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Dr Brooke Coombes
Dr

Brooke Coombes

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Overview

Background

Dr Coombes is a senior research fellow within the NHMRC Synergy Grant, DISCERN, lead by Professor Paul Hodges. Her current role is to develop and test a tool to identify the predominant mechanism for a patient’s pain (in collaboration with the International Association for the Study of Pain Terminology Task Force) and research to understand the neurobiology of pain. As a Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, Dr Coombes has clinical and research expertise in rehabilitation of musculoskeletal and chronic pain. Her research spans a diverse range of chronic conditions with a focus on exercise and physical interventions. Using a biopsychosocial framework and diverse research methodologies from mechanisms to implementation, herresearch is helping to reduce the personal, economic and societal impact of chronic pain. Dr Coombes has also developed and taught curricula in Physiotherapy, with a focus on pain, chronic disease and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy.

Availability

Dr Brooke Coombes is:
Available for supervision

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours), The University of Queensland
  • Masters (Coursework), The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
  • Graduate Certificate, Griffith University

Research interests

  • Chronic pain

    My research aims to identify mechanisms underpinning a person's pain presentation and prognosis and identifying treatments to target these mechanisms.

  • Exercise for chronic pain and chronic disease

    My research targets people with overlapping pain and chronic diseases, who are often excluded from research, such as individuals with diabetic neuropathy or parastomal hernia. It aims to optimise outcomes of exercise, via prescription, monitoring, education and behaviour change.

  • Work-related musculoskeletal disorders

    My research aims to co-develop and test feasible and scalable interventions to address work-related injury, pain or disability and promote long term work ability.

  • Injection therapies for musculoskeletal pain

    My research aims to synthesise evidence for the clinical benefits, harms and economic value of injection therapies for tendinopathy.

  • Tendinopathy

    My research aims to advance knowledge to improve management of people with persistent pain from tendon-related disorders.

Research impacts

Dr Coombes’ research has resulted in advanced understanding of the mechanisms and effective treatment of musculoskeletal disorders and chronic pain, which has been published in leading medical journals such as The Lancet, JAMA and Annals of Internal Medicine. As an example in relation to musculoskeletal pain, Dr Coombes has co-authored 5 international consensus papers on tendinopathy which have informed the establishment of core outcomes for measurement, and a significant decrease in the proportion of patients with lateral elbow tendinopathy receiving corticosteroid injections. Dr Coombes has past experience developing collaborations with other healthcare professional associations such as the national sonographic associations, who have endorsed current research projects including validation of the first sonographer-specific clinical prediction tool for work-related musculoskeletal disability and concept testing of an e-health exercise intervention to reduce work related musculoskeletal disability among sonographers. Dr Coombes also brings clinical experience to the project as a qualified Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist with extensive experience across a wide range of contexts including musculoskeletal, sports, rheumatology and occupational rehabilitation.

Works

Search Professor Brooke Coombes’s works on UQ eSpace

73 works between 2009 and 2024

1 - 20 of 73 works

2024

Journal Article

Exploring the relationship between trunk muscles and lower limb injuries in Australian badminton players

Hides, Julie A., Dilani Mendis, M., Leung, Felix, Grantham, Brittany and Coombes, Brooke (2024). Exploring the relationship between trunk muscles and lower limb injuries in Australian badminton players. Journal of Biomechanics, 176 112325, 112325. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2024.112325

Exploring the relationship between trunk muscles and lower limb injuries in Australian badminton players

2024

Book Chapter

The elbow

Vuvan, Viana, Coombes, Brooke, Bisset, Leanne and Vicenzino, Bill (2024). The elbow. Grieve's modern musculoskeletal physiotherapy. (pp. 505-517) edited by Deborah Falla, Chad Cook, Jeremy Lewis, Christopher McCarthy and Michele Sterling. London, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-7020-8089-0.00060-4

