Stefania Penkala

• Qualifications
• Biography
• Research
• Selected Publications
• Grants/Current Projects
• Teaching Interests
• Awards/Honours
• Professional Activities

Qualifications

GradDip(ExSptSci), BEd(Adult), DipAppSci(Pod), Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner

Biography

Stefania has been a lecturer at the University of Western Sydney since 1999. Stefania has worked in the areas of paediatrics, gerontology, and sports injury in private, public, metropolitan and country practice as a Podiatrist. Stefania has taught within the Podiatry, Sports and Exercise Science, and Traditional Chinese Medicine programs. She has taught in a range of units including sports medicine, soft tissue techniques, clinical assessment and rehabilitation, evidence based practice and research methods. Stefania has also been actively involved in research supervision, co-supervising seven honours students within the Podiatry and Sports and Exercise Science programs. Additionally, Stefania completed and submitted her PhD entitled "Footwear choices for children: knowledge, application and the relationship to activity" in December 2009 at the University of Sydney. This large multidisciplinary project was part of the "Children's Walking Well" project funded by an Australian Research Council Award and Clarks Australia. The research combines Stefania's interest in outcome measurement, and clinical and educational interventions to promote healthy life-long physical activity, mobility and well-being.

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Research

Stefania's research interests include:

• Evidence based practice, clinical outcome measurement and psychometric testing of outcome measurement instruments
• Sports and workplace injury surveillance and prevention
• Community education, health literacy and health promotion
• Preventative exercise programs, footwear and orthoses in the management of musculoskeletal and metabolic disorders such as diabetes, osteoporosis and arthritis

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Selected Publications

Penkala, S. (2009). Shoes and the Healthy Development of Australian Children's Feet. NSW Department of Education and Training.

Wegener, C., Burns, J., & Penkala, S. (2008). Effect of neutral-cushioned running shoes on plantar pressure loading and comfort in athletes with cavus feet: a crossover randomized controlled trial. The American Journal of Sports Medicine 36(11) 2139-46.

Hennessy, K., Burns, J., & Penkala, S. (2007). Reducing plantar pressure in rheumatoid arthritis: A comparison of running versus off-the-shelf orthopaedic footwear. Clinical Biomechanics 22(8) 917-23.

Conference Abstract Publications

Penkala, S., Harris, L., Hunt, A., & Naughton, G. (2010). Foot complaints of children aged four to twelve years, sex differences and activity - a cross-sectional survey of parents. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport (12)218.

Hennessy, K., Burns, J., & Penkala, S. (2008). Effect of running and orthopaedic footwear on plantar pressure, perceived comfort, and pain in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Clinical Biomechanics (23) 662-720.

Penkala, S., Harris, L., Hunt, A., & Naughton, G. (2007). Evaluating children's shoes: reliability of the footwear evaluation and educational tool (FEET). Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 10(S1) 81.

Papalia, S., Oglesby, S., Vukovich, E., & Penkala, S. (2006). Injury and pain on physical activity profiles of adolescent female hockey and soccer players. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 6(1).

Papalia, S., Vukovich, E., Oglesby, S., & Penkala, S. (2006). Are fitness, motor control and foot posture sports injury risk factors for adolescent girls? Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 6(1).

Penkala, S., & Papalia, S. (2003). The incidence of under-reporting lower limb injuries in adolescent athletes. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 6(4) 56.

Papalia, S., & Penkala, S. (2003). Lower limb assessment and anthropometry of adolescent hockey and softball players in talent development programs. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 6(4) 14.

Spiteri, A., Burns, J., & Penkala, S. (2003). A preliminary investigation of in-shoe plantar pressure analysis in elite cricket fast bowlers. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 6(4) 99.

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Grants/Current projects

Stefania Penkala singularly and in collaboration with other researchers has been awarded approximately $97,000 of grant monies since 2003.
This has included:

• NSW Podiatry Registration Board Research and Education Account, Children's Footwear Choices for a Healthy Active Future
• University of Western Sydney, Major Infrastructure and Equipment Grant, Pedar® mobile plantar measuring unit
• University of Western Sydney, IGS internal grant scheme
• University of Western Sydney, IGS internal research grant, Pedar® mobile plantar measuring unit insoles
• University of Western Sydney, IGS internal research grant, ASPRI Statistical analysis program

Current research projects include:

• Does the Bones for Life exercise program improve bone density and reduce fracture risk in people with osteoporosis: a pilot study?
• Does conscientiousness and organisational culture influence evidence based practice behaviours?
• Can children reliably evaluate between different physical attributes of shoes using the Footwear Evaluation and Education Tool?
• The effect of children's footwear choices on foot health, comfort and physical activity participation: a prospective study.

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Teaching Interests

• Evidence based practice
• Research methods
• Research supervision
• Musculoskeletal assessment and rehabilitation

Awards/Honours

Australian Research Council Linkage Project Australian Postgraduate Scholarship (Industry) recipient.

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Professional Activities

Stefania Penkala is a member of a range of professional associations including the NSW Podiatry Association, Sports Medicine Australia, Australian Association for Exercise and Sports Science and the Australian Feldenkrais Guild.

Stefania has participated in a range of professional development programs including Bones for Life and osteoporosis, exercise rehabilitation of hip and knee osteoarthritis, and acupuncture and soft tissue techniques for Podiatrists. Furthermore, throughout her career Stefania has presented to a range of community and professional groups on mobility, exercise programs and podiatric management.

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