Overview
Background
Dr Anna Hatton is a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy within the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Originally from the UK, she was awarded both her BSc(Hons) in Physiotherapy and PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences from Teesside University (Middlesbrough, UK). Dr Hatton’s main research interests include the development and evaluation of novel footwear devices to enhance balance, mobility, foot sensory perception, and physical activity, in healthy and disease populations.
To date, Dr Hatton has attracted over $1.7 million research funding from major bodies including the British Geriatrics Society, Diabetes Australia, Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, and National Health and Medical Research Council. In 2010, she undertook a prestigious Australian Endeavour Postdoctoral Research Fellowship and Baroness Robson Travel Scholarship (Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, UK), within the ‘Falls and Balance Research Group’ at Neuroscience Research Australia (Sydney), under the mentorship of Professor Stephen Lord. In 2016, Dr Hatton received a high profile ‘Young Tall Poppy Science Award’ from the Australian Institute of Policy and Science, in recognition of her research excellence and novel work into plantar sensory stimulation.
Dr Hatton is Co-Director of the UQ Centre for Neurorehabilitation, Ageing and Balance Research, an Associate Editor for Gait & Posture, and (elected) Secretary for the Executive Committee of the Australian and New Zealand Falls Prevention Society.
Availability
- Dr Anna Hatton is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), Teesside University
- Doctor of Philosophy, Teesside University
Research interests
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Sensory stimulating footwear devices to improve balance and mobility
This program of research focuses on the development and evaluation of novel textured and vibratory shoe insoles to enhance postural control, gait, foot sensory function, and physical activity, in a wide range of populations including: healthy young and older people; older fallers; adults with Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Diabetes.
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Balance performance in adults with lower limb musculoskeletal conditions
This series of studies investigates how lower limb musculoskeletal conditions, including patellofemoral pain, anterior cruciate ligament injury, hip chondropathy, and early-onset hip osteoarthritis, can alter postural control mechanisms. We are also exploring whether physiological measurements, such as hip and trunk muscle strength, joint range of motion, foot mobility, and patient-reported outcomes, are related to balance performance in these clinical populations.
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Understanding lateral reactive balance control mechanims in older adults with hip osteoarthritis
This study aims to understand how hip osteoarthritis can influence people's ability to respond to a sudden loss of balance in a sideways direction by exploring how the different body segments move and how the leg and trunk muscles work to keep individuals standing upright. The benefit for people affected by hip osteoarthritis is that this study will lead to the development of new, effective treatment techniques that can help them to balance better and to maintain their independence for a longer time.
Works
Search Professor Anna Hatton’s works on UQ eSpace
2008
Journal Article
Effect of foot orthoses on lower limb muscle activation: A critical review
Hatton, Anna Lucy, Dixon, John, Rome, Keith and Martin, Denis (2008). Effect of foot orthoses on lower limb muscle activation: A critical review. Physical Therapy Reviews, 13 (4), 280-293. doi: 10.1179/174328808X252037
2008
Conference Publication
Do Textured Surfaces Affect Postural Stability And Lower Limb Muscle Activity In Young Asymptomatic Adults?
Hatton, A. L., Dixon, J., Rome, K., Martin, D. and Hodgson, D. (2008). Do Textured Surfaces Affect Postural Stability And Lower Limb Muscle Activity In Young Asymptomatic Adults?. American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) 55th Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, United States, 28 - 31 May 2008. Philadelphia, PA, United States: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. doi: 10.1249/01.mss.0000321972.07774.75
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Anna Hatton is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the neurophysiological effects of vibrotexture shoe insoles to inform balance rehabilitation in adults with foot sensory loss.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kylie Tucker
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Doctor Philosophy
Bionic Sensory Insole Technology for Optimising Sport Performance and Injury Prevention in Netball
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Wolbert van den Hoorn, Professor Bill Vicenzino
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Doctor Philosophy
Development of a Novel Assessment Battery through Comprehensive Skills Analysis and Injury Surveillance in Unarmed Combat Sport Athletes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Michelle Smith, Dr Viana Vuvan
Completed supervision
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Enhancing adherence to falls prevention exercise in older adults with a risk of falling in Singapore
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sjaan Gomersall, Professor Sandy Brauer
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Functional recovery of the upper quadrant after neck dissection surgery for head and neck cancer
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ben Panizza, Associate Professor Shaun O'Leary
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Anna Hatton directly for media enquiries about:
- Electromyography
- Fall prevention
- Footwear
- Gait analysis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Musculokeletal disease
- Neurodegenerative disease
- Older people
- Osteoarthritis
- Postural control
- Sensorimotor function
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