Overview
Background
Dr Melinda Smith (nee Franettovich) is a Lecturer in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. She also works part-time as a Physiotherapist at Clem Jones Centre Physio & Rehab and delivers online and face to face professional development workshops for health professionals. Her research, teaching and clinical focus is lower limb musculoskeletal function and health, with a special interest in the foot and ankle. Melinda's aim is to enrich people's lives by facilitating physical activity and sport participation through improving the prevention, assessment and treatment of lower limb musculoskeletal pain and injury.
Her research publications extend across several areas including lower limb function, sports and running related injuries, taping, foot orthoses, footwear, measurement of foot posture and mobility, gait-retraining and musculoskeletal imaging. She has contributed to three book chapters including neuromuscular control of the foot and ankle, advances in magnetic resonance imaging, and sports medicine (foot). Melinda has presented her research at international and national conferences across several fields including Physiotherapy, Podiatry and Sports Medicine. The impact of her research in the clinical setting is evidenced by invitations from professional organisations, private practices and hospital departments to deliver professional development for their health professionals. Through her research she has collaborated with school, community and elite level sporting clubs and associations, physiotherapy private practices and footwear manufacturers. Melinda's mission is to conduct high quality, innovative research that engages with community and industry partners to deliver impactful outcomes.
Availability
- Dr Melinda Smith is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Bachelor, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Melinda Smith’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
A combined program of education plus exercise versus general advice for ankle osteoarthritis: a feasibility randomised controlled trial
Smith, Michelle, Vuvan, Viana, Collins, Natalie J., Franettovich Smith, Melinda M., Costa, Nathalia, Southern, Zachary, Duffy, Tim, Downie, Alex, Hunter, David J. and Vicenzino, Bill (2024). A combined program of education plus exercise versus general advice for ankle osteoarthritis: a feasibility randomised controlled trial. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 74 103169, 103169. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2024.103169
2024
Journal Article
MuscleMap: An Open-Source, Community-Supported Consortium for Whole-Body Quantitative MRI of Muscle
McKay, Marnee J., Weber, Kenneth A., Wesselink, Evert O., Smith, Zachary A., Abbott, Rebecca, Anderson, David B., Ashton-James, Claire E., Atyeo, John, Beach, Aaron J., Burns, Joshua, Clarke, Stephen, Collins, Natalie J., Coppieters, Michel W., Cornwall, Jon, Crawford, Rebecca J., De Martino, Enrico, Dunn, Adam G., Eyles, Jillian P., Feng, Henry J., Fortin, Maryse, Franettovich Smith, Melinda M., Galloway, Graham, Gandomkar, Ziba, Glastras, Sarah, Henderson, Luke, Hides, Julie A., Hiller, Claire E., Hilmer, Sarah N., Hoggarth, Mark A. ... Elliott, James M. (2024). MuscleMap: An Open-Source, Community-Supported Consortium for Whole-Body Quantitative MRI of Muscle. Journal of Imaging, 10 (11) 262, 1-17. doi: 10.3390/jimaging10110262
2024
Journal Article
Exploring relationships between size and function of trunk muscles, injuries and concussion in a professional rugby league team
Hides, Julie A., Leung, Felix, Franettovich Smith, Melinda M., Anning, Luke, Blanch, Peter and Mendis, M. Dilani (2024). Exploring relationships between size and function of trunk muscles, injuries and concussion in a professional rugby league team. Journal of Science in Sport and Exercise. doi: 10.1007/s42978-023-00258-5
2024
Book Chapter
Advances in Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Abbott, R.J., Cornwall, J., Crawford, R.J., De Martino, E., Elliott, J.M., Galloway, G.J., Hides, J., Hoggarth, M.A., McMahon, K., McKay, M., Peek, A., Perraton, Z., Reeve, A., Sheldrick, K., Seitz, A.L., Semciw, A., Smith, A.C., Franettovich Smith, M.M., Stone, D.B., Walton, D.M., Weber, K.A. and Wesselink, E. (2024). Advances in Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Grieve's Modern Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. (pp. 1-1) edited by Gwendolen Jull, Ann Moore, Deborah Falla, Jeremy Lewis, Chris McCarthy and Michele Sterling. New York, NY United States: Elsevier.
