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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

41 - 60 of 73 works

2018

Journal Article

Shear-wave velocity of the patellar tendon and quadriceps muscle is increased immediately after maximal eccentric exercise

Heales, Luke J., Badya, Rohitha, Ziegenfuss, Brandon, Hug, François, Coombes, Jeff S., van den Hoorn, Wolbert, Tucker, Kylie and Coombes, Brooke K. (2018). Shear-wave velocity of the patellar tendon and quadriceps muscle is increased immediately after maximal eccentric exercise. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 118 (8), 1715-1724. doi: 10.1007/s00421-018-3903-2

Shear-wave velocity of the patellar tendon and quadriceps muscle is increased immediately after maximal eccentric exercise

2018

Journal Article

Do insertional and mid-portion achilles tendinopathy display different material properties?

Coombes, B. K., Tucker, K., Vicenzino, B., Vuvan, V., Mellor, R., Heales, L., Nordez, A. and Hug, F. (2018). Do insertional and mid-portion achilles tendinopathy display different material properties?. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 28 (10), 2247-2248. doi: 10.1111/sms.13265

Do insertional and mid-portion achilles tendinopathy display different material properties?

2018

Journal Article

Response to considerations on "Achilles and patellar tendinopathy display opposite changes in elastic properties."

Coombes, Brooke Kaye, Tucker, Kylie, Vicenzino, Bill, Vuvan, Viana, Mellor, Rebecca, Heales, Luke, Nordez, Antoine and Hug, François (2018). Response to considerations on "Achilles and patellar tendinopathy display opposite changes in elastic properties.". Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 28 (4), 1471-1472. doi: 10.1111/sms.13025

Response to considerations on "Achilles and patellar tendinopathy display opposite changes in elastic properties."

2018

Conference Publication

Isometric exercise or wait-and-see on pain, disability and global improvement in patients with lateral epicondylalgia: a randomised clinical trial

Vuvan, Viana, Vicenzino, Bill, Mellor, Rebecca, Heales, Luke and Coombes, Brooke (2018). Isometric exercise or wait-and-see on pain, disability and global improvement in patients with lateral epicondylalgia: a randomised clinical trial. Scandinavian Congress of Medicine and Science in Sports, Copenhagen, Denmark, February 2018. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-099334.14

Isometric exercise or wait-and-see on pain, disability and global improvement in patients with lateral epicondylalgia: a randomised clinical trial

2018

Journal Article

Achilles and patellar tendinopathy display opposite changes in elastic properties: a shear wave elastography study

Coombes, B. K., Tucker, K., Vicenzino, B., Vuvan, V., Mellor, R., Heales, L., Nordez, A. and Hug, F. (2018). Achilles and patellar tendinopathy display opposite changes in elastic properties: a shear wave elastography study. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 28 (3), 1201-1208. doi: 10.1111/sms.12986

Achilles and patellar tendinopathy display opposite changes in elastic properties: a shear wave elastography study

2018

Journal Article

Psychological factors not strength deficits are associated with severity of gluteal tendinopathy: a cross-sectional study

Plinsinga, M. L., Coombes, B. K., Mellor, R., Nicolson, P., Grimaldi, A., Hodges, P., Bennell, K. and Vicenzino, B. (2018). Psychological factors not strength deficits are associated with severity of gluteal tendinopathy: a cross-sectional study. European Journal of Pain, 22 (6), 1124-1133. doi: 10.1002/ejp.1199

Psychological factors not strength deficits are associated with severity of gluteal tendinopathy: a cross-sectional study

2018

Journal Article

Workplace-Based Interventions for Neck Pain in Office Workers: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Chen, Xiaoqi, Coombes, Brooke K, Sjøgaard, Gisela, Jun, Deokhoon, O'Leary, Shaun and Johnston, Venerina (2018). Workplace-Based Interventions for Neck Pain in Office Workers: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Physical therapy, 98 (1), 40-62. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzx101

Workplace-Based Interventions for Neck Pain in Office Workers: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2017

Journal Article

Heterogeneity of passive elastic properties within the quadriceps femoris muscle-tendon unit

Coombes, Brooke K, Ziegenfuss, Brandon, David, Michael, Badya, Rohitha , van den Hoorn, Wolbert, Hug, François and Tucker, Kylie (2017). Heterogeneity of passive elastic properties within the quadriceps femoris muscle-tendon unit. European journal of applied physiology, 118 (1), 213-221. doi: 10.1007/s00421-017-3763-1

Heterogeneity of passive elastic properties within the quadriceps femoris muscle-tendon unit

2017

Journal Article

Patellar and Achilles tendinopathies are predominantly peripheral pain states: a blinded case control study of somatosensory and psychological profiles

Plinsinga, Melanie L., van Wilgen, Cornelis P., Brink, Michel S., Vuvan, Viana, Stephenson, Aoife, Heales, Luke J., Mellor, Rebecca, Coombes, Brooke K. and Vicenzino, Bill T. (2017). Patellar and Achilles tendinopathies are predominantly peripheral pain states: a blinded case control study of somatosensory and psychological profiles. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 52 (5), 284-291. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2016-097163

Patellar and Achilles tendinopathies are predominantly peripheral pain states: a blinded case control study of somatosensory and psychological profiles

2017

Journal Article

Comparison of corticosteroid, autologous blood or sclerosant injections for chronic tennis elbow

