Contact Details
- Phone
- 64 3 479 7222
- olivia.galea@otago.ac.nz
- Position
- Lecturer
- Qualifications
- PhD MPHTY(Musc) BAppSci (PHTY)
- Research summary
- Functional and clinical outcomes following concussion and moderate traumatic brain injury
- Teaching
Since 2008 I have contributed to postgraduate and undergraduate teaching in:
- Musculoskeletal physiotherapy
- Concussion assessment and management
- Foundational physiotherapy topics
- Clinical supervision
- Memberships
- New Zealand Registered Physiotherapist
- Physiotherapy New Zealand
- Australian Registered Physiotherapist
- Early and Mid-Career Researchers Group
- Clinical
- Musculoskeletal clinical practice focusing on rehabilitation following concussion, neck related headache and whiplash associated disorders
Research
My research to date has investigated function of the musculoskeletal, sensorimotor and autonomic regulatory systems following mild to moderate traumatic brain injury in the context of clinical recovery. Published results of research have reported on evidence of impairment even among those who are reportedly asymptomatic.
I am also interested in exploring the relationship between quantifiable impairment across these systems following traumatic brain injury, and functional neuroimaging biomarkers. Results from this research will better inform determination of clinical recovery as well as post-injury management.
Current projects investigate:
- Mechanisms underlying the clinical presentation of individuals with persistent post-concussion symptoms
- Influence of head motion velocity on measurement of the vestibulo-ocular reflex in healthy adults and adults post-concussion
- The effect of exercise on heart rate variability following mild to moderate traumatic brain injury
- Development of a valid measure of cervical spine neuromuscular endurance
I also contribute to research projects in the area of non-pharmacological management, as well as long-term outcomes post-concussion.
Research supervision
I currently co-supervise clinical masters (sport and musculoskeletal physiotherapy) and summer student research projects and am co-supervisor on a PhD project investigating the relationship between performance of the cervical spine musculoskeletal and sensorimotor systems and head dynamics among female soccer players.
Additional details
I am available for supervision of honours and summer student projects.
Publications
Graham, C. T., Shepherd, H. A., Galea, O., Kopala-Sibley, D. C., Emery, C. A., & Yeates, K. O. (2024). Is psychological resilience associated with changes in youth sport participants' health-related quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic? Journal of Child & Adolescent Mental Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.2989/17280583.2023.2277759
Burma, J. S., Lapointe, A. P., Wilson, M., Penner, L. C., Kennedy, C. M., Newell, K. T., Galea, O. A., … Smirl, J. D. (2024). Adolescent sport-related concussion and the associated neurophysiological changes: A systematic review. Pediatric Neurology, 150, 97-106. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2023.10.020
Graham, R. F., Eliason, P. H., Black, A. M., Sick, S., Schneider, G. M., Galea, O. A., … Schneider, K. J. (2023). Preseason measures of cervical spine function, vestibulo-ocular reflex, dynamic balance, and divided attention in youth ice hockey Players. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. Advance online publication. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2023.11958
van Ierssel, J. J., Galea, O., Holte, K., Luszawski, C., Jenkins, E., O'Neil, J., … Zemek, R. (2023). How completely are RCTs of non-pharmacological interventions following concussion reported? A systematic review. Journal of Sport & Health Science. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2023.08.003
Syrydiuk, R. A., Penner, L. C., Sick, S., Eliason, P., Galarneau, J.-M., Leggett, B., Galea, O., … Emery, C. A. (2023). Adjusting to changing environments: Virtual preseason SCAT5 assessment in Canadian male youth football players. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 33(2), 123-129. doi: 10.1097/JSM.0000000000001086
Burma, J. S., Lapointe, A. P., Wilson, M., Penner, L. C., Kennedy, C. M., Newell, K. T., Galea, O. A., … Smirl, J. D. (2024). Adolescent sport-related concussion and the associated neurophysiological changes: A systematic review. Pediatric Neurology, 150, 97-106. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2023.10.020
Journal - Research Article
