Overview
Background
Leanne Sakzewski is the Professor of Allied Health Research, a conjoint position with the School of Health and Rehabilitation Science at The University of Queensland and Children's Health Queensland. Leanne completed her undergraduate training in the field of occupational therapy at the University of Queensland. Prior to entering research, she practiced as a senior occupational therapist for eighteen years in paediatric rehabilitation and child development. She completed her PhD in 2010 from The University of Queensland in the field of upper limb rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy, and achieved a Dean's Commendation for outstanding Research Higher Degree.
Research interests
Leanne's research interests are in the conduct of randomised clinical trials in the field of cerebral palsy and childhood onset acquired brain injuries. In particular, she has focused on randomised controlled trials of:
* upper limb training approaches for infants and children with unilateral cerebral palsy;
* intensive models of motor training to improve gross motor and manual abilities for children with bilateral cerebral palsy;
* participation-focused intervention to increase physically active leisure for children with cerebral palsy;
* social skills group-based program for adolescents with brain injuries.
Availability
- Professor Leanne Sakzewski is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Leanne Sakzewski’s works on UQ eSpace
2026
Journal Article
Relationship between functional lower limb capacity and falls in ambulant children with cerebral palsy
Bentley, Laura A., Ashcroft, Sarah K., Reedman, Sarah, Ware, Robert S., Oftedal, Stina, Munns, Craig, Sakzewski, Leanne and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2026). Relationship between functional lower limb capacity and falls in ambulant children with cerebral palsy. Gait and Posture 110147, 1-19. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2026.110147
2026
Journal Article
Environmental supportiveness, physical activity, and sedentary time in children with cerebral palsy
Oftedal, Stina, Armstrong, Ellen, Kilgour, Gaela, Ahmadi, Matthew, Trost, Stewart G., Horan, Sean A., Carty, Christopher, Brookes, Denise, Boyd, Roslyn N., Sakzewski, Leanne and Reedman, Sarah E. (2026). Environmental supportiveness, physical activity, and sedentary time in children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology dmcn.70253. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.70253
2026
Conference Publication
School readiness of children identified as highrisk of cerebral palsy in infancy
Oftedal, S.O., Bora, S., Sakzewski, L., Whittingham, K., Novak, I., Badawi, N., Morgan, C., Hines, A., Fahey, M., Ware, R.S. and Boyd, R.N. (2026). School readiness of children identified as highrisk of cerebral palsy in infancy. Oceania Academy of Cerebral Palsy and child-hood onset disabilities, Hobart, TAS Australia, 3-7 March 2026. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2026
Conference Publication
Validation and responsiveness of activitylimitation testing in frame running for children andyoung people with cerebral palsy
King, S., Walmsley, C., Pool, D., Armstrong, E., Haye-Woods, E., Dutia, I., Beckman, E., Sakzewski, L., Boyd, R.N. and Reedman, S. (2026). Validation and responsiveness of activitylimitation testing in frame running for children andyoung people with cerebral palsy. Oceania Academy of Cerebral Palsy and child-hood onset disabilities, Hobart, TAS Australia, 3-7 March 2026. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2026
Conference Publication
Active Start Active Future-2: Randomisedcontrolled trial of a participation-focused physicalactivity intervention in young children with cerebralpalsy
Kilgour, G., Reedman, S., Trost, S., Gomersall, S., Boyd, R.N. and Sakzewski, L. (2026). Active Start Active Future-2: Randomisedcontrolled trial of a participation-focused physicalactivity intervention in young children with cerebralpalsy. Oceania Academy of Cerebral Palsy and child-hood onset disabilities, Hobart, TAS Australia, 3-7 March 2026. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2026
Conference Publication
Randomised trial of telehealth delivered groupsocial skills program for adolescents with acquired andcongenital brain injuries
Sakzewski, L., Gilmore, R., Hilton, N., Goodman, S., Thompson, B. and Boyd, R.N. (2026). Randomised trial of telehealth delivered groupsocial skills program for adolescents with acquired andcongenital brain injuries. Oceania Academy of Cerebral Palsy and child-hood onset disabilities, Hobart, TAS Australia, 3-7 March 2026. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2026
Conference Publication
Exploring goal setting for the participation-focused intervention Participate-CP 2: How well are wemeasuring participation?
