Prof. Dr. Schirin Akhbari Ziegler

Work at ZHAW

Position

Head of the focus on paediatic physiotherapy of the MSc in physiotherapy

Focus

• Paediatric Physiotherapy
• Developmental Paediatrics
• Evidence based Paediatric Physiotherapy
• Assessments Motor Development
• ICF-CY
• Family-centred early intervention
• Coaching in paediatric rehabilitation

Teaching

• COPCA®
• Infant Motor Profile

Professional development teaching

• Infant Motor Profile - hybrid
• COPCA®

Experience

• Head of the international COPCA course
  University of Applied Sciences (School of Health Sciences)
  05 / 2019 - today
• Head of the focus on paediatic physiotherapy of the MSc in physiotherapy
  University of Applied Sciences (School of Health Sciences)
  09 / 2016 - today
• Lecturer
  University of Applied Sciences (School of Health Sciences)
  06 / 2009 - today
• Paediatric physiotherapist
  Self-employed
  01 / 2005 - today
• Head of the Certificate of Advanced Studies: Clinical expertise in paediatric physiotherapy
  University of Applied Sciences (School of Health Sciences)
  08 / 2011 - 12 / 2020
• Head of the Master of Advanced Studies in Paediatric Physiotherapy
  University of Applied Sciences (School of Health Sciences)
  09 / 2012 - 12 / 2019
• Head of the therapy for children
  Foundation RGZ, Rapperswil
  10 / 1993 - 06 / 2002
• Physiotherapist
  Foundation RGZ, Rapperswil
  08 / 1991 - 06 / 2002
• Physiotherapist
  Zurich University Hospital
  07 / 1990 - 06 / 1991

Education and Continuing education

Education

• PhD / (Implementation of COPCA, a family-centred early intervention programme in infant physiotherapy
  University of Groningeb
  10 / 2012 - 09 / 2020
• Master of Science in Neurorehabilitation / Neurorehabilitation
  Donau-University Krems
  09 / 2007 - 03 / 2010
• Supervisor, Coach / Supervision and Coaching
  EGIS foundation
  11 / 2001 - 05 / 2004
• Training Therapist EVS Sensory Intergation / Sensory Intergration
  Swiss Occupational Therapy Association
  02 / 1995 - 11 / 2003
• 1990 / Physiotherapie
  School for Physiotherapy Zurich University Hospital
  04 / 1986 - 03 / 1990

Continuing Education

• Coach of COPCA-coaches
  Developmental Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen
  03 / 2019
• Neuromotor Taks Training
  pluspunkt Jona
  09 / 2014
• NDT Bobath
  Schaumburger Fortbildungsseminar
  02 / 1993

Network

Membership of networks

• Swiss Academy of Childhood Disability
• European Academy of Childhood Disability

ORCID digital identifier

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-8640-0774

Projects

• Family Outcome of Early Intervention / Project leader / ongoing
• Paediatric physical therapy in infants at risk of neurodevelopmental disorders / Project leader / completed

Publications

• King, Gillian; Graham, Fiona; Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin,

  2023.

  Comparing three coaching approaches in pediatric rehabilitation : contexts, outcomes, and mechanisms.

  Disability and Rehabilitation.

  46(12), pp. 2708-2719.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2023.2229731

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; de Souza Morais, Rosane Luzia; Magalhães, Lívia; Hadders-Algra, Mijna,

  2023.

  The potential of COPCA's coaching for families with infants with special needs in low- and middle-income countries.

  Frontiers in Pediatrics.

  11(983680).

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2023.983680

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Suárez, Ximena,

  2023.

  Reliability, construct validity and completeness of the "Winterthur Observation Protocol" applied to early intervention in pediatric physiotherapy using coaching.

  Physical & Occupational Therapy In Pediatrics.

  43(5), pp. 596-610.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/01942638.2023.2181724

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Hadders-Algra, Mijna,

  2021.

