Associate Professor Michelle Smith
Associate Professor

Michelle Smith

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+61 7 336 54660

Background

Michelle Smith is a Associate Professor in Physiotherapy and a Titled Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist. She is Program Director for the Masters of Sports Physiotherapy and Masters of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy programs at UQ, Co-director of the International Ankle Consortium, Co-director of the Sports Injury Rehabilitation and Prevention for Health (SIRPH) research unit and Associate Editor of Physical Therapy and Sport.

The overarching theme of Michelle's research is lower limb joint health. Her research focuses on the prevention and management of lower limb joint injuries and pathologies across the lifespan to enable unrestricted participation in sport, physical activity and work. There are three key areas of her research:

  1. To improve understanding of ankle injuries and osteoarthritis across the lifespan: Ankle sprains are the most common injury seen in emergency departments and are a primary cause of ankle osteoarthritis, which in light of its post-traumatic nature, often affects young adults. To optimise outcomes and participation for people with ankle pathologies, my research characterises impairments and participation restrictions in the continuum from ankle injury to osteoarthritis and establishes the efficacy of interventions to manage these conditions.
  2. To understand the effectiveness and implementation of injury prevention strategies: While neuromuscular exercise program and taping/bracing have been shown to decrease injury risk, translation of research into practice is limited. My research investigates the implementation of injury prevention initiatives in adolescent athletes and involves stakeholders to better understand barriers and facilitators.
  3. To evaluate the implementation of lower limb osteoarthritis interventions: Exercise and education for hip and knee osteoarthritis have been shown to improve quality of life and functional outcomes. My research investigates the implementation of such programs in public hospitals and private physiotherapy practices on patient outcomes and service delivery.

Michelle has presented her research and delivered keynote and invited presentations at national and international multi-disciplinary conferences. She teaches across the undergraduate and postgraduate physiotherapy curriculum in the areas of musculoskeletal health and sports injuries. She has been recognised for her high teaching quality and impact at both School and Faculty levels through receipt of Teaching Excellence Awards. She is the Chair of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences External Engagement Committee and Deputy Chair of the Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy Group of the Austrailan Physiotherapy Association. She is a member of the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) Foot and Ankle Working Group, International Foot and Ankle Osteoarthritis Consortium, and Australian Foot and Ankle Research Network.

Availability

Associate Professor Michelle Smith is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Clinical sciences Education Education systems Health Sciences Higher education Motor control Oncology and carcinogenesis Sports science and exercise

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Physical Education, University of Manitoba
  • Bachelor of Physiotherapy, University of Manitoba
  • Masters (Coursework) of Sports Physiotherapy, The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy of Physiotherapy, The University of Queensland
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Ankle osteoarthritis

  • Ankle sprains and fractures

  • Injury prevention and optimising sport participation

  • Lower limb osteoarthritis

  • Injuries in adolescent athletes

  • Sports physiotherapy

Search Professor Michelle Smith’s works on UQ eSpace

123 works between 2002 and 2025
All (123) Journal Article (91) Book Chapter (3) Conference Publication (28) Other Outputs (1)

61 - 80 of 123 works

2018

Journal Article

Exercise for posterior tibial tendon dysfunction: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials and clinical guidelines

Ross, Megan H., Smith, Michelle D., Mellor, Rebecca and Vicenzino, Bill (2018). Exercise for posterior tibial tendon dysfunction: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials and clinical guidelines. BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine, 4 (1) e000430, e000430. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000430

Exercise for posterior tibial tendon dysfunction: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials and clinical guidelines

2018

Journal Article

Balance performance in older adults with hip osteoarthritis: a systematic review

Picorelli, Alexandra M.A., Hatton, Anna L., Gane, Elise M. and Smith, Michelle D. (2018). Balance performance in older adults with hip osteoarthritis: a systematic review. Gait & Posture, 65, 89-99. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2018.07.001

Balance performance in older adults with hip osteoarthritis: a systematic review

2018

Journal Article

Self-reported social and activity restrictions accompany local impairments in posterior tibial tendon dysfunction: a systematic review

