Associate Prof. Bronwen Ackermann Clinician | Educator | Researcher

Physio+10 focuses on the journeys of trailblazing Physiotherapists and today's conversation is with Ass. Prof. Bronwen Ackermann. I am continually amazed when meeting Physios on this podcast, about the diversity and creative intellect they have applied to new areas of clinical practice. Bronwen takes her core Physiotherapy skills and applied them to the niche of performing artists and in particular musicians. She quickly realised that these highly talented and skilled performers actually knew little about how their own bodies functioned or the loads they placed on them with practice and performance, and so started her journey.

Bronwen has not just treated these performers, she has led panel discussions, developed course curriculum, conducted research and advised Australian and overseas performers, Universities and orchestras in this expanding field. As a result, performers now have the opportunity to better understand how to limit performance injuries, and how to better manage anxiety when performing and practitioners understand how to assist performers in better managing their injuries.

Thanks for listening.

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Biography
Bronwen Ackermann is an Associate Professor in the School of Medical Sciences at the University of Sydney and a world-leading expert in injury prevention and performance optimisation through the application of performance science research. She has published over 65 peer-reviewed articles on musicians’ health and was the Editor-in-Chief (2016-2021) for Medical Problems of Performing Artists (USA). She has held prestigious grants, including the internationally important ARC Linkage-funded Sound Practice Project, studying the health of Australia’s orchestral musicians (2009-2015). She is both a Churchill and Humboldt Fellowship and is one of the key figures in musicians’ health research and clinical practice internationally.
Currently, she is collaborating with an international team of musicians’ health researchers on musicians’ health literacy, drawing on her three decades of experience providing health education for musicians, including students, professionals and community music organisations nationally and internationally. She developed and led the Musicians’ Health and Performance Wellbeing Program at the Australian National Academy of music from 2013 – 2019 and developed the Essentials of Performing Arts Medicine training program in collaboration with the American College of Sports Medicine and the Performing Arts Medicine Association (USA). She continues to act as a consultant internationally with music and health organisations on specific health initiatives to better prevent and manage performance-related health issues in musicians.