Melbourne Physiotherapy helps develop exercise video to help prevent DVT

6 July 2015

Qantas has become the first airline in the world to launch an exercise video on all its international flights to help prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
The four-minute exercise video was developed by academics at the University of Melbourne in a partnership with Physitrack, a global health-tech provider, and Sports Medicine Australia’s official exercise technology partner. Sports Medicine Australia has endorsed the exercise video.
Qantas started rolling out the exercise video on international flights this month. The video can also be viewed on Qantas’ YouTube channel.

The video was developed by Professor Kim Bennell at the Melbourne Physiotherapy School.
“These inflight exercises are designed to provide a safe way to stretch and enjoy movement in certain muscle groups that can become stiff as a result of long periods of sitting. They may be effective at increasing the body’s blood circulation and massaging the muscles,” Professor Bennell said.
“It came as a bit of a surprise international airlines hadn’t already introduced these exercise videos given what we know about DVT and long-haul travel. Hopefully, access to these videos will become standard on all international flights,” she said.
Physitrack co-founder Nathan Skwortsow said Qantas were quick to embrace the concept.
“Shot in high definition from different angles, each clip shows the correct exercise technique to motivate Qantas’ five million annual international travellers to keep moving during their flight,” he said. “In addition to being one of the safest airlines in the world, it is also great to see Qantas embracing exercise technology, even at 38,000 feet.”
Sports Medicine Australia CEO Nello Marino said sitting still for long periods of time in cramped conditions, such as on an airplane, can lead to swollen ankles and occasionally DVT.
“Whilst the risk of DVT is extremely low, it is always important to take preventive measures as the threat is always there,” he said. “Through simple, regular stretching, mobility exercises, and walking around the cabin mid-flight your risk of DVT is dramatically reduced.”

Melbourne Doctor of Physiotherapy program

Program: Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT)
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Semester intake: February each year
Duration: 3 years
Application deadline: Second round – July 31, 2015

Entry Requirements for Melbourne’s Physiotherapy Program

The physio program at the University of Melbourne is available only to those applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree in the last 10 years or are in the final year of completing an undergraduate degree.
1. To be considered for admission into the program, a Canadian applicant must have completed an undergraduate degree and prerequisite subjects. Prerequisite subjects include one semester of human anatomy and one semester of human physiology.
2. As well, the applicant must participate in a multi-mini interview. Selected applicants will be shortlisted to participate in a multi-mini interview (MMI) to assess interest in and motivation for undertaking the program, likely capacity for establishing and maintaining rapport with patients in a clinical setting, communication skills, and aptitude for collaboration and decision making. The university  has advised that international applicants will likely complete a MMI via video conferencing or phone.
Selection will be based on academic record (grade point average—GPA) from a completed three- or four-year university degree. The Selection Committee will also conduct interviews. To be competitive, it is anticipated that applicants will have achieved a standard of at least 70% or higher GPA in their undergraduate degree.

Apply to the University of Melbourne Doctor of Physiotherapy

*

Find out more about the University of Melbourne’s Doctor of Physiotherapy program. Contact OzTREKK’s Australian Physiotherapy Schools Admissions Officer Jaime Notman at jaime@oztrekk.com or call toll free in Canada at 1-866-698-7355.

News