Overview
Background
Leanne Sakzewski is an Associate Professor at the Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of 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
- Associate 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
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 dmcn.16476. 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, 114666. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2025.114666
2025
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. (2025). Brain lesion extent, growth, and body composition in children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology dmcn.16427. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.16427
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
Responsiveness, reliability and minimal important change of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory–Computer Adaptive Test – Daily Activities (PEDI-CAT_DA) domain
Burgess, Andrea, Reedman, Sarah, Norfolk, Esther, Hines, Ashleigh, Hermith-Ramirez, Diana-Patricia, Chatfield, Mark, Boyd, Roslyn N. and Sakzewski, L. (2025). Responsiveness, reliability and minimal important change of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory–Computer Adaptive Test – Daily Activities (PEDI-CAT_DA) domain. 37th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood-onset Disability (EACD) and 4th Triennial Meeting of the International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability (IAACD), Heidelberg, Germany, 24-28 June 2025. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2025
Conference Publication
Participate-CP 2: Optimising attendance and involvement in physically active leisure for children with cerebral palsy: Phase III multi-site randomized controlled trial.
Sakzewski, Leanne, Reedman, Sarah, Elliott, Catherine, Ziviani, Jenny, Novak, Iona, Trost, Stewart, Majnemer, Annette, Comans, Tracy, Shikako, Keiko, Ware, Robert, McNamara, Lynda, Williams, Sian, Keramat, Syed Afroz, Brookes, Denise and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2025). Participate-CP 2: Optimising attendance and involvement in physically active leisure for children with cerebral palsy: Phase III multi-site randomized controlled trial.. 37th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood-onset Disability (EACD) and 4th Triennial Meeting of the International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability (IAACD), Heidelberg, Germany, 24-28 June 2025. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
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 Academmies of Childhood Disability, Heidelberg, Germany 2025, 24-28 June. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
2025
Conference Publication
The Preschool HABIT-ILE approach: pre post analysis of best responders in young children with bilateral cerebral palsy
McLeod, K., Sakzewski, L. and Reedman, S. (2025). The Preschool HABIT-ILE approach: pre post analysis of best responders in young children with bilateral cerebral palsy. International Alliance of Academmies of Childhood Disability, Heidelberg, Germany, 24-28 June 2025. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
2025
Conference Publication
Preschool Hand-Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy Including Lower Extremities (HABIT-ILE) in Australia
Burgess, Andrea, McLeod, Kate, Goodman, Sarah, Hermith-Ramirez, Diana-Patricia, Boyd, Roslyn and Sakzewski, Leanne (2025). Preschool Hand-Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy Including Lower Extremities (HABIT-ILE) in Australia. 37th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood-onset Disability (EACD) and 4th Triennial Meeting of the International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability (IAACD), Heidelberg, Germany, 24-28 June 2025. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2025
Conference Publication
Best gross motor responders to Hand Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy Including Lower Extremity (HABIT-ILE) in children with bilateral CP
Reedman, Sarah, Burgess, Andrea, Hines, Ashleigh, Bleyenheuft, Yannick, Novak, Iona, Elliott, Catherine, Morgan, Catherine, Norfolk, Esther, Pannek, Kerstin, Fripp, Jurgen, Ware, Robert S., Boyd, Roslyn N. and Sakzewski, Leanne (2025). Best gross motor responders to Hand Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy Including Lower Extremity (HABIT-ILE) in children with bilateral CP. 37th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood-onset Disability (EACD) and 4th Triennial Meeting of the International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability (IAACD), Heidelberg, Germany, 24-28 June 2025. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2025
Conference Publication
School readiness of children identified as high risk of cerebral palsy in infancy
Oftedal, S., Novak, I., Badawi, N., Whittingham, K., Morgan, C., Fahey, M., Ware, R. S., Hines, A., Bora, S., Sakzewski, L. and Boyd, R. N. (2025). School readiness of children identified as high risk of cerebral palsy in infancy. International Alliance of Academmies of Childhood Disability, Heidelberg, Germany, 24-28 June. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
2025
Journal Article
Active Start Active Future: feasibility of a behaviour-change intervention to reduce sedentary behaviour and promote physical activity in young children with cerebral palsy
Reedman, Sarah E., Kilgour, Gaela M., Gomersall, Sjaan, Sakzewski, Leanne, Trost, Stewart G. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2025). Active Start Active Future: feasibility of a behaviour-change intervention to reduce sedentary behaviour and promote physical activity in young children with cerebral palsy. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 45 (5), 745-768. doi: 10.1080/01942638.2025.2506061
