Dr Lucy Thomas
Dr

Lucy Thomas

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 51644

Background

Lucy Thomas is a Senior Lecturer and researcher in the Discipline of Physiotherapy at the University of Queensland. She is also a registered practicing Titled Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist with postgraduate qualifications (Grad Dip App Sc (Manipulative Physiotherapy) from the University of Sydney and holds an honorary physiotherapy position at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

Particular research interests include:

  1. The safety of manual treatment of the neck and recognition of red flag conditions in patients presenting with headache and neck pain.
  2. Evaluation of the role of the neck in disorders such as headache and dizziness.
  3. Validating simple screening tools for the cervical region for use in clinical practice.
  4. Optimising the management of cervical spine disorders.

Lucy completed her Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Newcastle in 2013, with thesis entitled ' Minimising risk factors for cervical spine manipulation'. She holds a Master of Medical Science from the University of Newcastle 'Validity of the Doppler velocimeter as a pre-manipulative screening tool for vertebral artery flow'. Her doctoral research focussed on investigating risk factors and clinical presentation of patients presenting with craniocervical arterial dissection, as well as examining blood flow changes in the cervical arteries with head movement.

Lucy has been an invited speaker at international and national conferences and invited to deliver webinars, lectures and workshops both nationally and internationally to present her research findings in the areas of safe practice, evaluation and management of the cervical spine. She has published her research in peer reviewed journals and contributed chapters to two textbooks on cervical spine management. She teaches extensively into the undergraduate and postgraduate physiotherapy programs and supervises several doctoral students.

Availability

Dr Lucy Thomas is:
Available for supervision

Qualifications

  • Masters (Research), University of Newcastle
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Newcastle

Research interests

  • Cervical arterial dissection

    This is a common cause of stroke in young to middle aged people and has been linked to neck manipulation. My research is to validate a simple diagnostic support tool to help clinicians recognise this serious pathology.

  • Differential diagnosis of headache, neck pain and dizziness

    My research aims to identify musculoskeletal impairments in headache, neck pain and dizziness to better direct targeted management.

Research impacts

Dr Thomas's research has had particular impact in the area of safety in management of the cervical spine. She led the development of the 'Clinical guide to safe manual therapy practice in the cervical spine' published on the webpage of the Australian Physiotherapy Association www.physiotherapy.asn.au/cervicalspine .This includes simple infographic style documents which assist clinicians in busy clinical practice how to recognise relevant vascular disorders in the neck and what action to take. It also provides guidance on safe practice. The site is visible outside the organisation to all and has wide uptake both within Australia and internationally.

Search Professor Lucy Thomas’s works on UQ eSpace

63 works between 2008 and 2025
All (63) Journal Article (53) Conference Publication (9) Other Outputs (1)

41 - 60 of 63 works

2020

Journal Article

Are jaw range of motion, muscle function and proprioception impaired in adults with persistent temporomandibular disorders? A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Dinsdale, Alana, Liang, Zhiqi, Thomas, Lucy and Treleaven, Julia (2020). Are jaw range of motion, muscle function and proprioception impaired in adults with persistent temporomandibular disorders? A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 47 (11), 1448-1478. doi: 10.1111/joor.13090

Are jaw range of motion, muscle function and proprioception impaired in adults with persistent temporomandibular disorders? A systematic review and meta‐analysis

2020

Journal Article

Characteristics of headaches among surgeons and associated factors: A cross-sectional study

Alhusuny, Ameer, Cook, Margaret, Khalil, Akram, Thomas, Lucy and Johnston, Venerina (2020). Characteristics of headaches among surgeons and associated factors: A cross-sectional study. The Surgeon, 19 (5), e79-e87. doi: 10.1016/j.surge.2020.07.012

Characteristics of headaches among surgeons and associated factors: A cross-sectional study

2020

Journal Article

Musculoskeletal pain and disability in sonographers: more than an ergonomic issue

Xie, Yanfei, Coombes, Brooke K., Thomas, Lucy and Johnston, Venerina (2020). Musculoskeletal pain and disability in sonographers: more than an ergonomic issue. Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography, 33 (12), 1526-1527. doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2020.07.005

Musculoskeletal pain and disability in sonographers: more than an ergonomic issue

2020

Journal Article

Response to the letter to the editor regarding the continued use of the “vertebrobasilar insufficiency” test

Thomas, Lucy C. and Treleaven, Julia (2020). Response to the letter to the editor regarding the continued use of the “vertebrobasilar insufficiency” test. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 45 102101, 102101. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2019.102101