Branson, R., Naidu, K., du Toit, C., Rotstein, A. H., Kiss, R., McMillan, D., Fooks, L., Coombes, B. K. and Vicenzino, B. (2017). Comparison of corticosteroid, autologous blood or sclerosant injections for chronic tennis elbow. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 20 (6), 528-533. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2016.10.010

Comparison of corticosteroid, autologous blood or sclerosant injections for chronic tennis elbow

2017

Conference Publication

Quantitative sensory testing in Achilles tendinopathy

Plinsinga, M., Vuvan, V., Mellor, R., Heales, L., van Wilgen, P., Brink, M., Coombes, B. and Vicenzino, B. (2017). Quantitative sensory testing in Achilles tendinopathy. 2016 SMA Conference, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 12 – 15 October 2015. Chatswood, NSW Australia: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2016.12.051

Quantitative sensory testing in Achilles tendinopathy

2017

Conference Publication

Pain and psychological characteristics in patellar tendinopathy

Plinsinga, M., Vuvan, V., Stephenson, A., Mellor, R., Heales, L., van Wilgen, P., Brink, M., Coombes, B. and Vicenzino, B. (2017). Pain and psychological characteristics in patellar tendinopathy. 2016 SMA Conference, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 12 – 15 October 2015. Chatswood, NSW Australia: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2016.12.048

Pain and psychological characteristics in patellar tendinopathy

2016

Journal Article

Economic evaluation favours physiotherapy but not corticosteroid injection as a first-line intervention for chronic lateral epicondylalgia: evidence from a randomised clinical trial

Coombes, Brooke K., Connelly, Luke, Bisset, Leanne and Vicenzino, Bill (2016). Economic evaluation favours physiotherapy but not corticosteroid injection as a first-line intervention for chronic lateral epicondylalgia: evidence from a randomised clinical trial. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50 (22), 1400-1405. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2015-094729

Economic evaluation favours physiotherapy but not corticosteroid injection as a first-line intervention for chronic lateral epicondylalgia: evidence from a randomised clinical trial

2016

Journal Article

Isometric exercise above but not below an individual’s pain threshold influences pain perception in people with lateral epicondylalgia

Coombes, Brooke Kaye, Wiebusch, Matheus, Heales, Luke, Stephenson, Aoife and Vicenzino, Bill (2016). Isometric exercise above but not below an individual’s pain threshold influences pain perception in people with lateral epicondylalgia. Clinical Journal of Pain, 32 (12), 1069-1075. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000365

Isometric exercise above but not below an individual’s pain threshold influences pain perception in people with lateral epicondylalgia

2015

Journal Article

Management of lateral elbow tendinopathy: one size does not fit all

Coombes, Brooke K., Bisset, Leanne and Vicenzino, Bill (2015). Management of lateral elbow tendinopathy: one size does not fit all. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 45 (11), 938-949. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2015.5841

Management of lateral elbow tendinopathy: one size does not fit all

2015

Journal Article

The impact of onsite workplace health-enhancing physical activity interventions on worker productivity: a systematic review

Pereira, Michelle Jessica, Coombes, Brooke Kaye, Comans, Tracy Anne and Johnston, Venerina (2015). The impact of onsite workplace health-enhancing physical activity interventions on worker productivity: a systematic review. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 72 (6), 401-412. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2014-102678

The impact of onsite workplace health-enhancing physical activity interventions on worker productivity: a systematic review

2015

Journal Article

Cold hyperalgesia associated with poorer prognosis in lateral epicondylalgia: a 1-year prognostic study of physical and psychological factors

Coombes, Brooke K., Bisset, Leanne and Vicenzino, Bill (2015). Cold hyperalgesia associated with poorer prognosis in lateral epicondylalgia: a 1-year prognostic study of physical and psychological factors. Clinical Journal of Pain, 31 (1), 30-35. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000078

Cold hyperalgesia associated with poorer prognosis in lateral epicondylalgia: a 1-year prognostic study of physical and psychological factors

2015

Book Chapter

Overview of contemporary issues in practice – The elbow

Coombes, B. K., Bisset, L. and Vicenzino, B. (2015). Overview of contemporary issues in practice – The elbow. Grieve’s Modern Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. (pp. 583-594) Edinburgh, United Kingdom: Elsevier.

Overview of contemporary issues in practice – The elbow

2015

Conference Publication

Estimating the Monetary Value of Relief of Tennis Elbow: A Contingent Valuation Study of Willingness-To-Pay

Pereira, M. J., Coombes, B. K., Bisset, L. M., Vicenzino, B. and Connelly, L. (2015). Estimating the Monetary Value of Relief of Tennis Elbow: A Contingent Valuation Study of Willingness-To-Pay. ISPOR 18th Annual European Congress, Milan, Italy, 7-11 November 2015. New York, NY United States: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jval.2015.09.2358

Estimating the Monetary Value of Relief of Tennis Elbow: A Contingent Valuation Study of Willingness-To-Pay

2014

Journal Article

Pragmatic study of corticosteroid injections and manual therapy for the shoulder impingement syndrome

Coombes, Brooke K. and Vicenzino, Bill (2014). Pragmatic study of corticosteroid injections and manual therapy for the shoulder impingement syndrome. Annals of Internal Medicine, 161 (3), 224-225. doi: 10.7326/M14-1405

Pragmatic study of corticosteroid injections and manual therapy for the shoulder impingement syndrome

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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communications@uq.edu.au