Graham, C. T., Shepherd, H. A., Galea, O., Kopala-Sibley, D. C., Emery, C. A., & Yeates, K. O. (2024). Is psychological resilience associated with changes in youth sport participants' health-related quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic? Journal of Child & Adolescent Mental Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.2989/17280583.2023.2277759
Journal - Research Article
Galea, O., O'Leary, S., & Treleaven, J. (2023). An investigation of physiological system impairments in individuals 4 weeks to 6 months following mild traumatic brain injury. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 38(1), E79-E87. doi: 10.1097/HTR.0000000000000783
Journal - Research Article
Graham, R. F., Eliason, P. H., Black, A. M., Sick, S., Schneider, G. M., Galea, O. A., … Schneider, K. J. (2023). Preseason measures of cervical spine function, vestibulo-ocular reflex, dynamic balance, and divided attention in youth ice hockey Players. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. Advance online publication. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2023.11958
Journal - Research Article
Syrydiuk, R. A., Penner, L. C., Sick, S., Eliason, P., Galarneau, J.-M., Leggett, B., Galea, O., … Emery, C. A. (2023). Adjusting to changing environments: Virtual preseason SCAT5 assessment in Canadian male youth football players. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 33(2), 123-129. doi: 10.1097/JSM.0000000000001086
Journal - Research Article
van Ierssel, J. J., Galea, O., Holte, K., Luszawski, C., Jenkins, E., O'Neil, J., … Zemek, R. (2023). How completely are RCTs of non-pharmacological interventions following concussion reported? A systematic review. Journal of Sport & Health Science. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2023.08.003
Journal - Research Article
Galea, O., O'Leary, S., & Treleaven, J. (2022). Cervical musculoskeletal and sensorimotor impairments 4 weeks to 6 months following mild traumatic brain injury: An observational cohort study. Musculoskeletal Science & Practice, 57, 102490. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2021.102490
Journal - Research Article
Galea, O., O'Leary, S., Williams, K., & Treleaven, J. (2022). An investigation of sensorimotor impairments in individuals 4 weeks to 6 months following mild traumatic brain injury. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 103(5), 921-928. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2021.10.029
Journal - Research Article
Burma, J. S., Kennedy, C. M., Penner, L. C., Miutz, L. N., Galea, O. A., Ainslie, P. N., & Smirl, J. D. (2021). Long-term heart transplant recipients: Heart rate-related effects on augmented transfer function coherence during repeated squat-stand maneuvers in males. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative & Comparative Physiology, 321, R925-R937. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00177.2021
Journal - Research Article
Galea, O. A., Bristow, H. D., Chisholm, S. M., Mersch, M. E., Nullmeyer, J., Reid, C. R., & Treleaven, J. M. (2019). Single and dual tandem gait assessment post concussion: What performance time is clinically relevant across adult ages and what can influence results? Musculoskeletal Science & Practice, 42, 166-172. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2019.04.006
Journal - Research Article
Galea, O. A., O'Leary, S. P., & Treleaven, J. M. (2019). Persistent impairment based symptoms post mild traumatic brain injury: Does a standard symptom scale detect them? Musculoskeletal Science & Practice, 41, 15-22. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2019.02.002
Journal - Research Article
Liang, Z., Galea, O., Thomas, L., Jull, G., & Treleaven, J. (2019). Cervical musculoskeletal impairments in migraine and tension type headache: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Musculoskeletal Science & Practice, 42, 67-83. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2019.04.007
Journal - Research Article
Galea, O. A., Cottrell, M. A., Treleaven, J. M., & O'Leary, S. P. (2018). Sensorimotor and physiological indicators of impairment in mild traumatic brain injury:A meta-analysis. Neurorehabilitation & Neural Repair, 32(2), 115-128. doi: 10.1177/1545968318760728
Journal - Research Article
Cottrell, M. A., Galea, O. A., O'Leary, S. P., Hill, A. J., & Russell, T. G. (2017). Real-time telerehabilitation for the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions is effective and comparable to standard practice: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Rehabilitation, 31(5), 625-638. doi: 10.1177/0269215516645148
Journal - Research Article