Allied health refers to the broad group of clinical professions, distinct from medicine, nursing, dentistry, and pharmacy, that contribute to the assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention of illness and disability. The field encompasses disciplines such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, music and o…
Allied health refers to the broad group of clinical professions, distinct from medicine, nursing, dentistry, and pharmacy, that contribute to the assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention of illness and disability. The field encompasses disciplines such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, music and other creative therapies, dietetics, and a range of diagnostic and therapeutic specialties, which together support function, independence, and quality of life. In the context of ageing and chronic disease, allied health practitioners are central to managing conditions like osteoarthritis, diabetes, and neurological impairment, and to maintaining the physical and cognitive capacity of older adults. Work in this area examines evidence-based interventions including occupational therapy for rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis, exercise approaches such as Tai-Chi training for painful knee osteoarthritis, music therapy integrated into health services, and supportive strategies for community-dwelling elders managing complex medication regimens. The disciplines emphasize functional outcomes, patient-centred and interprofessional care, and the translation of research evidence into practice, while attending to the barriers, facilitators, and implementation strategies that determine whether effective interventions reach patients. Allied health also addresses the social and environmental dimensions of care, including isolation and access, that influence wellbeing in older populations. By complementing medical treatment with rehabilitation, therapy, and preventive support, allied health professions help sustain independence and improve outcomes across the continuum of ageing and healthcare.
7 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 7 articles above have been cited 7 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Allied Health, linking to each citing work.