Ross, Megan H., Smith, Michelle, Plinsinga, Melanie L. and Vicenzino, Bill (2018). Self-reported social and activity restrictions accompany local impairments in posterior tibial tendon dysfunction: a systematic review. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 11 (1) 49, 49. doi: 10.1186/s13047-018-0292-z

Self-reported social and activity restrictions accompany local impairments in posterior tibial tendon dysfunction: a systematic review

2018

Journal Article

The experience of persistent pain and quality of life among women following treatment for breast cancer: an attachment perspective

Smith, Michelle D., Meredith, Pamela J. and Chua, Siong Yin (2018). The experience of persistent pain and quality of life among women following treatment for breast cancer: an attachment perspective. Psycho-Oncology, 27 (10), 2442-2449. doi: 10.1002/pon.4848

The experience of persistent pain and quality of life among women following treatment for breast cancer: an attachment perspective

2018

Journal Article

Physical impairments in adults with ankle osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Al-Mahrouqi, Munira Mohammed, MacDonald, David Allan, Vicenzino, Bill and Smith, Michelle Dawn (2018). Physical impairments in adults with ankle osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 48 (6), 449-459. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2018.7569

Physical impairments in adults with ankle osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2018

Journal Article

New-graduate physical therapistsʼ self-efficacy to perform patient education is influenced by entry-level training experiences

Forbes, Roma, Mandrusiak, Allison, Smith, Michelle and Russell, Trevor (2018). New-graduate physical therapistsʼ self-efficacy to perform patient education is influenced by entry-level training experiences. Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 32 (1), 46-54. doi: 10.1097/JTE.0000000000000022

New-graduate physical therapistsʼ self-efficacy to perform patient education is influenced by entry-level training experiences

2018

Conference Publication

A systematic review of clinical trials of exercise for tibialis posterior tendinopathy

Ross, M., Smith, M., Mellor, R. and Vicenzino, B. (2018). A systematic review of clinical trials of exercise for tibialis posterior tendinopathy. 2018 Sports Medicine Australia Conference, Perth, Australia, 10th – 13th October 2018. Chatswood, NSW, Australia: Elsevier Australia. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2018.09.188

A systematic review of clinical trials of exercise for tibialis posterior tendinopathy

2017

Journal Article

Reported selection criteria for adult acquired flatfoot deformity and posterior tibial tendon dysfunction: are they one and the same? A systematic review

Ross, Megan H., Smith, Michelle D. and Vicenzino, Bill (2017). Reported selection criteria for adult acquired flatfoot deformity and posterior tibial tendon dysfunction: are they one and the same? A systematic review. PLoS ONE, 12 (12) e0187201, e0187201. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187201

Reported selection criteria for adult acquired flatfoot deformity and posterior tibial tendon dysfunction: are they one and the same? A systematic review

2017

Journal Article

Skill not athleticism predicts individual variation in match performance of soccer players

Wilson, Robbie S., David, Gwendolyn K., Murphy, Sean C., Angilletta, Michael J., Niehaus, Amanda C., Hunter, Andrew H. and Smith, Michelle D. (2017). Skill not athleticism predicts individual variation in match performance of soccer players. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 284 (1868) 20170953, 1-9. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0953

Skill not athleticism predicts individual variation in match performance of soccer players

2017

Conference Publication

Perception of ability differs in individuals with chronic ankle instability depending on condition severity

Smith, M.D., Ng, K.Y., Rankin, J., Mazzei, J., Williams, T., Bancroft, S. and Tucker, K. (2017). Perception of ability differs in individuals with chronic ankle instability depending on condition severity. 7th International Ankle Symposium 2017, Chapel Hill, NC United States, 15-17 September 2017. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2017-anklesymp.77

Perception of ability differs in individuals with chronic ankle instability depending on condition severity

2017

Journal Article

Training physiotherapy students to educate patients: a randomised controlled trial

Forbes, R., Mandrusiak, A., Smith, M. and Russell, T. (2017). Training physiotherapy students to educate patients: a randomised controlled trial. Patient Education and Counseling, 101 (2), 295-303. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2017.08.009

Training physiotherapy students to educate patients: a randomised controlled trial

2017

Journal Article

Identification of competencies for patient education in physiotherapy using a Delphi approach

