Department of Allied Health Sciences – Research

The Department of Allied Health Sciences conducts high-quality research in musculoskeletal science, sports and exercise, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation. The BSc. Physiotherapy degree program has a strong undergraduate research program with high research output. Over the years, the department has developed research collaborations with national and international experts. The department research has immensely contributed to national development, product implementation, capacity building, and public education. Further, the department is exploring opportunities for industry collaboration to expand research-based product development and service provision.

Undergraduate Research

 In the Research Stream of the BSc physiotherapy degree programme the students receive guidance and knowledge on research through a well-structured taught programme aiming to equip them with abilities and skills to conduct a research project.  The students go through training in mandatory areas in scientific research, ethics and are expected to conduct an research project on a chosen topic, under the guidance of a supervisor and present a research report for assessment. With the development of the Research Laboratory in 2019 the students have more equipment and opportunity to develop variety of research projects keeping with the international trends.

To date more than 40 % of the students disseminate their research findings via local and international forums/conferences and some in peer reviewed publications.

Publication Year 2020

International/ Local Poster/ Oral/ Journal Batch Citation
Local Oral 2014AL Kumaradasa PP, Siridewa K, Ranasinghe DC, ‘Influence of music tempo on heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate changes in treadmill walking exercise of untrained undergraduates’, Colombo Medical Congress-2020
Local Oral 2014AL Premarathna MMLD, Weerarathne CL,’Effectiveness of an aerobic exercise programme on cardiovascular endurance and body weight in sedentary overweight female undergraduates of the University of Colombo and their knowledge, attitudes, concerns and expectations regarding aerobic exercises’, Colombo Medical Congress-2020
Local Poster 2012AL Ramanayake RMCP, De Abrew, ‘ Relationship between dynamic balance and gender in primary school children’, Colombo Medical Congress-2020
Local Poster 2012AL Gamage GSA, Siridewa K, ‘Comparing anterior pelvic tilt and degree of lumbar flexion with different footwear heights worn by young women in Sri Lanka, Colombo Medical Congress 2020
Local Poster 2012AL Ruwanpathirana DS, Jayasinghe S., ‘The effect of the backpack weight and it’s placements on postural angles and on an aspect of lung function of male and female students in two government schools, Sri Lanka’, Colombo Medical Congress 2020
Local Poster 2013AL Nadishani SKS, Kumarasinghe KHM, Jayakody JMSN, ‘Association of health related quality of life and grip strength with aerobic capacity among physiotherapy students, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo Medical Congress 2020
Local Poster 2014AL Ganegoda GAMM,Weerarathne CL, ‘ Medications, physiotherapy, attitudes regarding physiotherapy and health related quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis attending rheumatology clinics of NHSL, Colombo, Sri Lanka’, Colombo Medical Congress 2020
Local Poster 2014AL Jayatissa PAS, Sirisena N, ‘Relationship between smart phone usage patterns and subjective musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck and upper extremities in a cohort of Sri Lankan University students’, Colombo Medical Congress 2020
Local Poster 2014AL Madushani EAPN, Dissanayake D, ‘Postural changes in drivers due to prolong work related sitting posture’, Colombo Medical Congress 2020
Local Poster 2014AL Rajasinghe U, Dalpadadu C, ‘Relationship between physical activity level with social participation and risk of falls among a selected group of community-dwelling elders in Colombo district, Sri Lanka’, Colombo Medical Congress 2020
Local Poster 2014AL Ranathunge KDSU, De Zoysa I, ‘Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, symptoms and associated risk factors among teachers in selected secondary schools in Colombo, Sri Lanka’, Colombo Medical Congress 2020
Local Poster 2014AL Ruwani JMR, Wanigasinghe, Wickramasinghe WWCA, ‘Comparison of Hamstring: Quadriceps (H:Q) functional strength ratio following ligamentous knee injury in inquired & non-inquired athletes from universities in Colombo district, Sri Lanka’, Colombo Medical Congress 2020
Local Poster 2014AL Ruwanmali PAS, Dissanayake D, ‘Balance and risk of falling in children with visual impairments’, Colombo Medical Congress 2020
Batch Student Name Award Research
2009 Batch HUD Perera Best Oral Presentation – 2nd Runner Up at annual scientific sessions of the physiological society of Sri Lanka in 2015 Perera HUD, Thoraeniya T, Waidyatilaka PHIU. The relationship between performance knowledge and practises among school rugby players in Colombo district. Annual scientific sessions of the physiological society of Sri Lanka, 2015
2011 Batch H.M.V. Sandeepani SLMA prize for the best poster in 2017, 130th SLMA congress Sandeepani H.M.V, Dissanayake W.D.N 2017, ‘The relationship between the levels of motor functions and balance in post-stroke patients’
2011 batch MHH Sandaruwan Sir Nicholas Attygalle award for poster presentation at 130th SLMA congress in 2017 Sandaruwan MHH, Fernanado D. 2017 ‘Determinants of balance confidence and standing balance performance in stroke survivors with hemiplegia at Rheumatology and Rehabilitation hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka’, SLMA 130th anniversary international medical congress
2013 Batch Weerabaddana KS 3rd place of Allied Health Sciences category of National Health Research Symposium 2019 Weerabaddana KS, Constantine GR, ‘Investigating the relationship between Body Mass Index, hamstring flexibility and cardiovascular endurance of male undergraduate students of Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo’, National Health Research Symposium 2019
Batch No.Students
in the Batch
International Local Peer Review
Journal Publications
Total Precentage
Output
Oral poster Oral poster
2005 AL 28 2 7 8 3 1 21 75%
2006 AL 19 0 2 0 4 1 7 37%
2007 AL 27 0 3 3 1 0 7 26%
2008 AL 36 6 1 3 3 1 14 39%
2009 AL 29 0 0 9 12 0 21 72%
2010 AL 27 0 0 2 4 1 7 26%
2011 AL 35 2 2 3 8 1 16 46%
2012 AL 30 0 0 3 13 0 16 53%
2013 AL 28 0 0 6 10 0 16 57%
2014 AL 29 0 0 2 7 0 9 31%
Total 288 10 15 39 65 5 125 43%