2023
Journal Article
Protocol for a randomised feasibility trial comparing a combined program of education and exercise versus general advice for ankle osteoarthritis
Smith, Michelle D., Vuvan, Viana, Collins, Natalie J., Hunter, David J., Costa, Nathalia, Smith, Melinda M. Franettovich and Vicenzino, Bill (2023). Protocol for a randomised feasibility trial comparing a combined program of education and exercise versus general advice for ankle osteoarthritis. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 16 (1) 72. doi: 10.1186/s13047-023-00669-1
2023
Conference Publication
A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of the effect of physical interventions on the intrinsic foot muscles
Smith, M., Hurn, S., Bonacci, J., Chicoine, D., Esculier, J., Collins, N. and Vicenzino, B. (2023). A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of the effect of physical interventions on the intrinsic foot muscles. 2023 SMA Conference, Twin Waters, QLD Australia, 11-14 October 2023. Chatswood, NSW Australia: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2023.08.149
2023
Journal Article
The association between size and symmetry of the lumbar multifidus muscle, and injuries in adolescent rugby union players
Low, Timothy C., Mendis, M. Dilani, Franettovich Smith, Melinda M., Hides, Julie A. and Leung, Felix T. (2023). The association between size and symmetry of the lumbar multifidus muscle, and injuries in adolescent rugby union players. Physical Therapy in Sport, 60, 98-103. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2023.02.001
2022
Journal Article
Nordic strength and history of hamstring injury in Australian Football League players
Smith, Nigel A., Bourne, Matthew N., Franettovich Smith, Melinda M., Barrett, Rod S. and Hides, Julie A. (2022). Nordic strength and history of hamstring injury in Australian Football League players. Physical Therapy in Sport, 57, 11-16. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2022.06.006
2022
Journal Article
Improving the measurement of intrinsic foot muscle morphology and composition from high-field (7T) magnetic resonance imaging
Franettovich Smith, Melinda M., Mendis, M. Dilani, Weber, Kenneth A., Elliott, James M., Ho, Ray, Wilkes, Margot J. and Collins, Natalie J. (2022). Improving the measurement of intrinsic foot muscle morphology and composition from high-field (7T) magnetic resonance imaging. Journal of Biomechanics, 140 111164, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2022.111164
2022
Journal Article
Adolescent perspectives on participating in a feasibility trial investigating shoe inserts for patellofemoral pain
O’Sullivan, Isobel C., da Costa, Nathalia Cordeiro, Franettovich Smith, Melinda M., Vicenzino, Bill, Crossley, Kay M., Kamper, Steven J., van Middelkoop, Marienke, Menz, Hylton B., Tucker, Kylie, O’Leary, Karina T. and Collins, Natalie J. (2022). Adolescent perspectives on participating in a feasibility trial investigating shoe inserts for patellofemoral pain. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 15 (1) 37, 37. doi: 10.1186/s13047-022-00537-4
2021
Journal Article
HAPPi Kneecaps! A double-blind, randomised, parallel group superiority trial investigating the effects of sHoe inserts for adolescents with patellofemoral PaIn: phase II feasibility study
O’Sullivan, Isobel C., Crossley, Kay M., Kamper, Steven J., van Middelkoop, Marienke, Vicenzino, Bill, Franettovich Smith, Melinda M., Menz, Hylton B., Smith, Anne J., Tucker, Kylie, O’Leary, Karina T., Costa, Nathalia and Collins, Natalie J. (2021). HAPPi Kneecaps! A double-blind, randomised, parallel group superiority trial investigating the effects of sHoe inserts for adolescents with patellofemoral PaIn: phase II feasibility study. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 14 (1) 64, 1-11. doi: 10.1186/s13047-021-00498-0
2021
Journal Article
Sensorimotor system changes in adolescent rugby players post-concussion: A prospective investigation from the subacute period through to return-to-sport
Leung, Felix T., Mendis, M. Dilani, Franettovich Smith, Melinda M., Rahmann, Ann, Treleaven, Julia and Hides, Julie A. (2021). Sensorimotor system changes in adolescent rugby players post-concussion: A prospective investigation from the subacute period through to return-to-sport. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 57 102492, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2021.102492
