Overview
Background
Nicole is a Research Officer at the RECOVER Injury Research Centre, working within the Improving Health Outcomes after Musculoskeletal Injury program. Her current research focuses on the design and implementation of single-case experimental design studies to evaluate multidisciplinary interventions for whiplash and other musculoskeletal injuries sustained in road traffic incidents. Nicole completed her PhD in Psychology at The University of Queensland, where she investigated the effectiveness and mechanisms of mind-body therapies for pain management in injured athletes. This work advanced understanding of psychological predictors of pain, injury perception, and recovery in sporting contexts. Nicole has published in leading journals including Journal of Sports Sciences and Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, and presented at national and international conferences such as the Australian Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting. She holds a Master of Clinical Research from The University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) from UQ, and is committed to developing personalised, evidence-based approaches to injury rehabilitation.
Availability
- Miss Nicky Rickerby is:
- Not available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Psychology, The University of Queensland
- Postgraduate Certificate of Neuroscience, University of Melbourne
- Masters (Research) of Science (Clinical Research), University of Melbourne
Research interests
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Whiplash and Musculoskeletal Injury Rehabilitation
Nicole investigates rehabilitation strategies for whiplash-associated disorders and other musculoskeletal injuries sustained in road traffic incidents.
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Single-Case Experimental Design in Clinical Research
Nicole uses single-case experimental designs to rigorously evaluate real-world treatment approaches.
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Psychological and Behavioural Predictors of Pain Outcomes
Nicole studies how psychological and behavioural factors such as pain perception, activity patterns, and coping styles influence recovery from injury.
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Mind-Body Interventions for Pain Management in Athletes
Nicole's doctoral research explored the efficacy and mechanisms of mind-body therapies in managing injury-related pain and burnout in athletes.
Research impacts
Whiplash and other musculoskeletal injuries from road traffic incidents are a leading cause of long-term pain, disability, and reduced quality of life. Nicky's research directly addresses this public health challenge by developing and testing innovative, personalised rehabilitation strategies that help people recover more effectively and return to their daily activities sooner. Using single-case experimental design methods, she works closely with multidisciplinary teams, including physiotherapists, psychologists, and medical specialists to evaluate real-world treatments that can be implemented in clinics. This ensures that findings are directly applicable to patient care, bridging the gap between research and practice. The outcomes of her work have the potential to reduce healthcare costs, shorten recovery times, and improve the long-term wellbeing of individuals affected by injury. By identifying the psychological and behavioural factors that influence recovery, she aims to equip clinicians with practical tools to tailor rehabilitation, improve patient engagement, and prevent chronic pain.
Works
Search Professor Nicky Rickerby’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2024
Journal Article
An evaluation of the behavioural inhibition system and behavioural activation system (BIS-BAS) model of pain in athletes
Rickerby, Nicole C., Hodges, Paul W., Jensen, Mark P., Besomi, Manuela and Day, Melissa A. (2024). An evaluation of the behavioural inhibition system and behavioural activation system (BIS-BAS) model of pain in athletes. Journal of Sports Sciences, 42 (10), 930-937. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2024.2370154
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Avoiding the edge before it is too late: when is pain a sign of injury in athletes?
Rickerby, Nicole C., Hodges, Paul W., Besomi, Manuela, Hutchinson, Mark R. and Day, Melissa A. (2024). Avoiding the edge before it is too late: when is pain a sign of injury in athletes?. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 34 (5), 401-403. doi: 10.1097/jsm.0000000000001237
Featured
2022
Journal Article
Rumination across depression, anxiety, and eating disorders in adults: a meta-analytic review
Rickerby, Nicole, Krug, Isabel, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Matthew, Forte, Elizabeth, Davenport, Rebekah, Chayadi, Ellentika and Kiropoulos, Litza (2022). Rumination across depression, anxiety, and eating disorders in adults: a meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 31 (2), 1-19. doi: 10.1037/cps0000110
2024
Journal Article
Neuroticism and cognitive correlates of depression and anxiety in endometriosis: A meta-analytic review, evidence appraisal, and future recommendations
Davenport, R. A., Krug, I., Dang, P. L., Rickerby, N. and Kiropoulos, L. (2024). Neuroticism and cognitive correlates of depression and anxiety in endometriosis: A meta-analytic review, evidence appraisal, and future recommendations. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 187 111906, 111906. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2024.111906
2024
Conference Publication
Personality and cognitive factors implicated in depression and anxiety in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Davenport, Rebekah, Krug, Isabel, Rickerby, Nicole, Dang, Linh Phuong and Kiropoulos, Litza (2024). Personality and cognitive factors implicated in depression and anxiety in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Multiple Sclerosis Australia: Progress in MS Research Conference (MS), Perth, WA Australia, 29 November - 1 December 2023. London, United Kingdom: SAGE Publications.
2024
Journal Article
Personality and cognitive factors implicated in depression and anxiety in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Davenport, Rebekah A., Krug, Isabel, Rickerby, Nicole, Dang, Phuong Linh, Forte, Elizabeth and Kiropoulos, Litza (2024). Personality and cognitive factors implicated in depression and anxiety in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 17 100832, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.jadr.2024.100832
Media
Enquiries
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