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)

61 - 63 of 63 works

2009

Journal Article

Validity of the Doppler velocimeter in examination of vertebral artery blood flow and its use in pre-manipulative screening of the neck

Thomas, Lucy C., Rivett, Darren A. and Bolton, Philip S. (2009). Validity of the Doppler velocimeter in examination of vertebral artery blood flow and its use in pre-manipulative screening of the neck. Manual Therapy, 14 (5), 544-549. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2008.08.007

Validity of the Doppler velocimeter in examination of vertebral artery blood flow and its use in pre-manipulative screening of the neck

2008

Journal Article

Comments in response to letters to editor regarding article: Thomas LC, et al. Premanipulative testing and the velocimeter. Manual Therapy (2007) doi:10.1016/j.math.2006.11.003

Thomas, Lucy C., Rivett, Darren A. and Bolton, Philip S. (2008). Comments in response to letters to editor regarding article: Thomas LC, et al. Premanipulative testing and the velocimeter. Manual Therapy (2007) doi:10.1016/j.math.2006.11.003. Manual Therapy, 13 (1), e5-e6. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2007.09.010

Comments in response to letters to editor regarding article: Thomas LC, et al. Premanipulative testing and the velocimeter. Manual Therapy (2007) doi:10.1016/j.math.2006.11.003

2008

Journal Article

Pre-manipulative testing and the use of the velocimeter

Thomas, Lucy C., Rivett, Darren A. and Bolton, Philip S. (2008). Pre-manipulative testing and the use of the velocimeter. Manual Therapy, 13 (1), 29-36. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2006.11.003

Pre-manipulative testing and the use of the velocimeter

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

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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

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communications@uq.edu.au