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Contact Details

Phone
+64 3 479 5425
Email
leigh.hale@otago.ac.nz
Position
Professor
Qualifications
BSc (Cape Town), MSc (Physio) (Witw), PhD( Witw), FNZCP
Research summary
Physiotherapy and rehabilitation
Teaching
  • Neurorehabilitation
  • Disability awareness
  • Supported Self-Management
  • Thesis supervision (masters and PhD)
Memberships
  • Honorary Fellow of Physiotherapy New Zealand
  • Trustee of Neuromuscular Research New Zealand
  • Editorial Board of: Humanities in Rehabilitation; Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation; Journal of Physiotherapy Practice and Rehabilitation; South African Journal of Physiotherapy
  • Member of the Advisory Board for the Faculty of Health Sciences, National University of Malaysia (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia)

Research

Leigh primarily researches in the area of community-based physiotherapeutic rehabilitation, falls prevention and supported self-management for people living with lifelong health conditions and/or disability, such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, dementia, and learning disabilities, diabetes; and in aged care. Her research uses both quantitative and qualitative methodologies and focuses on how physiotherapists can enable and support people to optimally live healthy and engaging lives.

My current research interests include:

Publications

Sanerivi, O., Sopoaga, F., Seiuli, B., Higgs, C., & Hale, L. (2026). In search of guidance for cultural safety in physiotherapy with Pacific Peoples: A narrative review. New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy, 54(2), 133-149. doi: 10.15619/nzjp.v54i2.463 Journal - Research Article

Silcock, C., Lupe, M., Makasini, S., Hale, L., Higgs, C., & Richards, R. (2026). Experiences of Pacific Peoples and their 'āiga/kāinga/kāiga/vuvale living with Parkinsons: A qualitative study. PLoS ONE, 21(8), e0355989. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0355989 Journal - Research Article

Dobson, S., Hargest, C., Keen, D., & Hale, L. (2026). Exploring the experiences of individuals living with neurological conditions in UMove: A physiotherapy student-led physical activity program. Physiotherapy Theory & Practice. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2026.2709087 Journal - Research Article

Hale, L., Jones, B. H., Dewes, O., Keown, S., Mirfin-Veitch, B., Wilkinson, A., Keen, D., Norris, P., McKinlay, E., Perry, M., … Trip, H., Ingham, T., & Longnecker, N. (2026). Taunakitanga Takitini, reframing self-management support for all in Aotearoa New Zealand: Protocol for a participatory case study program of research. JMIR Research Protocols, 15, e89658. doi: 10.2196/89658 Journal - Research Other

Devan, H., Perry, M., Dean, S. G., Tennakoon Dassanayake, S., Liu, J., & Hale, L. (2026). A mixed method evaluation of behavioural change techniques in iSelf-Help: A co-designed online group pain management programme in Aotearoa New Zealand. Journal of Pain, 43, 106280. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2026.106280 Journal - Research Article

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