The elbow

2024

Journal Article

Adherence to exercise in lateral elbow tendinopathy, a scoping review

Taylor, Lindy, Wiebusch, Matheus, Bisset, Leanne M and Coombes, Brooke K (2024). Adherence to exercise in lateral elbow tendinopathy, a scoping review. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 72 102978, 102978-72. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2024.102978

Adherence to exercise in lateral elbow tendinopathy, a scoping review

2024

Journal Article

Is it time to step outside the laboratory? The feasibility of field‐based examination of exercise‐induced hypoalgesia in elite badminton athletes with and without knee pain

Coombes, Brooke K., Mendis, M. Dilani, Leung, Felix and Hides, Julie A. (2024). Is it time to step outside the laboratory? The feasibility of field‐based examination of exercise‐induced hypoalgesia in elite badminton athletes with and without knee pain. Translational Sports Medicine, 2024 (1) 2953220, 2953220. doi: 10.1155/2024/2953220

Is it time to step outside the laboratory? The feasibility of field‐based examination of exercise‐induced hypoalgesia in elite badminton athletes with and without knee pain

2024

Journal Article

Pain exacerbation following physical activity in adults with diabetic neuropathy: ecological momentary assessment of foot symptoms

Coombes, Brooke K., Sierra-Silvestre, Eva, Bisset, Leanne M., Mielke, Gregore Iven, Ware, Robert S., Coombes, Jeff S., Burton, Nicola W. and Coppieters, Michel W. (2024). Pain exacerbation following physical activity in adults with diabetic neuropathy: ecological momentary assessment of foot symptoms. Australian journal of general practice, 53 (3), 93-98. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-05-23-6821

Pain exacerbation following physical activity in adults with diabetic neuropathy: ecological momentary assessment of foot symptoms

2024

Journal Article

Mild untreated hypercholesterolaemia affects mechanical properties of the Achilles tendon but not gastrocnemius muscle

Coombes, Brooke K., Hanna, Monica, Thompson, Kaelah A., Coppieters, Michel W., Dick, Taylor J. M., Andrade, Ricardo J. and Barber, Lee (2024). Mild untreated hypercholesterolaemia affects mechanical properties of the Achilles tendon but not gastrocnemius muscle. Journal of Biomechanics, 166 112048. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2024.112048

Mild untreated hypercholesterolaemia affects mechanical properties of the Achilles tendon but not gastrocnemius muscle

2024

Journal Article

Which psychological and psychosocial constructs are important to measure in future tendinopathy clinical trials? A modified international Delphi study with expert clinician/researchers and people with tendinopathy

Stubbs, Carl, Mc Auliffe, Sean, Chimenti, Ruth L., Coombes, Brooke K., Haines, Terry, Heales, Luke, de Vos, Robert-Jan, Lehman, Greg, Mallows, Adrian, Michner, Lori A., Millar, Neal B. W., O'Neill, Seth, O'Sullivan, Kieran, Plinsinga, Melanie, Rathleff, Michael, Rio, Ebonie, Ross, Megan, Roy, Jean-Sebastien, Silbernagel, Karin Gravare, Thomson, Athol, Trevail, Tim, Akker-Scheek, Inge, Vicenzino, Bill, Vlaeyen, Johan W. S., Pinto, Rafael Zambelli and Malliaras, Peter (2024). Which psychological and psychosocial constructs are important to measure in future tendinopathy clinical trials? A modified international Delphi study with expert clinician/researchers and people with tendinopathy. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 54 (1) 11903, 1-12. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2023.11903

Which psychological and psychosocial constructs are important to measure in future tendinopathy clinical trials? A modified international Delphi study with expert clinician/researchers and people with tendinopathy

2023

Journal Article

Personal Activity Intelligence eHealth intervention in people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a feasibility study

