Research Topics
| L M StrakerSummaryAffiliation: Curtin University of Technology Country: Australia Publications
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Publications
Rationale, design and methods for a staggered-entry, waitlist controlled clinical trial of the impact of a community-based, family-centred, multidisciplinary program focussed on activity, food and attitude habits (Curtin University's Activity, Food and AtLeon M Straker
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
BMC Public Health 12:471. 2012..Reviews have concluded that there is a substantive evidence gap for effective intervention, but physical activity, lifestyle change and family involvement have been identified as promising foci for treatment...- Chronic low back pain is associated with reduced vertebral bone mineral measures in community-dwelling adultsAndrew M Briggs
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
BMC Musculoskelet Disord 13:49. 2012.... - Low back pain in 17 year olds has substantial impact and represents an important public health disorder: a cross-sectional studyPeter B O'Sullivan
School of Physiotherapy and Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
BMC Public Health 12:100. 2012..Prevalence of low back pain (LBP) rises rapidly during adolescence, reaching adult levels by the age of 18. It has been suggested that adolescent LBP is benign with minimal impact, despite limited evidence... - Back and neck pain are related to mental health problems in adolescenceClare S Rees
School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
BMC Public Health 11:382. 2011..This study sought to extend earlier findings by examining the relationship between mental health problems as measured by the Child Behaviour Check List (CBCL) and the experience of back and neck pain in adolescents... - Fitness, motor competence and body composition as correlates of adolescent neck/shoulder pain: an exploratory cross-sectional studyMark C Perry
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia
BMC Public Health 8:290. 2008..Several risk factors for this condition have been investigated, but no studies have previously evaluated associations between fitness, motor competence, body composition and adolescent NSP... - Rationale, design and methods for a randomised and controlled trial to evaluate "Animal Fun" - a program designed to enhance physical and mental health in young childrenJan P Piek
School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
BMC Pediatr 10:78. 2010..This program was designed to improve the child's movement skills, both fine and gross, and their perceptions of their movement ability, promote appropriate social skills and improve social-emotional development... - Individuals with chronic low back pain have greater difficulty in engaging in positive lifestyle behaviours than those without back pain: an assessment of health literacyAndrew M Briggs
School of Physiotherapy and Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Australia
BMC Musculoskelet Disord 12:161. 2011..The aim of this study was to measure broad elements of health literacy among individuals with CLBP and without LBP using the HeLMS... - Neck/shoulder pain in adolescents is not related to the level or nature of self-reported physical activity or type of sedentary activity in an Australian pregnancy cohortAndrew M Briggs
School of Physiotherapy and Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia
BMC Musculoskelet Disord 10:87. 2009..The aim of this study was to comprehensively examine the association between NSP and the level and nature of physical activity, and type of sedentary activity in adolescents... - Spinal pain and nutrition in adolescents--an exploratory cross-sectional studyMark C Perry
School of Physiotherapy and Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U1987, Perth WA 6845, Perth, WA, Australia
BMC Musculoskelet Disord 11:138. 2010..The objective of this exploratory cross sectional study was to evaluate associations between diet and adolescent spinal pain... - Thoracic spine pain in the general population: prevalence, incidence and associated factors in children, adolescents and adults. A systematic reviewAndrew M Briggs
School of Physiotherapy and Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U1987, Perth, 6845, Western Australia, Australia
BMC Musculoskelet Disord 10:77. 2009..A rigorous evaluation of the prevalence, incidence, correlates and risk factors needs to be undertaken in order for epidemiologic data to be meaningfully used to develop evidence-based prevention and treatment recommendations for TSP... - Regional differences in lumbar spinal posture and the influence of low back painTim Mitchell
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Kent St, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
BMC Musculoskelet Disord 9:152. 2008..The purpose of this study was to determine; if there are regional differences in habitual lumbar spine posture and movement, and if these findings are influenced by LBP... 
Sitting spinal posture in adolescents differs between genders, but is not clearly related to neck/shoulder pain: an observational studyLeon M Straker
Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
Aust J Physiother 54:127-33. 2008..Is neck/shoulder pain in adolescents related to their sitting spinal posture, taking account of gender?..
