, Dr. Jean-Michel Latour, and Dr. Bryony Carter, with whom she has developed several significant studies examining physiotherapy interventions for children with neurodisabilities.
