Rate My Professor Michelle Smith

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.