Jackie Whittaker, BScPT, PhD
Associate Professor
Contact
Lab Information
In addition to providing mentorship to MSc, PhD students and Postdoctoral Fellows in her lab, Dr. Whittaker provides lectures in the course Rehabilitation Theory. This is a required course in the thesis-based Masters and PhD of Rehabilitation Sciences program at UBC. Through discussion and critical analysis, this course provides an opportunity for students to develop an advanced understanding of knowledge creation and knowledge translation in rehabilitation sciences.
In the MPT program, her teaching includes:
Exercise and Movement II – Instructing first year students in in the development of exercise prescription, fundamental to physical therapy practice. Students integrate knowledge of resisted and flexibility program design, the respiratory response to exercise, and methodology for exercise testing and prescription for healthy individuals, as well as those with chronic disease.
Clinical Practice II – In this course, students are taught how to apply theories and principles of movement and breathing in the development of physical therapy programs for persons with musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory dysfunction. This course provides students with knowledge to select, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of basic physical therapy interventions (assessment and treatment skills and techniques). Dr. Whittaker teaches a module on osteoarthritis and total joint arthroplasty.
Clinical Practice VIa – Dr. Whittaker teaches a module on the topic of medical imaging technologies for management of musculoskeletal conditions. Topics include an overview of common imaging modalities, concepts related to diagnostic accuracy, evidence-based imaging guidelines and the application of imaging referral principles to common musculoskeletal conditions through case studies.
Dr. Whittaker’s research focuses on preventing chronic musculoskeletal conditions, with a particular emphasis on knee osteoarthritis resulting from youth traumatic sports-related injuries. Her work aims to improve patient outcomes through; 1) understanding the consequences of youth sport-related knee injuries, 2) optimizing healthcare pathways for youth that suffer a knee injury, 3) developing and evaluating interventions to reduce the risk of osteoarthritis after a knee injury and, 4) optimizing function in persons that develop knee osteoarthritis prematurely as a result of an injury. A further interest is the application of diagnostic imaging in the management of musculoskeletal conditions. Her research has direct implications for the clinical management of individuals with sport-related knee injuries and has included the identification of common factors that mediate knee injury as well as the onset and progression of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Central to her work is an integrated knowledge translation approach, involving patients and health professionals throughout the research-to-practice continuum.
See publications by Jackie Whittaker on PubMed
World Physiotherapy Congress 2021 Planning Committee
Osteoarthritis Research Society International Sport, Exercise, Physical Activity and Osteoarthritis Prevention special interest group – Core Committee Member
The Centre for Sport, Exercise and Osteoarthritis Versus Arthritis – Associate Member
Osteoarthritis Research Society International – Member
Canadian Academy of Manipulative Physiotherapists – Fellow
Canadian Physiotherapy Association – Member
Canadian Physiotherapy Association Orthopaedic Division – Member
Canadian Physiotherapy Association Sport Division – Member
Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia – Member
British Journal of Sports Medicine – Associate Editor
Journal of Orthopedic & Sport Physical Therapy Editorial Review Board