Rate My Professor Yvonne Learmonth

Associate Professor Yvonne Learmonth is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Allied Health at Murdoch University, where she also holds the position of Associate Dean (Engagement), Allied Health. She is affiliated with the Personalised Medicine Centre in the Health Futures Institute. Yvonne earned her PhD in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Glasgow (2009-2012), inspired by her clinical physiotherapy experiences and focused on exercise interventions for neurological diseases. As an accredited physiotherapist registered with AHPRA in Australia and HCPC in the United Kingdom, she has built a distinguished career in research, teaching, and leadership. Previously a Senior Lecturer and Research Physiotherapist at Murdoch University, she brings over a decade of expertise in multiple sclerosis (MS) research. Currently, she is also an Associate Professor at the University of New South Wales and a Senior Research Fellow at the Perron Institute.

Learmonth's research specializations include neurological rehabilitation, exercise physiology for MS, health behaviour change, telehealth proficiency, and implementation science. She leads consumer co-designed initiatives, such as the national MS exercise toolkit developed with healthcare professionals (2025) and a disaster preparation toolkit empowering vulnerable populations (2024). Her key publications include 'Physiotherapy management of multiple sclerosis' (2026, Journal of Physiotherapy), 'Safety of exercise training in multiple sclerosis: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis' (2023), 'The effect of exercise interventions on symptoms of anxiety and depression in people with multiple sclerosis' (2025), 'Multiple Sclerosis and COVID-19' (2024), 'Testing the association between shoulder pain prevalence and disease progression in people with multiple sclerosis' (2023), and 'Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity and Sleep in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis' (2022). With over 30 consumer co-authored papers and systematic reviews informing international clinical guidelines for MS rehabilitation and exercise, her work demonstrates significant impact. She serves as Sub-Editor for the Journal of Physiotherapy, holds leadership roles in global neurological physiotherapy networks, and has received the 2025 Pro Vice Chancellor Medal for Top Mid-career Research at Murdoch University and the 2017 Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. Her contributions extend to professional education, curriculum development, and practical clinician resources.