Student Publications

  • International Oral
  • Interantional Poster
  • Local Oral
  • Local Poster
  • Journal Publication

Total Publications

  • Total Publications
  • Output Precentage %

The Research Laboratory is providing equipment, training and guidance for the undergraduate and postgraduate researchers of Department of Allied Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine University of Colombo. Opportunities for other researchers for collaborative research are provided on request.

Equipment Available:

Exercise Physiology Physiotherapy & Biomechanics
  • Anthropometry assessments
  • Digital dynamometry
  • Flexibility assessments
  • Computerized spirometer
  • Electromyography biofeedback unit
  • Physiological profile assessment system (pressure and balance analysis system)
  • Ergometer
  • Treadmill
  • Electrical stimulator
  • Infra-red (IR) therapy
  • Interferential therapy
  • Shortwave diathermy
  • Ultrasound therapy
  • Clinical gait analysis

Contact us :

Chairperson, Research Stream,
Department of Allied Health Sciences
Email:
Phone : 0112 688 686

ABOUT THIS JOURNAL

The Sri Lanka Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences (SLJPRS) is a peer-reviewed, open access journal published bi-annually by the Department of Allied Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

AIMS AND SCOPE

The journal’s mission is to publish high quality research with the most important impact for global physiotherapy practices and rehabilitation (also known as physical therapy). Our vision is to lead the field in assisting clinicians to access, understand and implement research evidence that will positively impact person-centred care.

The SLJPRS is inclined to provide publication priority to original research articles, reports of clinical trials, systematic reviews, experimental studies, qualitative studies, epidemiological studies, observational studies and economic analyses.

Research papers in the SLJPRS are published with open access availability to all. All articles in Sri Lanka Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 CC-BY International License.

There are no manuscript handling administrative fees or author charges for publication.

GUIDELINES FOR MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION

The Sri Lanka Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences (SLJPRS) is primarily committed to publish scientific findings in the areas related to physiotherapy and rehabilitation.

Until we activate the abstract submission portal in the journal website, you can submit your paper by emailing us at sljprs@med.cmb.ac.lk.

Author Guidelines: Download from the below link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g0VKZQ4J_TkszqBLpAv1ccTdrwpe1WP_/view?usp=sharing

Any submission that does not conform to the Author Guidelines will be rejected without processing them any further.

Editor-in-Chief:

Dr. Asha Wettasinghe (Senior Lecturer, Department of Allied Health Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Assistant Editors:

Dr. KRM Chandrathilake (Senior Lecturer, Department of Allied Health Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka )

Dr. Chathurani Sigera (Ph.D. Scholar, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney, Australia)