Kilgour, G., Herith-Ramirez, D.P., Reedman, S., Boyd, R.N. and Sakzewski, L. (2026). Exploring goal setting for the participation-focused intervention Participate-CP 2: How well are wemeasuring participation?. Oceania Academy of Cerebral Palsy and child-hood onset disabilities, Hobart, TAS Australia, 3-7 March 2026. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2026
Conference Publication
Four layers deep: Co-designing a community-led online navigation program for families of young children with cerebral palsy
Russo, F., Sakzewski, L. and Leishmann, S. (2026). Four layers deep: Co-designing a community-led online navigation program for families of young children with cerebral palsy. Oceania Academy of Cerebral Palsy and child-hood onset disabilities, Hobart, TAS Australia, 3-7 March 2026. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2026
Conference Publication
‘My child didn't see it as therapy’: Caregiverexperience of an intensive goal-directed motorintervention
McLeod, K., Kilgour, G., Reedman, S., Burgess, A. and Sakzewski, L. (2026). ‘My child didn't see it as therapy’: Caregiverexperience of an intensive goal-directed motorintervention. Oceania Academy of Cerebral Palsy and child-hood onset disabilities, Hobart, TAS Australia, 3-7 March 2026. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2026
Conference Publication
Responsiveness, reliability and minimalimportant change of the Pediatric Evaluation ofDisability Inventory–Computer Adaptive Test – DailyActivities (PEDI-CAT_DA) domain
Burgess, A., Reedman, S., Norfolk, E., Hines, A., Hermith-Ramirez, D., Chatfield, M., Boyd, R.N. and Sakzewski, L. (2026). Responsiveness, reliability and minimalimportant change of the Pediatric Evaluation ofDisability Inventory–Computer Adaptive Test – DailyActivities (PEDI-CAT_DA) domain. Oceania Academy of Cerebral Palsy and child-hood onset disabilities, Hobart, TAS Australia, 3-7 March 2026. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2026
Conference Publication
Does emotional availability influenceassociations between parental mental health and childbehaviour in children at high risk of cerebral palsy?
Oftedal, S., Bora, S., Whittingham, K., Sakzewski, L., Novak, I., Badawi, N., Morgan, C., Fahey, M., Hines, A., Ware, R.S. and Boyd, R.N. (2026). Does emotional availability influenceassociations between parental mental health and childbehaviour in children at high risk of cerebral palsy?. Oceania Academy of Cerebral Palsy and child-hood onset disabilities, Hobart, TAS Australia, 3-7 March 2026. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2026
Conference Publication
“It opened up possibilities”: Elements of aparticipation-focused physical activity interventioninfluencing experiences of children with cerebral palsyand families
Willis, C., Kilgour, G., Boyd, R.N., Sakzewski, L., Elliott, C. and Reedman, S. (2026). “It opened up possibilities”: Elements of aparticipation-focused physical activity interventioninfluencing experiences of children with cerebral palsyand families. Oceania Academy of Cerebral Palsy and child-hood onset disabilities, Hobart, TAS Australia, 3-7 March 2026. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2026
Journal Article
Brain lesion extent, growth, and body composition in children with cerebral palsy
Oftedal, Stina, Fiori, Simona, Bell, Kristie L., Benfer, Katherine A., Sakzewski, Leanne, Ware, Robert S., Davies, Peter S. W. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2026). Brain lesion extent, growth, and body composition in children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 68 (2), 199-210. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.16427
2026
Journal Article
Transforming care across oceans
Kilgour, Gaela and Sakzweski, Leanne (2026). Transforming care across oceans. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 68 (4) dmcn.70147, 458-459. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.70147
2026
Journal Article
Lower limb training threshold dose and motor learning strategy reporting in children with cerebral palsy
Haddon, Matthew, Sudati, Isabella Pessóta, Kenworthy-Groen, Jizelle, Pool, Dayna, O’Connor, Lauren, Ware, Robert, Lee, Cristina, Dolling, Kate and Sakzewski, Leanne (2026). Lower limb training threshold dose and motor learning strategy reporting in children with cerebral palsy. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 38 (1), 2-18. doi: 10.1097/pep.0000000000001257
2025
Journal Article
Efficacy of functional training on cardiorespiratory fitness in individuals with cerebral palsy: A systematic review