Response to the letter to the editor regarding the continued use of the “vertebrobasilar insufficiency” test

2020

Journal Article

A systematic review of the diagnostic criteria used to select participants in randomised controlled trials of interventions used to treat cervicogenic headache

Avijgan, Mahtab, Thomas, Lucy C., Osmotherly, Peter G. and Bolton, Philip S. (2020). A systematic review of the diagnostic criteria used to select participants in randomised controlled trials of interventions used to treat cervicogenic headache. Headache, 60 (1) head.13719, 15-27. doi: 10.1111/head.13719

A systematic review of the diagnostic criteria used to select participants in randomised controlled trials of interventions used to treat cervicogenic headache

2019

Journal Article

Changes in internal carotid and vertebral arterial wall stiffness with head movement can be detected with shear wave elastography

Thomas, Lucy Caroline, Chan, Kalos and Durbridge, Gail (2019). Changes in internal carotid and vertebral arterial wall stiffness with head movement can be detected with shear wave elastography. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, 28 (2), 1-8. doi: 10.1080/10669817.2019.1686210

Changes in internal carotid and vertebral arterial wall stiffness with head movement can be detected with shear wave elastography

2019

Journal Article

Quantifying cervical and axioscapular muscle stiffness using shear wave elastography

Xie, Yanfei, Thomas, Lucy, Hug, François, Johnston, Venerina and Coombes, Brooke K. (2019). Quantifying cervical and axioscapular muscle stiffness using shear wave elastography. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 48, 94-102. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2019.06.009

Quantifying cervical and axioscapular muscle stiffness using shear wave elastography

2019

Journal Article

Cervical musculoskeletal impairments in migraine and tension type headache: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Liang, Zhiqi, Galea, Olivia, Thomas, Lucy, Jull, Gwendolen and Treleaven, Julia (2019). Cervical musculoskeletal impairments in migraine and tension type headache: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 42, 67-83. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2019.04.007

Cervical musculoskeletal impairments in migraine and tension type headache: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2019

Journal Article

Australian musculoskeletal physiotherapist's perceptions, attitudes and opinions towards pre-manipulative screening of the cervical spine prior to manual therapy: report from the focus groups

Thomas, Lucy, Allen, Michelle, Shirley, Debra and Rivett, Darren (2019). Australian musculoskeletal physiotherapist's perceptions, attitudes and opinions towards pre-manipulative screening of the cervical spine prior to manual therapy: report from the focus groups. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 39, 123-129. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2018.12.005

Australian musculoskeletal physiotherapist's perceptions, attitudes and opinions towards pre-manipulative screening of the cervical spine prior to manual therapy: report from the focus groups

2017

Journal Article

Validity of clinical measures of smooth pursuit eye movement control in patients with idiopathic neck pain

Daly, Laura, Giffard, Phoebe, Thomas, Lucy and Treleaven, Julia (2017). Validity of clinical measures of smooth pursuit eye movement control in patients with idiopathic neck pain. Musculoskeletal Science & Practice, 33, 18-23. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2017.10.007

Validity of clinical measures of smooth pursuit eye movement control in patients with idiopathic neck pain

2017

Journal Article

Seasonal variation in cervical artery dissection in the Hunter New England region, New South Wales, Australia: a retrospective cohort study

Thomas, Lucy C., Makaroff, Andrew P., Oldmeadow, Chris, Attia, John R. and Levi, Christopher R. (2017). Seasonal variation in cervical artery dissection in the Hunter New England region, New South Wales, Australia: a retrospective cohort study. Manual Therapy, 27, 106-111. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2016.10.007

Seasonal variation in cervical artery dissection in the Hunter New England region, New South Wales, Australia: a retrospective cohort study

2016

Journal Article

Seasonal variation in spontaneous cervical artery dissection: comparing between UK and Australian sites

Thomas, Lucy C., Hall, Lesley Ann, Attia, John R., Holliday, Elizabeth G., Markus, Hugh S. and Levi, Christopher R. (2016). Seasonal variation in spontaneous cervical artery dissection: comparing between UK and Australian sites. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, 26 (1), 177-185. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2016.09.006

Seasonal variation in spontaneous cervical artery dissection: comparing between UK and Australian sites

2015

Journal Article

The effect of end-range cervical rotation on vertebral and internal carotid arterial blood flow and cerebral inflow: a sub analysis of an MRI study