Forbes, Roma, Mandrusiak, Allison, Smith, Michelle and Russell, Trevor (2017). Identification of competencies for patient education in physiotherapy using a Delphi approach. Physiotherapy, 104 (2), 232-238. doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2017.06.002

Identification of competencies for patient education in physiotherapy using a Delphi approach

2017

Journal Article

The international ankle consortium consencus statement on the impact and consequences of ankle sprains

Smith, M. D. and Vicenzino, B. (2017). The international ankle consortium consencus statement on the impact and consequences of ankle sprains. SportsPhysio

The international ankle consortium consencus statement on the impact and consequences of ankle sprains

2017

Journal Article

A comparison of patient education practices of novice and experienced physiotherapists in Australia

Forbes, Roma, Mandrusiak, Allison, Smith, Michelle and Russell, Trevor (2017). A comparison of patient education practices of novice and experienced physiotherapists in Australia. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 28, 46-53. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2017.01.007

A comparison of patient education practices of novice and experienced physiotherapists in Australia

2017

Journal Article

Evaluating physiotherapists' practice and perception of patient education: a national survey in Australia

Forbes, Roma, Mandrusiak, Allison, Russell, Trevor and Smith, Michelle (2017). Evaluating physiotherapists' practice and perception of patient education: a national survey in Australia. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 24 (3), 122-130. doi: 10.12968/ijtr.2017.24.3.122

Evaluating physiotherapists' practice and perception of patient education: a national survey in Australia

2017

Conference Publication

Proximal lower limb strength and balance in chronic ankle instability

Khalaj, N., Vicenzino, B. and Smith, M. D. (2017). Proximal lower limb strength and balance in chronic ankle instability. 7th International Ankle Symposium, 2017, Chapel Hill, NC, United States, 15-17 September 2017. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Publishing Group. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2017-anklesymp.61

Proximal lower limb strength and balance in chronic ankle instability

2017

Conference Publication

Training physiotherapy students to educate patients; a randomised controlled trial

Forbes, Roma, Mandrusiak, Allison, Smith, Michelle and Russell, Trevor (2017). Training physiotherapy students to educate patients; a randomised controlled trial. Australian Physiotherapy Association National Conference, Sydney, NSW Australia, 19-21 October 2017.

Training physiotherapy students to educate patients; a randomised controlled trial

2016

Journal Article

Non-surgical treatment of hallux valgus: a current practice survey of Australian podiatrists

Hurn, Sheree E., Vicenzino, Bill T. and Smith, Michelle D. (2016). Non-surgical treatment of hallux valgus: a current practice survey of Australian podiatrists. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 9 (16) 16, 1-9. doi: 10.1186/s13047-016-0146-5

Non-surgical treatment of hallux valgus: a current practice survey of Australian podiatrists

2016

Journal Article

Inequalities in long term health-related quality of life between partnered and not partnered breast cancer survivors through the mediation effect of social support

Leung, Janni, Smith, Michelle D. and Mclaughlin, Deirdre (2016). Inequalities in long term health-related quality of life between partnered and not partnered breast cancer survivors through the mediation effect of social support. Psycho-Oncology, 25 (10), 1222-1228. doi: 10.1002/pon.4131

Inequalities in long term health-related quality of life between partnered and not partnered breast cancer survivors through the mediation effect of social support

2016

Journal Article

Out-patient pulmonary rehabilitation improves medial-lateral balance in people with chronic respiratory disease: Proof-of-concept study

Smith, Michelle D., Harvey, Elizabeth H., van den Hoorn, Wolbert, Shay, Barbara L., Pereira, Gisèle M. and Hodges, Paul W. (2016). Out-patient pulmonary rehabilitation improves medial-lateral balance in people with chronic respiratory disease: Proof-of-concept study. Respiratory Care, 61 (4), 510-520. doi: 10.4187/respcare.04109

Out-patient pulmonary rehabilitation improves medial-lateral balance in people with chronic respiratory disease: Proof-of-concept study