Coombes, Brooke, Bisset, Leanne, Sierra-Silvestre, Eva, Ware, Robert, Coppieters, Michel, Coombes, Jeff and Burton, Nicola (2023). Personal Activity Intelligence eHealth intervention in people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a feasibility study. Australian Journal of General Practice, 52 (11), 771-777. doi: 10.31128/ajgp-04-23-6797

Personal Activity Intelligence eHealth intervention in people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a feasibility study

2023

Journal Article

Current rehabilitation recommendations following primary triangular fibrocartilage complex foveal repair surgery: a survey of Australian hand therapists

McCarron, Luke, Coombes, Brooke K., Bindra, Randy and Bisset, Leanne (2023). Current rehabilitation recommendations following primary triangular fibrocartilage complex foveal repair surgery: a survey of Australian hand therapists. Journal of Hand Therapy, 36 (4), 932-939. doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2023.08.009

Current rehabilitation recommendations following primary triangular fibrocartilage complex foveal repair surgery: a survey of Australian hand therapists

2023

Journal Article

Efficacy of two doses of external counterpulsation (ECP) on glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized SHAM-controlled trial

Coombes, Jeff S., Dias, Katrin A., Lal, Ravin, Fassett, Robert G., Wallen, Matthew P., Ramos, Joyce S., Russell, Suzanna, Vear, Natalie K., Gajanand, Trishan, Bailey, Tom G., Green, Daniel J., Coombes, Brooke K. and Roberts, Llion A. (2023). Efficacy of two doses of external counterpulsation (ECP) on glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized SHAM-controlled trial. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 200 110701, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2023.110701

Efficacy of two doses of external counterpulsation (ECP) on glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized SHAM-controlled trial

2023

Other Outputs

Data of time course and risk profile of work-related neck disability

Xie, Yanfei, Johnston, Venerina, Thomas, Lucy and Coombes, Brooke (2023). Data of time course and risk profile of work-related neck disability. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/67e0858

Data of time course and risk profile of work-related neck disability

2023

Journal Article

Cervical and axioscapular muscle stiffness measured with shear wave elastography: a comparison between different levels of work-related neck disability

Xie, Yanfei, Thomas, Lucy, Johnston, Venerina and Coombes, Brooke K. (2023). Cervical and axioscapular muscle stiffness measured with shear wave elastography: a comparison between different levels of work-related neck disability. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 69 102754, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2023.102754

Cervical and axioscapular muscle stiffness measured with shear wave elastography: a comparison between different levels of work-related neck disability

2022

Journal Article

Motor Unit Recruitment is Altered When Acute Experimental Pain is Induced at a Site Distant to the Contracting Muscle

Cleary, Jennifer, Coombes, Brooke K., Hodges, Paul and Tucker, Kylie (2022). Motor Unit Recruitment is Altered When Acute Experimental Pain is Induced at a Site Distant to the Contracting Muscle. Neuroscience, 496, 141-151. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.06.015

Motor Unit Recruitment is Altered When Acute Experimental Pain is Induced at a Site Distant to the Contracting Muscle

2022

Journal Article

Time course and risk profile of work-related neck disability: a longitudinal latent class growth analysis

Xie, Yanfei, Coombes, Brooke K., Thomas, Lucy and Johnston, Venerina (2022). Time course and risk profile of work-related neck disability: a longitudinal latent class growth analysis. Physical Therapy, 102 (6) pzac050, 1-9. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzac050

Time course and risk profile of work-related neck disability: a longitudinal latent class growth analysis

2022

Journal Article

ICON 2020—International Scientific Tendinopathy Symposium Consensus: A scoping review of psychological and psychosocial constructs and outcome measures reported in tendinopathy clinical trials

