Obesity Implications:
- Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
- Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy
- Lymphoedema and Skin Care
Obesity Implications - Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
The following recorded presentation and accompanying slides explore how obesity influences musculoskeletal (MSK) health. It includes an overview of the mechanical, biological and psychosocial mechanisms that contribute to MSK pain in people living with obesity.
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Key implications of obesity, relating to physiotherapy interventions for MSK conditions, are highlighted. Emphasis is placed on a person-centred, non-stigmatising approach.
This presentation aims to support learners to better integrate their knowledge of obesity with their knowledge of MSK pain and pathology to enhance clinical reasoning and drive evidence-based physiotherapy practice.
Obesity Implications - Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy
This presentation provides an overview of key considerations regarding how obesity can influence
the assessment and management of patients with cardiorespiratory conditions. It is not intended to be exhaustive.
The session explores several core topics, including the impact of obesity on respiratory mechanics, considerations in chronic respiratory disease, post-operative pulmonary complications, and specific issues relevant to critical care.
The overall aim is to support learners in developing their clinical reasoning skills and deepening their understanding of how obesity can impact cardiorespiratory physiotherapy assessment and management.
These resources were developed for the PROMINENCE Open Education Resource (OER) by physiotherapy senior lecturers
at University College Dublin, Ireland for the Prominence Project, January 2026.