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Contact Details

Phone
+64 3 474 0999 ext 58615 Mob +64 (0)27 289-0863
Email
haxby.abbott@otago.ac.nz
Position
Research Professor
Department
Department of Surgery and Critical Care (Dunedin)
Qualifications
PhD(Otago) DPT(MGH) MScPT(St Aug) DipGrad(Otago) FNZCP
Research summary
Musculoskeletal clinical epidemiology, management of osteoarthritis
Teaching
Research Higher Degree student supervision
Memberships
  • Fellow, New Zealand College of Physiotherapy
  • Member, Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI)
  • Member, Council of Science Editors
  • Member, World Association of Medical Editors
  • Member, International Society of Physiotherapy Journal Editors
  • Member, American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
  • Member, Physiotherapy New Zealand
Clinical
Musculoskeletal conditions, osteoarthritis, musculoskeletal physiotherapy

Research

Professor Haxby Abbott’s research focuses on the management of common musculoskeletal conditions.

His research is based in the disciplines of clinical epidemiology, outcomes research, and health technology assessment. Projects have included:

  • Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of exercise therapy and manual therapy interventions for hip and knee osteoarthritis
  • Measurement properties of outcome measures in clinical practice
  • Accuracy and validity of clinical examination procedures
  • Physiotherapy interventions for chronic plantar heel pain
  • The prognosis of low back pain
  • The design of a computer program for the semi-automated analysis of spinal segmental motion

His research is funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand, Lottery Grants Board, Arthritis New Zealand, and Physiotherapy New Zealand. His osteoarthritis research led to collaboration with the Southern District Health Board, with whom he led the initiation, development, and evaluation of the “Joint Clinic”, delivering an innovative practice model for the chronic care management of hip and knee osteoarthritis, funded by the National Health Board.

Professor Abbott is a former Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (JOSPT) and the New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy.

Professor Abbott was awarded the Carl Smith Medal and Rowheath Trust Award by the University in 2014, and a University of Otago Early Career Award for Distinction in Research in 2012. In 2010 Haxby was awarded a prestigious Sir Charles Hercus Health Research Fellowship by the Health Research Council of New Zealand. In 2006, he was the first New Zealander to earn Fellowship of the NZ College of Physiotherapy.

Publications

Caya, R., Christopherson, R. M., Pierobon, A., Abbott, J. H., Skou, S. T., Haase, A. M., & Ribeiro, D. C. (2026). Does mental health mediate the effect of nonsurgical exposures on pain and functional outcomes in osteoarthritis? A systematic review. Osteoarthritis & Cartilage. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2026.04.006 Journal - Research Other

Ribeiro, D. C., Lamb, S. E., & Abbott, J. H. (2026). Moderators of the effects of exercise and manual therapy for people with knee and hip osteoarthritis: A secondary analysis of the MOA trial. Arthritis Care & Research. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1002/acr.80021 Journal - Research Article

Pryymachenko, Y., Wilson, R., Dalbeth, N., Abbott, J. H., & Stamp, L. (2026). Cost-effectiveness of low dose colchicine prophylaxis when starting allopurinol using the “start-low go-slow” approach for gout: Evidence from a non-inferiority randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Arthritis Care & Research, 78(3), 337-343. doi: 10.1002/acr.25631 Journal - Research Article

Chapple, C., Samaranayaka, A., Widyastuti, N., Pryymachenko, Y., Wilson, R., & Abbott, H. (2025, October). Frequency of manual therapy for people with knee osteoarthritis: The Opti-OK trial. Verbal presentation at the Australian Physiotherapy Association Scientific Conference (APASC): Lead the Physiotherapy Evolution, Adelaide, Australia. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Pierobon, A., Gaspar Fernandes, L., Wilson, R., Christopherson, R. M., Stanley, J., Pryymachenko, Y., Lim, Y. W., Caya, R., Gayed, M., & Abbott, J. H. (2025). Validity of the Global Rating of Change in patients with chronic low back pain. Musculoskeletal Science & Practice, 80, 103443. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2025.103443 Journal - Research Article

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