Mc Auliffe, Seán, Bisset, Leanne, Chester, Rachel, Coombes, Brooke K., Fearon, Angie, Kirwan, Paul, McCreesh, Karen, Mitham, Kieran, Morrissey, Dylan, O'Neill, Seth, Ross, Megan H., Sancho, Igor, Stephens, Gareth, Vallance, Patrick, van den Akker-Scheek, Inge, Vicenzino, Bill, Vuvan, Viana, Mallows, Adrian, Stubbs, Carl, Malliaras, Peter and Plinsinga, Melanie (2022). ICON 2020—International Scientific Tendinopathy Symposium Consensus: A scoping review of psychological and psychosocial constructs and outcome measures reported in tendinopathy clinical trials. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 52 (6), 375-388. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2022.11005

ICON 2020—International Scientific Tendinopathy Symposium Consensus: A scoping review of psychological and psychosocial constructs and outcome measures reported in tendinopathy clinical trials

2022

Journal Article

Comparing what the clinician draws on a digital pain map to that of persons who have greater trochanteric pain syndrome

Plinsinga, Melanie L., Boudreau, Shellie A., Coombes, Brooke K., Mellor, Rebecca, Hayes, Sandi and Vicenzino, Bill (2022). Comparing what the clinician draws on a digital pain map to that of persons who have greater trochanteric pain syndrome. Scandinavian Journal of Pain, 22 (3), 506-514. doi: 10.1515/sjpain-2021-0135

Comparing what the clinician draws on a digital pain map to that of persons who have greater trochanteric pain syndrome

2022

Journal Article

Personal activity intelligence e-health program in people with type 2 diabetes: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Coombes, Jeff S., Keating, Shelley E., Mielke, Gregore I., Fassett, Robert G., Coombes, Brooke K., O'Leary, Kaitlyn P., Cox, Emily R. and Burton, Nicola W. (2022). Personal activity intelligence e-health program in people with type 2 diabetes: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 54 (1), 18-27. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002768

Personal activity intelligence e-health program in people with type 2 diabetes: A pilot randomized controlled trial

2021

Journal Article

Joint position sense, motor imagery and tactile acuity in lateral elbow tendinopathy: a cross-sectional study

Wiebusch, Matheus, Coombes, Brooke Kaye and Silva, Marcelo Faria (2021). Joint position sense, motor imagery and tactile acuity in lateral elbow tendinopathy: a cross-sectional study. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 55 102422, 102422. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2021.102422

Joint position sense, motor imagery and tactile acuity in lateral elbow tendinopathy: a cross-sectional study

2021

Journal Article

Heightened pain facilitation rather than impaired pain inhibition distinguishes those with moderate/severe disability in work-related neck pain

Xie, Yanfei, Thomas, Lucy, Barbero, Marco, Falla, Deborah, Johnston, Venerina and Coombes, Brooke K. (2021). Heightened pain facilitation rather than impaired pain inhibition distinguishes those with moderate/severe disability in work-related neck pain. Pain, 162 (8), 2225-2236. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002213

Heightened pain facilitation rather than impaired pain inhibition distinguishes those with moderate/severe disability in work-related neck pain

2021

Journal Article

An evidence-based evaluation of mobile health apps for the management of individuals with lateral elbow tendinopathy using a systematic review framework

Heales, Luke J., Randall, Samantha, Vicenzino, Bill, Coombes, Brooke K. and Obst, Steven (2021). An evidence-based evaluation of mobile health apps for the management of individuals with lateral elbow tendinopathy using a systematic review framework. Physical Therapy Reviews, 26 (4), 243-253. doi: 10.1080/10833196.2021.1885584

An evidence-based evaluation of mobile health apps for the management of individuals with lateral elbow tendinopathy using a systematic review framework

Funding

Past funding

  • 2018
    Shearwave elastography to quantify impact of age, development and pathology on the neuromuscular system
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Quantifying tendon elasticity using shear wave dispersion analysis in healthy and diseased tendon
    AAS - France-Australia Science Innovation Collaboration (FASIC) Program Early Career Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    Quantifying the mechanical properties of tendons to optimize treatment for tendinopathy
    UQ Postdoctoral Fellowships for Women
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Dr Brooke Coombes is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

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