Relationships between prolonged neck/shoulder pain and sitting spinal posture in male and female adolescentsLeon M Straker
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia
Man Ther 14:321-9. 2009..Adolescents with prolonged NSP had more flexed cervicothoracic posture, more erect trunk and more lumbar lordosis. When gender was controlled, only lumbar lordosis was related to the presence of prolonged NSP...- Rationale, design and methods for a randomised and controlled trial of the impact of virtual reality games on motor competence, physical activity, and mental health in children with developmental coordination disorderLeon M Straker
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
BMC Public Health 11:654. 2011..VR games are beginning to be used for rehabilitation, however there is no reported trial of the impact of these games on motor coordination in children with developmental coordination disorder... - Principles for the wise use of computers by childrenL Straker
Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA, Australia
Ergonomics 52:1386-401. 2009..Ergonomics can provide and promote guidelines for wise use of computers by children and by doing so promote the positive effects and reduce the negative effects of computer-child, and subsequent computer-adult, interaction... - The influence of desk and display design on posture and muscle activity variability whilst performing information technology tasksL Straker
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth 6845, Australia
Appl Ergon 40:852-9. 2009..Variation is influenced independently of mean postures and muscle amplitudes and therefore needs to be considered to adequately assess the risk of musculoskeletal disorders... - The effects of walking and cycling computer workstations on keyboard and mouse performanceLeon Straker
Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia
Hum Factors 51:831-44. 2009..This study aimed to determine the effects of active workstation designs on speed and error during typing, mouse pointing, and combined type and mouse-use tasks... - Effect of visual display height on modelled upper and lower cervical gravitational moment, muscle capacity and relative strainL Straker
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia
Ergonomics 52:204-21. 2009..The current findings provide more detailed biomechanical evidence that ergonomists can incorporate with usability and other evidence to determine appropriate display height recommendations... - Rationale, design and methods for a randomised and controlled trial to investigate whether home access to electronic games decreases children's physical activityLeon M Straker
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia
BMC Public Health 9:212. 2009..Given that many children play electronic games, a better understanding of the effect of electronic game use on PA is critical to inform child health policy and intervention... - Increased physical work loads in modern work--a necessity for better health and performance?Leon Straker
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia
Ergonomics 52:1215-25. 2009..Ergonomics can design work to a prescription that can not only reduce injury risk but enhance health and capacity. However, this will require a change in paradigm... - The effect of forearm support on children's head, neck and upper limb posture and muscle activity during computer useLeon Straker
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
J Electromyogr Kinesiol 19:965-74. 2009..The provision of a supporting surface for the arm is therefore likely to be useful for reducing musculoskeletal stresses associated with computing tasks for children... - A comparison of posture and muscle activity during tablet computer, desktop computer and paper use by young childrenL M Straker
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Australia
Ergonomics 51:540-55. 2008..However, the physical impact of using this type of technology is not known. The findings of this study provide the first tablet-specific evidence to inform guidelines on wise use of tablet computers by children... - The association between information and communication technology exposure and physical activity, musculoskeletal and visual symptoms and socio-economic status in 5-year-oldsL M Straker
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia
Child Care Health Dev 32:343-51. 2006..Despite this concern, there are no large-scale studies relating the use of computers to specific health indicators in children as they reach school age... - The impact of computer display height and desk design on muscle activity during information technology work by young adultsL Straker
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth 6845, Australia
J Electromyogr Kinesiol 18:606-17. 2008..A curved desk resulted in increased proximal muscle activity. There was no substantial interaction between display and desk... - Optimizing the interaction of children with information and communication technologiesL Straker
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U1987, Perth, 6845, Western Australia
Ergonomics 48:506-21. 2005..The paper ends with a pathway to the development and implementation of guidelines about child information and communication technology use for different groups of guideline users... - The impact of computer display height and desk design on 3D posture during information technology work by young adultsL Straker
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth 6845, Australia