  Familienzentrierte Praxis in der Pädiatrie : PT-Frühintervention bei Säuglingen mit neuromotorischen Funktionsstörungen.

  pt Zeitschrift für Physiotherapeuten .

  73(9), pp. 46-50.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-24304

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Rhein, Michael; Meichtry, André; Wirz, Markus; Hielkema, Tjitske; Hadders‐Algra, Mijna,

  2020.

  The coping with and caring for infants with special needs intervention was associated with improved motor development in preterm infants.

  Acta Paediatrica.

  110(4), pp. 1189-1200.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.15619

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Hadders‐Algra, Mijna,

  2020.

  Coaching approaches in early intervention and paediatric rehabilitation.

  Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology.

  62(5), pp. 569-574.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.14493

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Mitteregger, Elena; Hadders‐Algra, Mijna,

  2019.

  Caregivers' experiences with the new family‐centred paediatric physiotherapy programme COPCA : a qualitative study.

  Child: Care, Health and Development.

  46(1), pp. 28-36.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12722

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Dirks, Tineke; Reinders-Messelink, Heleen A.; Meichtry, André; Hadders-Algra, Mijna,

  2018.

  Changes in therapist actions during a novel pediatric physical therapy program : successes and challenges.

  Pediatric Physical Therapy.

  30(3), pp. 223-230.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1097/PEP.0000000000000509

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Dirks, Tineke; Hadders-Algra, Mijna,

  2018.

  Coaching in early physical therapy intervention : the COPCA program as an example of translation of theory into practice.

  Disability and Rehabilitation.

  41(15), pp. 1846-1854.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2018.1448468

• Sonderer, Patrizia; Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Gressbach Oertle, Barbara; Meichtry, André; Hadders-Algra, Mijna,

  2017.

  Psychometric properties of a standardized observation protocol to quantify pediatric physical therapy actions.

  Pediatric Physical Therapy.

  29(2), pp. 244-250.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1097/PEP.0000000000000398

• Huber, Erika; Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Leusch, Martina; Schämann, Astrid,

  2015.

  Entwicklung und Umsetzung einer ICF-basierten Software zur Patientendokumentation als Lernprozessbegleitung in der Physiotherapie-Weiterbildung in der Schweiz.

  Pädagogik der Gesundheitsberufe.

  2(1), pp. 48-55.

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Hadders-Algra, Mijna,

  2023.

  Familienzentrierte Frühintervention bei Säuglingen mit motorischen Entwicklungsstörungen (COPCA).

  In:

  Jung, Michael; Hager, Marlene, eds.,

  Fallbuch Physiotherape: Pädiatrie.

  München:

  Elsevier.

  pp. 237-250.

• Messerli, Florence; Scheufele, Silke; Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin,

  2023.

  Zerebralparese GMFCS Level 1.

  In:

  Jung, Michael; Hager, Marlene, eds.,

  Fallbuch Physiotherapie: Pädiatrie.

  München:

  Elsevier.

  pp. 89-104.

• Rosenbaum, Peter; Novak-Pavlic, Monika; Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Hadders-Algra, Mijna,

  2021.

  Early intervention : what about the family?.

  In:

  Hadders-Algra, Mijna, ed.,

  Early Detection and Early Intervention in Developmental Motor Disorders.

  London:

  Mac Keith Press.

  pp. 173-184.

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; von Rhein, Michael; Meichtry, André; Wirz, Markus; Hielkema, Tjitske; Hadders-Algra, Mijna,

  2022.

  The coping with and caring for infants with special needs intervention was associated with improved motor development in preterm infants[poster].

  In:

  34th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD) Barcelona, Spain, 18-21 May 2022.

  Winterthur:

  ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-25096

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Hadders-Algra, Mijna,

  2019.

  Coaching in COPCA : a promising method to enhance family participation and motor development of infants with special needs[poster].

  In:

  31st EACD European Academy of Childhood Disability, Paris, May 23-25 2019.

  ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-19040

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Hadders-Algra, Mijna,

  2019.

  Improve implementation of a novel paediatric therapy programme : taking theories of human behaviour into account[poster].

  In:

  World Confederation of Physical Therapy Congress, Geneva, 10-13 May 2019.

  ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-19039

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Hadders-Algra, Mijna,

  2024.

  Coaching in “Coping With and Caring for Infants with Special Needs” (COPCA®) : a family centred early intervention programme[poster].

  In:

  36th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD), Bruges, Belgium, 29 May - 1 June 2024.

  Winterthur:

  ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-30954

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Üzer, Sevil; Palomo, Rocío; Zalanskieneė, Kristina; Hadders-Algra, Mijna,

  2024.

  Needs of families receiving early intervention : experiences in five countries[poster].

  In:

  36th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD), Bruges, Belgium 29 May - 1 June 2024.

  Winterthur:

  ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-30978

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin,

  2021.

  Den Fokus vom Kind auf die ganze Familie verlagern.

  Physioactive.

  57(1), pp. 11-16.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-22239

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Hadders-Algra, Mijna,

  2020.

  Das "Infant Motor Profile" : eine Methode zur Entwicklungsbeurteilung, Planung der Frühintervention und Vorhersage der Entwicklung.

  pädiatrische praxis.

  94(1), pp. 39-49.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-20276

• Hadders-Algra, Mijna; Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin,

  2018.

  Das Infant Motor Profile.

  Physiotherapie.

  18(6), pp. 20-23.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-4892

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Hadders-Algra, Mijna,

  2018.

  Die Theorie der Selektion neuronaler Gruppen als handlungsleitende Theorie der pädiatrischen Physiotherapie.

  Physiotherapie.

  18(5), pp. 22-24.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-4891

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin,

  2017.

  COPing with and CAring for Infant with special Needs (COPCA).

  PP Bulletin.

  35, pp. 30-33.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-3515

• Luomajoki, Hannu; Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Huber, Omega; et al.,

  2012.

  Combining ICF and Clinical Reasoning in a single case documentation[poster].

  In:

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Üzer, Sevil,

  2025.

  Coaching Skills in der Frühintervention, am Beispiel des familenzentrierten COPCA®-Programms.

  In:

  4th Triennial Meeting of the International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability (EACD) and 37th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood-onset Disability (IAACD), Heidelberg, Germany, 24-28 June 2025.

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Üzer, Sevil; Palomo-Carrión, Rocío; Zalanskiené, Kristina; Hadders-Algra, Mijna,

  2025.

  Culturally sensitive and family-centred early intervention : needs and experiences of familes from five countries.

  In:

  4th Triennial Meeting of the International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability (EACD) and 37th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood-onset Disability (IAACD), Heidelberg, Germany, 24-28 June 2025.

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin,

  2025.

  How to implement family-systems care in early intervention and paediatric rehabilitation.

  In:

  4th Triennial Meeting of the International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability (EACD) and 37th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood-onset Disability (IAACD), Heidelberg, Germany, 24-28 June 2025.

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin,

  2024.

  Children as co-researchers.

  In:

  3rd European Paediatric Physiotherapy Congress (EUPPT), Zurich, Switzerland, 10-12 October 2024.

• Üzer, Sevil; Piñero Pinto, Elena; Zalanskinené, Kristina; Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin,

  2024.

  Culturally sensitive and family-centered early intervention using the COPCA® Programme as an example.

  In:

  3rd European Paediatric Physiotherapy Congress (EUPPT), Zurich, Switzerland, 10-12 October 2024.

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Johansen, Kine,

  2024.

  How do we move from impairment/deficit-focused intervention to participation-focused intervention?.

  In:

  3rd European Paediatric Physiotherapy Congress (EUPPT), Zurich, Switzerland, 10-12 October 2024.

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin,

  2024.

  How to implement family-systems care in paediatric physiotherapy.

