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

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

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

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

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

Bailey, E, Heneghan, NR, Cassidy, NJ, Falla, D & Rushton, AB 2020, 'Clinical effectiveness of manipulation and mobilisation interventions for the treatment of non-specific neck pain: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis', BMJ open. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037783

Mistry, J, Falla, D, Noblet, T, Heneghan, NR & Rushton, A 2020, 'Clinical indicators to identify neuropathic pain in low back related leg pain: a modified Delphi study', BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, vol. 21, no. 1, 601. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-020-03600-y

Mistry, J, Falla, D, Noblet, T, Heneghan, NR & Rushton, AB 2020, 'Clinical indicators to identify neuropathic pain in low back-related leg pain: protocol for a modified Delphi study', BMJ open, vol. 10, no. 2, e033547. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033547

Heneghan, N, Lokhaug , S, Tyros, I, Longvastøl , S & Rushton, A 2020, 'Clinical reasoning framework for thoracic spine exercise prescription in sport: a systematic review and narrative synthesis', BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, vol. 6, no. 1, e000713, pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000713

Price, J, Rushton, A, Tyros, V & Heneghan, N 2020, 'Consensus on the exercise and dosage variables of an exercise training programme for chronic non-specific neck pain: protocol for an international e-Delphi study', BMJ open, vol. 10, no. 5, e037656. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037656, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037656

Esh, R, Grødahl, LHJ, Kerslake, R, Strachan, K, Spencer, S, Fawcett, L, Rushton, A & Heneghan, NR 2020, 'Diagnostic accuracy of MRI for identifying posterior element bone stress injury in athletes with low back pain: a systematic review and narrative synthesis', BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, vol. 6, no. 1, e000764. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000764

Mistry, J, Heneghan, NR, Noblet, T, Falla, D & Rushton, A 2020, 'Diagnostic utility of patient history, clinical examination and screening tool data to identify neuropathic pain in low back related leg pain: a systematic review and narrative synthesis', BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, vol. 21, no. 1, 532, pp. 253. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-020-03436-6

Review article

Fennelly, O, Desmeubles, F, OSullivan, C, Heneghan, N & Cunningham, C 2020, 'Advanced musculoskeletal physiotherapy practice: informing education curricula', Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, vol. 48, 102174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2020.102174

Rushton, A, Heneghan, N, Heymans, M, Staal, JB & Goodwin, P 2020, 'Clinical course of pain and disability following primary lumbar discectomy: systematic review and meta-analysis', European Spine Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-019-06272-y

View all publications in research portal