Rate My Professor Gerard Farrell

Dr Gerard Farrell is a Lecturer and Senior Professional Practice Fellow in the School of Physiotherapy within the Faculty of Health Professional Programmes at the University of Otago. He holds a PhD and Master of Physiotherapy Practice (MPhty) from the University of Otago. His PhD, completed in 2023, investigated the mechanisms of manual therapy treatment directed at the cervical spine in individuals with post-concussion syndrome, supported by the Stanley Paris PhD Fellowship and the University of Otago Doctoral Scholarship. Farrell teaches postgraduate papers including Clinical Practice (PHTY561) and Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy (PHTY543), as well as undergraduate Rehabilitation papers (PHTY354 and PHTY254). He serves as a lead tutor for the New Zealand Manipulative Physiotherapists Association's Certificate of Orthopaedic Manual Therapy courses and works two half-days per week in the School of Physiotherapy Clinics as a postgraduate clinical supervisor. He is a member of Physiotherapy New Zealand, the Manual and Manipulative Physiotherapy Association, ForceNET, and The Ehlers-Danlos Society.

Farrell's research focuses on the neuro-endo-immune mechanisms of non-pharmacological interventions, particularly manual therapy's effects on the autonomic nervous system and endocrine system, including the HPA-axis, in conditions such as persistent post-concussion symptoms, chronic low back pain, and dysautonomia-related disorders like postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, hypermobility spectrum disorders, long COVID, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. He leads a research programme linking physiological biomarkers such as cortisol and substance P with clinical outcomes, and supervises an honours student on autonomic mechanisms of cold water exposure. Key publications include 'Exploring the use of manual therapy in the management of traumatic brain injury: A scoping review' (2025), 'Diagnosing and treating upper back pain: insights from New Zealand’s manipulative physiotherapists and osteopaths' (2025), 'Autonomic nervous system and endocrine system response to upper or lower cervical spine mobilisation in males with persistent post-concussion symptoms: A proof-of-concept trial' (2024), and 'Effectiveness of spinal manipulation in influencing the autonomic nervous system - a systematic review and meta-analysis' (2023). Farrell has established a Dysautonomia Clinic at the School of Physiotherapy Clinics, integrating his research into clinical practice through telehealth services and mentoring physiotherapists.