  In:

  3dr European Paediatric Physiotherapy Congress (EUPPT), Zurich, Switzerland, 10-12 October 2024.

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Sonderer, Patrizia; Brülhart, Michèle; Hadders-Algra, Mijna,

  2024.

  Neuromotor principles to support favourable development of high-risk infants within a family-centred early intervention programme.

  In:

  36th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD), Bruges, Belgium 29 May - 1 June 2024.

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Üzer, Sevil,

  2024.

  The experiences of families with COPCA® : implementation of allowing the infants possibilities for practice in daily life.

  In:

  36th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD), Bruges, Belgium 29 May - 1 June 2024.

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Brülhart, Michèle,

  2022.

  Coaching in early intervention : a promising method to enhance participation of families with an infant with special needs.

  In:

  2nd European Paediatric Physiotherapy Congress (EUPPT), Florence, Italy, 6-8 October 2022.

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin,

  2022.

  Caregiver coaching in early intervention : the example of COPCA.

  In:

  2nd European Paediatric Physiotherapy Congress (EUPPT), Florence, Italy, 6-8 October 2022.

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Brülhart, Michèle,

  2022.

  Coaching in early intervention : a promising method to enhance participation of families with infants with special needs.

  In:

  34th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD), Barcelona, Spain, 18-21 May 2022.

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Graham, Fiona; King, Gillian,

  2022.

  Comparing three coaching approaches in pediatric rehabilitation : contexts, mechanisms and outcomes.

  In:

  34th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD), Barcelona, Spain, 18-21 May 2022.

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin,

  2022.

  Frühintervention bei Säuglingen mit neuromotorischen Funktionsstörung und ihre Evidenz.

  In:

  Münchner Symposium Frühförderung, online, 4.-5. März 2022.

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin,

  2022.

  The coping with and caring for infants with special needs intervention is associated with improved motor development in preterm infants.

  In:

  1 Research Day Swiss Academy of Childhood Disability (SACD), online, 20 January 2022.

  Swiss Academy of Childhood Disability.

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin,

  2021.

  Caregiver coaching in early intervention - the example of COPCA.

  In:

  International Congress 2021 of Early Detection and Early Intervention in Neurodevelopmental Disorders, virtual, 9-11 September 2021.

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin; Hadders-Algra, Mijna; Gelkop, Nava; de Souza Morais, Rosane Luzia,

  2021.

  Coaching in COPCA : a promising approach based on equal partnership.

  In:

  33rd Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD), online, 20 May - 10 June 2021.

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin,

  2019.

  Transitions in infant physiotherapy : towards coaching of families.

  In:

  Developmental changes in paediatric neurodisability, from concepts to diagnostics and therapy, Groningen, 20 - 22 June 2019.

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin,

  2019.

  Physiotherapeutische Frühintervention und ihre Evidenz.

  In:

  Fachtagung Physiotherapia Paediatrica 2019, Luzern, 23. März 2019.

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin,

  2015.

  Einblick in die Inhalte der physiotherapeutischen Säuglingsbehandlung mit dem Groningen Observation Protocol.

  In:

  Jahressymposium der SACD, Aarau, 18. November 2015.

  Swiss Academy of Childhood Disability (SACD).

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin,

  2014.

  Infant Motor Profile (IMP) : Untersuchungmethode zur Beurteilung der Qualität von motorischem Verhalten von Kindern im Alter von 3-18 Monaten.

  In:

  Fachtagung Physiotherapia Peadiatrica, Luzern, 22. März 2014.

  Physiotherapia Paediatrica.

• Akhbari Ziegler, Schirin,

  2013.

  Specialization in pediatric physical therapy at an academic level in the German-speaking region of Switzerland.

  In:

  3rd European Congress on Physiotherapy Education, Vienna, Austria, 8 -10 November 2012.

  Wolters Kluwer.

  Available from: https://doi.org/10.1097/PEP.0b013e318299d14d

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