Dr Nicola R Heneghan PhD, MSc, PG Cert HEd, Grad Dip Phys

Dr Nicola Heneghan

School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences
Senior Lecturer in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Sciences

Contact details

Telephone
+44 (0)121 415 8367
Email
n.heneghan@bham.ac.uk
Twitter
@HeneghanNicola
View my research portal
Address
School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Dr Nicola Heneghan is an expert in musculoskeletal rehabilitation sciences research and postgraduate musculoskeletal/manipulative physiotherapy. Her research is primarily focused to spinal pain and rehabilitation in different populations (trauma, low back and neck pain, athletes etc.) with a specific interest in the thoracic spine pain and dysfunction.  

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy
  • Membership by examination of the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists
  • MSc Neuromusculoskeletal Physiotherapy
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education
  • Graduate Diploma Physiotherapy
  • Registrant with the Health and Care Professions Council

Teaching

Including but not limited to the following modules

  • Advanced Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy 1: lower quadrant
  • Advanced Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy 2; upper quadrant
  • Continuing Professional Development and Mentored Practice
  • Neuromuscular Adaptation to Training
  • Research Methods in Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences
  • Sports Medicine (Football) 1 & 2
  • Dissertation module

Postgraduate supervision

Nicola Heneghan is a physiotherapy lecturer/researcher specialising in musculoskeletal rehabilitation sciences. As well as being Programme Lead for the Advanced Manipulative Physiotherapy and MRes Spinal pain, Nicola’s research within the Centre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain is at the forefront of enhancing our understanding of the assessment and management of musculoskeletal and spinal pain disorders. Nicola’s main area of expertise is specifically on thoracic dysfunction in different populations including but not limited to COPD and whiplash. With expertise in a range of methodologies, she advises on a range of projects, as well as supervising more than 10 MRes and PhD students.

Research

Nicola is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Birmingham UK. Nicola’s research within the Centre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain is at the forefront of enhancing our understanding of the assessment and management of musculoskeletal and spinal pain disorders. Nicola’s main area of expertise is specifically on thoracic spine pain and dysfunction in different populations. With expertise in a range of methodologies, she advises on a range of projects, as well as supervising more than 10 MRes and PhD students. 

Other activities

  • Associate Editor Systematic Reviews [2019-date]
  • International Advisory Board for Musculoskeletal Science and Practice Journal [2017-date]
  • Chair, Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists, UK member organisation for International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists [2016-date]
  • MACP MO delegate, International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapists [2016-date]
  • Council for Allied Health Professions in Research West Midlands Hub Lead [2015-2018]
  • NIHR mentorship of interns on the Clinical Academic Training scheme [2015-date]
  • Education Lead Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists [2012-2016]
  • Reviewer of articles submitted for publication to: Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, Gait and Posture, Physical Therapy in Sport, Journal of Biomechanics, Physiotherapy etc.
  • Reviewer of research proposals submitted to the MACP, NIHR HTA and RfPB programmes 
  • Reviewer of papers submitted for presentation at World Confederation of Physical Therapy and International Federation of Orthopaedic and Manipulative Physical Therapists conferences
  • Scientific Committee IFOMPT2016 and Trial Steering Group membership 

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Liew, B, Lee, HY, Rügamer, D, De Nunzio, AM, Heneghan, NR, Falla, D & Evans, DW 2021, 'A novel metric of reliability in pressure pain threshold measurement', Scientific Reports, vol. 11, no. 1, 6944. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-86344-6

Devecchi, V, Rushton, AB, Gallina, A, Heneghan, NR & Falla, D 2021, 'Are neuromuscular adaptations present in people with recurrent spinal pain during a period of remission? a systematic review', PLoS ONE, vol. 16, no. 4, e0249220. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249220

Dowling, A, Slungaard, E & Heneghan, NR 2021, 'Development of a patient-reported outcome measure for neck pain in military aircrew: qualitative interviews to inform design and content', BMJ open, vol. 11, no. 2, e039488. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039488

Soundy, A, Hemmings, L, Gardiner, L, Rosewilliam, S, Heneghan, NR, Cronin, K & Reid, K 2021, 'E-learning communication skills training for physiotherapy students: a two phased sequential mixed methods study', Patient Education and Counseling. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2021.01.022

Heneghan, NR, Nazareth, M, Johnson, WJ, Tyros, I, Sadi, J, Gillis, H & Rushton, AB 2021, 'Experiences of telehealth e-mentoring within postgraduate musculoskeletal physical therapy education in the UK and Canada: a protocol for parallel mixed-methods studies and cross-cultural comparison', BMJ open, vol. 11, no. 2, e042602. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042602

Plank, A, Rushton, A, Ping, Y, Mei, R, Falla, D & Heneghan, NR 2021, 'Exploring expectations and perceptions of different manual therapy techniques in chronic low back pain: a qualitative study', BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, vol. 22, no. 1, 444. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04251-3

Heneghan, NR, Collacott, E, Martin, P, Spencer, S & Rushton, A 2021, 'Lumbosacral injuries in elite Paralympic athletes with limb deficiency: a retrospective analysis of patient records', BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, vol. 7, no. 1, e001001. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2020-001001

Althobaiti, S, Rushton, A, Falla, D & Heneghan, NR 2021, 'Measures of trunk muscle strength and their measurement properties: a protocol for a systematic review and narrative synthesis of clinical measures', BMJ open, vol. 11, no. 1, e041499. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041499

Nightingale, TE, Heneghan, N, Fenton, S, Veldhuijzen van Zanten, J & Jutzeler, CR 2021, 'Physical activity and health-related quality of life in adults with a neurologically-related mobility disability during the COVID-19 pandemic: an exploratory analysis', Frontiers in neurology, vol. 12, 699884. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2021.699884

Alamrani, S, Rushton, A, Gardner, A, Bini, E, Falla, D & Heneghan, N 2021, 'Physical functioning in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis: a systematic review of outcome measures and their measurement properties', Spine. https://doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0000000000003969

Middlebrook, N, Heneghan, N, Falla, D, Silvester, L, Rushton, A & Soundy, A 2021, 'Successful recovery following musculoskeletal trauma: protocol for a qualitative study of patients’ and physiotherapists’ perceptions', BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, vol. 22, no. 1, 163 . https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04035-9

Asquini, G, Rushton, A, Pitance, L, Heneghan, N & Falla, D 2021, 'The effectiveness of manual therapy applied to craniomandibular structures in the treatment of temporomandibular disorders: protocol for a systematic review', Systematic Reviews, vol. 10, no. 1, 70. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-021-01623-7

Review article

Soundy, A & Heneghan, N 2021, 'Meta-ethnography', International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology.

Lam, KN, Rushton, A, Thoomes, E, Thoomes-de Graaf, M, Heneghan, NR & Falla, D 2021, 'Neck pain with radiculopathy: a systematic review of classification systems', Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, vol. 54, 102389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2021.102389

Aitchison, B, Rushton, AB, Martin, P, Barr, M, Soundy, A & Heneghan, NR 2021, 'The experiences and perceived health benefits of individuals with a disability participating in sport: a systematic review and narrative synthesis', Disability and Health Journal. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2021.101164

View all publications in research portal