2025
Journal Article
Study protocol for Active Start Active Future: a randomised control trial of an early behaviour-change intervention targeting physical activity participation and sedentary behaviour in young children with cerebral palsy living in South East Queensland, Australia
Kilgour, Gaela, Reedman, Sarah Elizabeth, Gomersall, Sjaan R., Sakzewski, Leanne, Trost, Stewart and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2025). Study protocol for Active Start Active Future: a randomised control trial of an early behaviour-change intervention targeting physical activity participation and sedentary behaviour in young children with cerebral palsy living in South East Queensland, Australia. BMJ Open, 15 (5) e087697, 1-13. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-087697
2025
Journal Article
Study protocol for the Australasian Cerebral Palsy Musculoskeletal Health Network (AusCP MSK) prospective cohort study: early detection of musculoskeletal complications in young children with moderate to severe cerebral palsy (GMFCS III–V)
Munns, Craig F, Bentley, Laura A, Boyd, Roslyn N, Brookes, Denise, Taylor, Maddison J, Pivonka, Peter, Nassar, Natasha, Trost, Stewart G, Little, J Paige, Tucker, Kylie, Burns, Joshua, Sakzewski, Leanne, Badawi, Nadia, Ware, Robert S, Comans, Tracy, Willoughby, Kate L and Paget, Simon (2025). Study protocol for the Australasian Cerebral Palsy Musculoskeletal Health Network (AusCP MSK) prospective cohort study: early detection of musculoskeletal complications in young children with moderate to severe cerebral palsy (GMFCS III–V). BMJ Open, 15 (4) e095526, 1-14. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-095526
2025
Journal Article
Telehealth Programme for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) for adolescents with acquired and congenital brain injuries: a protocol for mixed-methods randomised trial
Sakzewski, Leanne, Gilmore, Rose, Hilton, Nicola, Goodman, Sarah, Whittingham, Koa, Barfoot, Jacqui, Thompson, Bianca, Keramat, Afroz and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2025). Telehealth Programme for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) for adolescents with acquired and congenital brain injuries: a protocol for mixed-methods randomised trial. BMJ Open, 15 (2) e081843, e081843. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081843
2025
Journal Article
Randomized comparison trial of rehabilitation very early for infants with congenital hemiplegia
Boyd, Roslyn N., Greaves, Susan, Ziviani, Jenny, Novak, Iona, Badawi, Nadia, Pannek, Kerstin, Elliott, Catherine, Wallen, Margaret, Morgan, Catherine, Valentine, Jane, Findlay, Lisa, Guzzetta, Andrea, Whittingham, Koa, Ware, Robert S., Fiori, Simona, Maitre, Nathalie L., Heathcock, Jill, Scott, Kym, Eliasson, Ann-Christin and Sakzewski, Leanne (2025). Randomized comparison trial of rehabilitation very early for infants with congenital hemiplegia. The Journal of Pediatrics, 277 114381, 114381. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114381
2025
Journal Article
Investigating a caregiver-assisted social skills group programme for primary and early high school-aged children with acquired brain injury or cerebral palsy: protocol for a pilot mixed-methods, two-group randomised trial of PEERS Plus
Thompson, Bianca, Gilmore, Rose, Hilton, Nicola, Barfoot, Jacqui, Moody, Christine T., Whittingham, Koa, Keramat, Afroz, Boyd, Roslyn N. and Sakzewski, Leanne (2025). Investigating a caregiver-assisted social skills group programme for primary and early high school-aged children with acquired brain injury or cerebral palsy: protocol for a pilot mixed-methods, two-group randomised trial of PEERS Plus. BMJ Open, 15 (1) e095354, 1-12. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-095354
2024
Other Outputs
Data: Falls in ambulant children with cerebral palsy
Bentley, Laura, Boyd, Roslyn, Sakzewski, Leanne, Ashcroft, Sarah and Munns, Craig (2024). Data: Falls in ambulant children with cerebral palsy. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/8e7df29
2024
Conference Publication
School readiness outcomes of children identified as high risk of cerebral palsy in infancy
Oftedal, S., Boyd, R., Novak, I., Badawi, N., Bora, S., Ware, R., Morgan, C., Whittingham, K., Hines, A., Elliott, C., Valentine, J., Fahey, M. and Sakzewski, L. (2024). School readiness outcomes of children identified as high risk of cerebral palsy in infancy. American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Quebec, QC Canada, 23-26 October 2024. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2024
Conference Publication
Efficacy of intensive training targeting mobility for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Sudati, I., Sakzewski, L., Da Silva, C., Jackman, M., Haddon, M., Pool, D., Patel, M., Boyd, R. and De Campos, A. (2024). Efficacy of intensive training targeting mobility for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Quebec, QC Canada, 23-26 October 2024. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate 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, Mrs Gaela Kilgour
-
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: Dr 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
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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
Enquiries
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