2021
Conference Publication
Foot orthoses make for Happi kneecaps! of adolescents with patellofemoral pain: a mixed methods design including randomised feasibility trial
Collins, N., Cordeiro da Costa, N., Crossley, K., Kamper, S., Menz, H., O’Leary, K., O’Sullivan, I., Smith, A., Smith, M., Tucker, K., van Middelkoop, M. and Vincenzino, B. (2021). Foot orthoses make for Happi kneecaps! of adolescents with patellofemoral pain: a mixed methods design including randomised feasibility trial. 2021 SMA e-Conference, Online, 8-9 October 2021. Chatswood, NSW Australia: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2021.09.068
2021
Journal Article
A prospective study of risk factors for hamstring injury in Australian football league players
Smith, Nigel A., Franettovich Smith, Melinda M., Bourne, Matthew N., Barrett, Rod S. and Hides, Julie A. (2021). A prospective study of risk factors for hamstring injury in Australian football league players. Journal of Sports Sciences, 39 (12), 1-7. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2021.1875613
2021
Journal Article
New insights into intrinsic foot muscle morphology and composition using ultra-high-field (7-Tesla) magnetic resonance imaging
Smith, Melinda M. Franettovich, Elliott, James M., Al-Najjar, Aiman, Weber, Kenneth A., Hoggarth, Mark A., Vicenzino, Bill, Hodges, Paul W. and Collins, Natalie J. (2021). New insights into intrinsic foot muscle morphology and composition using ultra-high-field (7-Tesla) magnetic resonance imaging. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 22 (1) 97, 1-14. doi: 10.1186/s12891-020-03926-7
2020
Journal Article
Pre-season screening of the upper body and trunk in Australian football players: a prospective study
Schwab, Laura M., McGhee, Deirdre, Franettovich Smith, Melinda M., Mendis, M. Dilani and Hides, Julie (2020). Pre-season screening of the upper body and trunk in Australian football players: a prospective study. Physical Therapy in Sport, 46 (Spine 20 1 1995), 120-130. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2020.06.013
2020
Journal Article
HAPPi Kneecaps! Protocol for a participant- and assessor-blinded, randomised, parallel group feasibility trial of foot orthoses for adolescents with patellofemoral pain
O’Sullivan, Isobel C., Crossley, Kay M., Kamper, Steven J., van Middelkoop, Marienke, Vicenzino, Bill, Franettovich Smith, Melinda M., Menz, Hylton B., Smith, Anne J., Tucker, Kylie, O’Leary, Karina T. and Collins, Natalie J. (2020). HAPPi Kneecaps! Protocol for a participant- and assessor-blinded, randomised, parallel group feasibility trial of foot orthoses for adolescents with patellofemoral pain. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 13 (1) 50, 50. doi: 10.1186/s13047-020-00417-9
2020
Journal Article
Sonography - from the research to the physiotherapy practice
Hides, Julie A., Mendis, M. Dilani and Smith, Melinda M. Franettovich (2020). Sonography - from the research to the physiotherapy practice. Manuelle Therapie, 24 (03), 113-120. doi: 10.1055/a-1178-3786
2020
Journal Article
Injury surveillance of an Australian community netball club
Franettovich Smith, Melinda M., Mendis, M. Dilani, Parker, Alexander, Grantham, Brittany, Stewart, Simon and Hides, Julie (2020). Injury surveillance of an Australian community netball club. Physical Therapy in Sport, 44, 41-46. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2020.04.004
2020
Journal Article
A Case Study: Does the Sonography reflect the clinical Assessment?
Smith, Melinda M. Franettovich, Mendis, M. Dilani, Sexton, Margot J., Lavell, Sharni, Lemcke, Shane and Hides, Julie A. (2020). A Case Study: Does the Sonography reflect the clinical Assessment?. Manuelle Therapie, 24 (03), 127-137. doi: 10.1055/a-1178-3706
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Melinda Smith is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Adolescents with patellofemoral pain: Characteristics, preferences and footwear interventions
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bill Vicenzino, Associate Professor Natalie Collins, Dr Nathalia Costa
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Melinda Smith directly for media enquiries about:
- foot muscles
- foot pain
- heel pain
- plantar fasciitis
- shin pain
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