J Electromyogr Kinesiol 18:336-49. 2008..Lower display heights increased head and neck flexion with more spinal asymmetry when working with paper. The curved desk, designed to provide forearm support, increased scapula elevation/protraction and shoulder flexion/abduction... - A randomized and controlled trial of a participative ergonomics intervention to reduce injuries associated with manual tasks: physical risk and legislative complianceL Straker
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Australia
Ergonomics 47:166-88. 2004..Inspectors audited the workplaces again, 9 months following the intervention. The results showed a significant decrease in estimates of manual task risk and suggested better legal compliance in the Experimental group... - A review of research on techniques for lifting low-lying objects: 2. Evidence for a correct techniqueLeon M Straker
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
Work 20:83-96. 2003..Recommendations for correct lifting technique guidelines are given for where technique training must be provided... - Children have less variable postures and muscle activities when using new electronic information technology compared with old paper-based information technologyL Straker
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
J Electromyogr Kinesiol 19:e132-43. 2009..Children should therefore be encouraged to ensure task variety when using new IT to offset the greater posture and muscle activity monotony... - A review of research on techniques for lifting low-lying objects: 1. Criteria for evaluationLeon M Straker
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
Work 19:9-18. 2002..Each criterion is described and its validity discussed to provide the reader with a better understanding of the criteria, and thus the evidence available... - Children's posture and muscle activity at different computer display heights and during paper information technology useLeon Straker
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U 1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia
Hum Factors 50:49-61. 2008.... - The effect of individually adjusted workstations on upper quadrant posture and muscle activity in school childrenLeon Straker
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U1987, Perth 6845, Western Australia
Work 18:239-48. 2002..The role of forearm support in decreasing trapezius activity is also discussed... - The use of a mechanism-based classification system to evaluate and direct management of a patient with non-specific chronic low back pain and motor control impairment--a case reportW Dankaerts
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University, Bentley 6102, WA, Australia
Man Ther 12:181-91. 2007 - Neck/shoulder pain is more strongly related to depressed mood in adolescent girls than in boysC M Pollock
School of Psychology, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth WA 6845, Australia
Man Ther 16:246-51. 2011.... - Upper quadrant postural changes of school children in response to interaction with different information technologiesAndrew Briggs
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia
Ergonomics 47:790-819. 2004..The biophysical impact and the suitability of the three different information technologies are discussed... - Differences in sitting postures are associated with nonspecific chronic low back pain disorders when patients are subclassifiedWim Dankaerts
Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia
Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 31:698-704. 2006..A comparative study... - The relationship between back muscle endurance and physical, lifestyle, and psychological factors in adolescentsAnne J Smith
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth WA 6845, Australia
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 40:517-23. 2010..Cross-sectional investigation... - Classification of sagittal thoraco-lumbo-pelvic alignment of the adolescent spine in standing and its relationship to low back painAnne Smith
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia
Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 33:2101-7. 2008..A prospective study of the sagittal standing posture of 766 adolescents... - Identification of modifiable personal factors that predict new-onset low back pain: a prospective study of female nursing studentsTim Mitchell
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia
Clin J Pain 26:275-83. 2010..The objective of this study was to investigate modifiable personal characteristics that predicted new-onset LBP in nursing students... - The validity and intra-tester reliability of a clinical measure of humeral head positionLeanda McKenna
Curtin University of Technology, School of Physiotherapy, G P O Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
Man Ther 14:397-403. 2009..Significant differences between the positions of sit neutral and sit with abduction were found (p<0.001). Humeral head palpation in sit abduction demonstrates sufficient validity and reliability for clinical use... - Lumbopelvic kinematics and trunk muscle activity during sitting on stable and unstable surfacesPeter O'Sullivan
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 36:19-25. 2006..A single-group comparative study... - The inter-tester reliability of humeral head position in junior swimmersLeanda McKenna
Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University of Technology, School of Physiotherapy, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
Phys Ther Sport 10:97-100. 2009..To determine the inter-tester reliability of a clinical measure of humeral head position... - Altered patterns of superficial trunk muscle activation during sitting in nonspecific chronic low back pain patients: importance of subclassificationWim Dankaerts
Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia
Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 31:2017-23. 2006..A cross-sectional comparative study between healthy controls and two subgroups of nonspecific chronic low back pain (LBP) patients... - 'I am absolutely shattered': the impact of chronic low back pain on Australian Aboriginal peopleI B Lin
Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia
Eur J Pain 16:1331-41. 2012..A qualitative, culturally secure research approach was used to explore this assumption... - Fitness, motor competence, and body composition are weakly associated with adolescent back painMark Perry
Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 39:439-49. 2009..Cross-sectional survey... - Low back pain characteristics from undergraduate student to working nurse in Australia: a cross-sectional surveyTim Mitchell
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Int J Nurs Stud 45:1636-44. 2008..Recent literature suggests current preventative strategies are not consistently effective in improving low back injury statistics among health care populations... - Bone health and back pain: what do we know and where should we go?A M Briggs
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia
Osteoporos Int 20:209-19. 2009..Further research is required to clarify the impact of back pain on bone health at different lifespan stages using prospective cohort designs... - The inter-examiner reliability of a classification method for non-specific chronic low back pain patients with motor control impairmentW Dankaerts
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University, Bentley 6102, WA, Australia
Man Ther 11:28-39. 2006..These studies demonstrate the reliability of this multi-dimensional mechanism-based CS and provide essential evidence in a multi-step validation process. A fully validated CS will have significant research and clinical application... - In vivo laboratory validation of the physiometer: a measurement system for long-term recording of posture and movements in the workplaceLeon Straker
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia
Ergonomics 53:672-84. 2010..Further technology should be developed to unobtrusively capture accurate all day 3-D kinematics... - Biopsychosocial factors are associated with low back pain in female nursing students: a cross-sectional studyTim Mitchell
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Int J Nurs Stud 46:678-88. 2009..Modifiable personal factors which contribute to low back pain have proven difficult to identify, but are thought to play an important role in the biopsychosocial nature of low back pain... - A comparison of posture and muscle activity means and variation amongst young children, older children and young adults whilst working with computersBarbara Maslen
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA, Australia
Work 32:311-20. 2009..These findings suggest that whilst there may be differences in how children and adults use computers, basic principles of encouraging appropriate postures and variation should apply for both children and adults... - Perceived school bag load, duration of carriage, and method of transport to school are associated with spinal pain in adolescents: an observational studyClare Haselgrove
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
Aust J Physiother 54:193-200. 2008..load of school bags and the prevalence of spinal pain different between male and female adolescents? Is use of school bags related to perceived load of school bags? Are use and perceived load of school bags related to spinal pain?.. - Why do children think they get discomfort related to daily activities?Jemma Coleman
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia
Work 32:267-74. 2009..This study shows that children are developing beliefs that tend to reflect scientific knowledge about risk factors. These beliefs could be incorporated into preventative health interventions... - A comparison of symptomatic and asymptomatic office workers performing monotonous keyboard work--2: neck and shoulder kinematicsGrace P Y Szeto
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
Man Ther 10:281-91. 2005..The individual differences in postural habits appeared to be independent of the physical environment. These results suggest motor control changes are associated with the presence of WRNULD... - Computer use and habitual spinal posture in Australian adolescentsLeon M Straker
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
Public Health Rep 122:634-43. 2007..However, it is unknown if computer use and habitual postures are associated. The objective of this study was to evaluate associations between adolescent computer use and habitual postures... - A comparison of symptomatic and asymptomatic office workers performing monotonous keyboard work--1: neck and shoulder muscle recruitment patternsGrace P Y Szeto
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
Man Ther 10:270-80. 2005..These findings indicate that altered muscle recruitment patterns observed in the symptomatic subjects preceded the onset of task discomfort, and this finding may have important implications for the etiology of WRNULD... - Carer experience of back pain is associated with adolescent back pain experience even when controlling for other carer and family factorsPeter B O'Sullivan
Schools of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Clin J Pain 24:226-31. 2008..The study objectives were (1) to determine if adolescent back pain is related to carer back pain; and (2) to examine whether other carer and family factors accounted for any such relationship...