Thomas, Lucy C., McLeod, Lucy R., Osmotherly, Peter G. and Rivett, Darren A. (2015). The effect of end-range cervical rotation on vertebral and internal carotid arterial blood flow and cerebral inflow: a sub analysis of an MRI study. Manual Therapy, 20 (3), 475-480. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2014.11.012

The effect of end-range cervical rotation on vertebral and internal carotid arterial blood flow and cerebral inflow: a sub analysis of an MRI study

2014

Journal Article

Risk factors, radiological features, and infarct topography of craniocervical arterial dissection

Thomas, Lucy Caroline, Rivett, Darren A., Parsons, Mark and Levi, Christopher (2014). Risk factors, radiological features, and infarct topography of craniocervical arterial dissection. International Journal of Stroke, 9 (8), 1073-1082. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-4949.2012.00912.x

Risk factors, radiological features, and infarct topography of craniocervical arterial dissection

2013

Journal Article

Effect of selected manual therapy interventions for mechanical neck pain on vertebral and internal carotid arterial blood flow and cerebral inflow

Thomas L.C., Rivett D.A., Bateman G., Stanwell P. and Levi C.R. (2013). Effect of selected manual therapy interventions for mechanical neck pain on vertebral and internal carotid arterial blood flow and cerebral inflow. Physical Therapy, 93 (11), 1563-1574. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20120477

Effect of selected manual therapy interventions for mechanical neck pain on vertebral and internal carotid arterial blood flow and cerebral inflow

2012

Journal Article

Risk factors and clinical presentation of craniocervical arterial dissection: A prospective study

Thomas, Lucy C., Rivett, Darren A., Attia, John R. and Levi, Christopher R. (2012). Risk factors and clinical presentation of craniocervical arterial dissection: A prospective study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 13 (Article 164) 164, 503-511. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-13-164

Risk factors and clinical presentation of craniocervical arterial dissection: A prospective study

2012

Conference Publication

Radiological features of craniocervical arterial dissection and topography of the resultant infarct: Relation with risk factors

Thomas, L. H., Rivett, D., Parsons, M. W. and Levi, C. R. (2012). Radiological features of craniocervical arterial dissection and topography of the resultant infarct: Relation with risk factors. Stroke 2012 Conference, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 29 -31 August 2012. Richmond, VIC Australia: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-4930.2012.00907.x

Radiological features of craniocervical arterial dissection and topography of the resultant infarct: Relation with risk factors

2011

Journal Article

Risk factors and clinical features of craniocervical arterial dissection

Thomas, Lucy C., Rivett, Darren A., Attia, John R., Parsons, Mark and Levi, Christopher (2011). Risk factors and clinical features of craniocervical arterial dissection. Manual Therapy, 16 (4), 351-356. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2010.12.008

Risk factors and clinical features of craniocervical arterial dissection

2009

Journal Article

Comments in response to letter to the editor by Karl et al. Manual Therapy 2009;14(6):e17

Thomas, Lucy C., Rivett, Darren A. and Bolton, Philip S. (2009). Comments in response to letter to the editor by Karl et al. Manual Therapy 2009;14(6):e17. Manual Therapy, 14 (6), e18. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2009.07.006

Comments in response to letter to the editor by Karl et al. Manual Therapy 2009;14(6):e17

2009

Journal Article

Comments in response to letter to the editor

Thomas, Lucy C., Rivett, Darren A. and Bolton, Philip S. (2009). Comments in response to letter to the editor. Manual Therapy, 14 (5), e7-e8. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2009.04.005

Comments in response to letter to the editor

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2028
    SPINEPASS: SPINE Self-Management Techniques for Persistent Headache After Concussion: Physical Therapy Targeting Autonomic and Dura Mater Function
    United States Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs - Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Lucy Thomas is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Musculoskeletal and sensorimotor signs in Vestibular migraine

    This project will look at the role of the neck in vestibular migraine examining a battery of musculoskeletal and sensorimotor assessments in people with a diagnosis of vestibular migraine, towards the development of more targeted management approaches.

  • Sensitisation in migraine and tension type headache

    This project will invesitgate quantitative sensory measures- both static and dynamic, in people with migraine and/or tension type headache. The findings of the study will guide the development of more targeted advice and education strategies as well as treatment options in the management of those living with this type of chronic headache condition.

  • Differential diagnosis of dizziness

    This project will investigate clinical measures to assist in the differential diagnosis of dizziness in order to help identify causes such as vestibular, cervicogenic and vascular causes eg vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI)

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

For media enquiries about Dr Lucy Thomas's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au