Current funding

  • 2025
    Foot orthoses plus education compared to usual care for ankle OA: A pilot and feasibility trial
    Arthritis Foundation of Australia
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2023
    Education plus exercise versus general advice for ankle osteoarthritis: A pilot and feasibility randomised controlled trial
    Arthritis Foundation of Australia
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Understanding the effects of heavy weightlifting on pelvic organ support in vaginally parous premenopausal women: a cross-sectional study
    Physiotherapy Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Identifying optimal sit-stand recommendations for the workforce
    Office Ergonomics Research Committee Funding
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Implementation of GLA:D in Queensland public health services: towards a standardised non-surgical management approach for hip and knee osteoarthritis
    Metro North Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    How is exposure to manganese on Groote Eylandt associated with motor control and cognitive function in school-aged children?
    Anindilyakwa Land Council
    Open grant
  • 2011
    UQ Travel Awards Category 2 - Dr Michelle Dawn Smith
    UQ Travel Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2010
    Deformity, pain and foot function in hallux abducto valgus
    Australian Podiatry Education and Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2009
    UQ Travel Awards Category 2, Dr Michelle Smith
    UQ Travel Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Is the distribution of the pelvic floor muscles to spinal stability altered in people with low back pain?
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2022
    Neurodynamic Based Research Work - Gift
    Neuro Orthopaedic Institute
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Michelle Smith is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Improving management, optimising return to sport and preventing re-injury after ankle sprains and fractures

    Ankle sprains are often perceived to be minor injuries, but unfortunately a high proportion of people who sprain or fracture their ankle go onto experience recurrent injury and chronic ankle instability. There is a need for improved understanding and implementation of ankle sprain management, return to sport criteria and uptake of injury prevention strategies.

    Options for PhD projects in this area include:

    • Improving patient outcomes after ankle sprains and fractures
    • Determining optimal outcome measures for acute lateral ankle sprain injuries and chronic ankle instability
    • Establishing return to sport criteria for lateral ankle sprain injuries
    • Understanding and addressing barriers to the use of taping and bracing in preventing ankle injuries

  • Improving management of ankle osteoarthritis

    Unlike hip and knee OA, there are a lack of clinical guidelines to inform the management of ankle osteoarthritis. Few studies have investigated the effect of different treatments for ankle osteoarthritis, and the diverse use of outcomes in ankle osteoarthritis literature makes synthesis of information challenging. There is a need for agreement on core outcome measures to be used in ankle osteoarthritis research and high-quality clinical treatment trials to enable the development of clinical practice guidelines.

    Options for PhD projects in this area include:

    • Developing a core outcome measurement set for ankle osteoarthritis research
    • Determining the effectiveness of treatments in managing symptoms and improving function in people with ankle osteoarthritis
    • Determining the effect of exercise interventions on improving impairments, pain and function in ankle osteoarthritis
    • Early detection and management of ankle osteoarthritis

  • Improving implementation of injury prevention approaches in sport

    Many sports have developed injury prevention programs to try to decrease injury rates and optimise sport participation. There is strong evidence for the efficacy of neuromuscular training program on preventing a range of acute lower limb injuries. However, the implementation of injury prevention initiatives is challenging.

    Options for PhD projects in this area include:

    • Evaluating muscle function and barriers and facilitators to strength training in adolescent female athletes
    • Evaluating the effectiveness of neuromuscular injury prevention programs in improving injury risk factors and preventing injury in sport
    • Improving the implementation of neuromuscular injury prevention programs in sport

  • Managing repetitive use injuries in adolescent athletes

    Adolescents have high rates of sport participation with many playing multiple sports at school and in the community. Apophyseal growth plate conditions, such as Osgood-Schlatter disease, Sinding-Larsen-Johansson syndrome and Sever’s disease, occur in active adolescents but little is known about how best to manage them.

    Options for PhD projects in this area include:

    • Characterising the presentation of Osgood-Schlatter’s disease, Sinding-Larsen-Johansson syndromes and/or Sever’s disease in active adolescents
    • Differentiating between pain sources in adolescent athletes that present with anterior knee pain
    • Improving management of Osgood-Schlatter’s disease, Sinding-Larsen-Johansson syndromes and/or Sever’s disease in active adolescents

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Michelle Smith directly for media enquiries about:

  • ankle sprains
  • injury prevention
  • osteoarthritis
  • sports injuries

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