Volkan‐Yazici, Melek, Yazici, Gokhan, Reedman, Sarah, Leishman, Shaneen J., Sakzewski, Leanne and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2025). Efficacy of functional training on cardiorespiratory fitness in individuals with cerebral palsy: A systematic review. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology dmcn.70040. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.70040
2025
Journal Article
Active upper‐limb therapies for hand function, individual goal achievement, and self‐care in children with cerebral palsy: a network meta‐analysis
Burgess, Andrea, Chatfield, Mark D., Hermith‐Ramirez, Diana, Jackman, Michelle, Thorley, Megan, Reedman, Sarah, Boyd, Roslyn N. and Sakzewski, Leanne (2025). Active upper‐limb therapies for hand function, individual goal achievement, and self‐care in children with cerebral palsy: a network meta‐analysis. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 67 (12) dmcn.16476, 1543-1553. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.16476
2025
Journal Article
A multisite randomized controlled trial of hand arm bimanual intensive training including lower extremity (HABIT-ILE) for children with bilateral cerebral palsy
Sakzewski, Leanne, Bleyenheuft, Yannick, Novak, Iona, Elliott, Catherine, Reedman, Sarah, Morgan, Catherine, Pannek, Kerstin, Dos Santos, Natalie, Hines, Ashleigh, Nolan, Sherilyn, Ware, Robert S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2025). A multisite randomized controlled trial of hand arm bimanual intensive training including lower extremity (HABIT-ILE) for children with bilateral cerebral palsy. The Journal of Pediatrics, 284 114666, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2025.114666
2025
Journal Article
Early developmental trajectories of the impaired hand in infants with unilateral cerebral palsy
Sakzewski, Leanne, Greaves, Susan, Eliasson, Ann‐Christin, Wallen, Margaret, Novak, Iona, Ware, Robert S., Heathcock, Jill, Maitre, Nathalie and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2025). Early developmental trajectories of the impaired hand in infants with unilateral cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 67 (7), 901-909. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.16240
2025
Conference Publication
Long term outcomes of a randomised trial of infant friendly Baby-CIMT and Baby-BIM for young children at risk of Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
Boyd, R. N., Oftedal, S., Greaves, S., Novak, I., Badawi, N., Morgan, C., Elliott, C., Findlay, L., Ware, R. S. and Sakzewski, L. (2025). Long term outcomes of a randomised trial of infant friendly Baby-CIMT and Baby-BIM for young children at risk of Unilateral Cerebral Palsy. International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability, Heidelberg, Germany, 24-28 June 2025.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Leanne Sakzewski is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
CP ArtS: Optimising social skills in primary school-aged children with acquired brain injury and cerebral palsy through active participation in a group-based Creative and Performing Arts Social skills program
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jacqui Barfoot
-
Doctor Philosophy
Preschool HABIT-ILE: The impact of intensive motor training to improve gross motor function in young children with bilateral cerebral palsy.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sarah Reedman
-
Doctor Philosophy
Reclaiming Choice and Control: Empowering Parents Accessing Early Intervention to Advocate for Allied Health Services that Support Child and Family Well-Being
Principal Advisor
Completed supervision
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
A multi-centre, randomised waitlist-control trial investigating a parent assisted social skills group program for adolescents with brain injuries: The Friends Project
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Hon Assoc Professor Zephanie Tyack
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Caregiver-infant emotional availability outcomes and intervention delivery fidelity in a community-based caregiver-implemented program for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy in a low resource context
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kath Benfer, Dr Emma Crawford
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Development of self-care performance in children with cerebral palsy, and its relationship to manual ability.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Roslyn Boyd
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Efficacy of an online multimodal therapy program on gross motor outcomes in children and adolescents with an acquired brain injury
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Roslyn Boyd
Media
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