Who is who in Arthrofibrosis
IAA Committee
Dr. Kayley Usher
Founder
The IAA was founded by Dr. Kayley Usher (PhD), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia. Kayley has a research background in immunology and microbiology, and her journey with arthrofibrosis began after a total knee replacement. Her experience of the knowledge “black hole” lit a passion to inform and educate people about arthrofibrosis. Drawing on her scientific understanding of fibrosis, Kayley wrote a review paper called “Pathological mechanisms and therapeutic outlooks for arthrofibrosis”, published in Nature Bone Research in 2019. Since this time she has provided scientifically referenced information about the drivers of arthrofibrosis and treatment options.
Dr. Manon Raap
Statistician
Dr. Manon Raap is a senior data scientist in industry. Knee surgery after a skiing accident initiated her disability from arthrofibrosis and with that to a long and intense search for multidisciplinary treatment options. Because of this battle, she recognized the importance of spreading the IAA knowledge. To this aim, Manon has built this website and runs the IAA social media accounts.
Sebastiano Nutarelli
Physical Therapist
Sebastiano Nutarelli is a physical therapist with a focus on treating arthrofibrosis. His lengthy journey with this disease led him to specialized care in the United States. In 2018 he co-founded the Sports Rehab PT clinic in Lugano, Switzerland. Sebastiano works with patients on a daily basis in order to help them recover from injury and surgery and is a strong supporter of Evidence-Based practice in rehabilitation. Sebastiano is a part-time clinical researcher at the Service of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Department of Surgery, Lugano, Switzerland and an International PhD student on knee ACL rehabilitation at UCD Dublin, Ireland. Sebastiano also runs his own courses in Europe on Evidence-Based rehabilitation for sports knee injuries, arthrofibrosis, and knee OA.
IAA Advisory Panel
Prof. Tony Blazevich
Professor of Biomechanics
Tony Blazevich is a Professor of Biomechanics and lecturer in clinical neurophysiology at Edith Cowan University (ECU), Australia. His research interests include the understanding of neuromuscular adaptations to acute and chronic physical training in both non-clinical, clinical and elderly populations. Specifically, he studies adaptations in muscle size and architecture, spinal and supraspinal plasticity, and muscle-tendon integration, and their effects on physical function. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science (with Honours) from the University of Queensland in 1995 and a PhD (Biomechanics) from Southern Cross University in 2001, worked in biomechanics at Brunel University (UK) until 2007, and joined ECU in 2008. In addition to teaching and research duties, he also consults widely both within and outside of sport to help individuals improve physical function, reduce injury risk, and return to physical activity after injury.
Steven B. Singleton, M.D.
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Steven B. Singleton, M.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Section Chief of Sports Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He specializes in sports medicine, especially injuries of the shoulder, elbow, knee, and ankle; ACL injuries; cartilage restoration; and biologics for sports medicine.
Dr. Singleton earned his medical degree at UT Southwestern, where he also completed a residency in orthopaedic surgery. He gained advanced training in sports medicine through a fellowship at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colorado, where he developed an interest in treating arthrofibrosis. Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, he joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2022. Dr. Singleton is a co-founder of the Texas Health Sports Medicine Research and Education Institute and the Steadman Hawkins Clinic of the Carolinas.
Georgios Mavropalias (PhD)
Research Fellow
Georgios Mavropalias (PhD) is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow within the Exercise Medicine Research Institute at Edith Cowan University. He completed his BSc, MSc, and PhD in the areas of exercise science.
​
His passions involve the use of ‘exercise medicine’ for chronic diseases, with a particular interest in identifying the underpinning mechanisms in the extracellular matrix responsible for beneficial exercise-induced adaptations.
Dr. Rob Will
Rheumatologist
Clinical Associate Professor Rob Will BSc(Hons) MBBS FRACP EMBA trained in rheumatology, osteoporosis and epidemiology. Dr Will runs a private research group with interests in osteoarthritis, as well as clinical studies in RA, psoriatic arthritis, spondyloarthritis, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. He collaborates with researchers at Curtin University in Perth on studies in osteoarthritis of the knee. Dr Will established Osteoporosis Solutions – Australia and Perihelion Health.
Myra Harris (MA, MFT)
Psychotherapist
Myra Harris, MA, MFT, is a licensed psychotherapist with a primary focus on the treatment of addictions and their co-occurring disorders, including mood disorders and trauma. She has worked for 26 years in one of the largest integrative healthcare systems in the United States. She has extensive experience in health education, program and curriculum development, and with working as a member of a multi-disciplinary medical team.
After developing disabling arthrofibrosis following a TKA, she has developed a passionate interest in promoting awareness of the condition within both the medical and patient communities, believing that early recognition, and improved treatment protocols, can spare others from the devastation of arthrofibrosis.
IAA Ambassadors
Barbara Egger-Spiess
Austria
Barbara Egger-Spiess, a freelance journalist, social media editor, and health blogger behind Tirolturtle, joins the Arthrofibrosis Association as an ambassador due to her firsthand experience with osteoarthritis and arthrofibrosis and her commitment to raising awareness and providing support for arthrofibrosis patients. Collaborating with Dr. Ralf Rosenberger, they launched arthro.fibrose, offering consultations and webinars in German language.
Sara Katrine Jandrup
Denmark
Katrine worked as a development consultant within the healthcare system, with a focus on enhancing patient dialogues. Now, following a multiligament injury and arthrofibrosis experience, she is dedicated to raising awareness within the Danish healthcare system. She has initiated discussions with key clinicians and is committed to enhancing national patient communication regarding LOA/MUA. Katrine takes a lead role in several Facebook groups: Os med artrofibrose - stift knæ and Knieprothese - Arthrofibrose.
Brigitte Spee
The Netherlands
A lot of tinkering had already been done on my knee since I was 8, so the need for a new knee 50 years later was not a surprise. However, the unexpected development of even more problems has changed my life. Nonetheless, it hasn't dampened my drive to remain professionally engaged in my field: change management and neuroleadership. I'm eager to utilize all the knowledge and experience I've gained in the fight for adequate treatment of Arthrofibrosis.
Florencia Pistritto
Scotland (United Kingdom)
Florencia, a public service interpreter and translator specializing in healthcare, encountered arthrofibrosis in 2014 after chemotherapy and surgery for osteosarcoma. Previously an ambassador for Cancer Research UK, she now administers the largest Osteosarcoma and Ewing's Sarcoma Support Group on Facebook. The IAA helped her understand this often-overlooked condition. Florencia now works to support IAA's mission of empowering patients to make informed orthopedic care decisions.
The IAA does not necessarily endorse all of the therapies or clinicians mentioned in the websites linked below. The IAA is not responsible for the advice and treatment given by affiliate organisations.
External Links
