Staff

In 2007, Dr. Simone Gafner has completed her Bachelor of Sciences degree in Physiotherapy at the University of Applied Sciences Valais-Wallis in Leukerbad. Between 2007 and 2016 she has worked in various physiotherapy cabinets in the French-speaking part of Switzerland and the region of Bern. From 2011 onwards, she continued her academic training, first by pursuing a joint Master of Sciences degree in physiotherapy between the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH). Subsequently, she has pursued a doctorate at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Geneva (HEdS Genève), under joint supervision of Pr. Lara Allet (HES-SO Valais-Wallis) and Pr. Rob de Bie and Pr. Carolien H. G. Bastiaenen from the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Department of Epidemiology, Research Line Functioning, Participation and Rehabilitation, CAPHRI, of the University of Maastricht (NL). 

In January 2022, Simone Gafner completed her doctoral project, entitled: "Mind your step. The use of hip abductor strength to assess the fall risk of persons 65 years and older". During the project, she and her colleagues have assessed the neuromuscular capacities and functional deficits of persons 65 years and older. This allowed her to validate the hypothesis of the importance of hip abductor muscles strength in detecting fall risk in this population. The project has led to six scientific publications, as well as applied outcomes. Specifically, Simone has developed a new measurement instrument (with a patent application).

In 2022, Simone has taken up the post of an assistant professor at the School of Health Sciences at the HES-SO Valais-Wallis. She is also a member of the Inclusive Physical Rehabilitation unit of the SENSE research institute. In parallel to her research activities at the HES-SO Valais-Wallis, she teaches at Bachelor and Master levels in the fields of ageing, musculoskeletal and chronic diseases, advanced practices as well as research methodology. Interested in integrating scientific knowledge in teaching and in the clinical environment, she also shares her knowledge in the framework of Continuing Professional Development of physiotherapists, in French and German speaking Switzerland.