Rate My Professor Michelle Smith

Associate Professor Michelle Smith is a Titled Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist and Associate Professor in Physiotherapy in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, at the University of Queensland. She earned a Bachelor of Physical Education and a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from the University of Manitoba, a Master of Sports Physiotherapy (coursework), a Doctor of Philosophy in Physiotherapy on competing demands on the trunk muscles, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education from the University of Queensland. As Program Director for the Master of Sports Physiotherapy and Master of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy programs, she teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate physiotherapy curricula in musculoskeletal health and sports injuries, receiving Teaching Excellence Awards at School and Faculty levels for high teaching quality and impact.

Her research focuses on lower limb joint health, including ankle injuries and osteoarthritis across the lifespan, implementation of injury prevention strategies such as neuromuscular exercises and bracing in adolescent athletes, and lower limb osteoarthritis interventions like exercise and education programs. She serves as Co-director of the International Ankle Consortium and the Sports Injury Rehabilitation and Prevention for Health research unit, Associate Editor of Physical Therapy and Sport, Chair of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences External Engagement Committee, and Deputy Chair of the Australian Physiotherapy Association Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy Group. She is a member of the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Foot and Ankle Working Group, International Foot and Ankle Osteoarthritis Consortium, and Australian Foot and Ankle Research Network. Key publications include book chapters 'Foot and ankle' in Grieve's Modern Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (2024) and 'Osteoarthritis of the foot and ankle' in Foot and Ankle Biomechanics (2023); and articles 'A combined program of education plus exercise versus general advice for ankle osteoarthritis: a feasibility randomised controlled trial' (Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 2024), 'Restoring ankle dorsiflexion range of motion in athletes: an individualized clinical decision-making system' (Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 2025), and 'Do fixed or personalised sit-stand desk ratios improve lower back pain? A randomised trial' (Applied Ergonomics, 2026). Smith has supervised multiple PhD completions and delivered keynote and invited presentations at national and international conferences.