Associate Professor Lynley Bradnam
Dip Phty ATI., MHSc AIT., PhD Auck.
Biography
Associate Professor Lynley Bradnam joined the Department of Exercise Sciences in 2018. Dr Bradnam has held academic positions in Universities in New Zealand, United Kingdom and Australia since 1998. Her previous role was Professor of Physiotherapy at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), where she established a new Master of Physiotherapy programme. Dr Bradnam is a New Zealand registered physiotherapist who completed her PhD in Exercise Sciences at the University of Auckland in 2011. Dr Bradnam holds an honorary role as advisor for the Bachelor of Physiotherapy at Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec).
Research | Current
My research interest is in physical activity and neurorehabilitation in movement disorders; Dystonia, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinsons disease, and after stroke. A major focus is to enhance knowledge of functional impariments, activity limitations, and non-motor symptoms in people living with Cervical (neck) Dystonia (CD). My collaborators and I have led research demonstrating balance, gait and functional deficits, fear of falling and reduced vision-related quality of life in people living with CD. Recent research aims are to improve understanding of the impact of dystonia on sedentary behaviour and physical activity engagement in order to develop exercise interventions and guidelines specificly for the dystonia population. This research is a collaboration between researchers at this University and from UTS and Flinders University in Australia. Based on the discovery that the cerebellum is a key node in the dystonic brain neural network, our research probes for clinical signs of cerebeller dysfunction in CD by examining postural sway, gait kinematics, head tremor and oculomotor control. Previous work by Dr Bradnam utilised cerebellar neuromodulation to investiage the neural network model, and as a novel treatment intervention for CD. Other research areas include integrating exercise and self-management in neurorehabilitation, and developing an evidence-based classification system and treatment guidelines for allied health professionals manging people living with CD. The latter is an international collaboration with researchers in the United States and Europe.
Teaching | Current
EXERSCI 710 Exercise Rehabilitation Course Coordinator
EXERSCI 715 Research Planning and Reporting Course Coordinator
EXERSCI103 Human Anatomy Course Coordinator
Postgraduate supervision
I currently supervise two Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology (CEP) and one Master of Exercise Sciences students at the University of Auckland. I also co-supervise a PhD student enrolled at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
Project Details:
Investigating the cerebellar hypothesis in cervical dystonia. CEP Masters students Gareth Carter and Phillip Hargraves. Co-supervisors; Associate Professor Nick Gant, Dr Victor Borges, Dr Angus McMorland.
MS Get a Head Start: a program to improve engagement in physical activity compared to usual care in newly diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis patients. Masters in Exercise Sciences student Gilly Davy. Co-supervisors Dr Rebecca Meiring, Dr Jennifer Pereria.
An exploration of physical function, non-motor symptoms and treatment satisfaction in people living with cervical dystonia. PhD student Melani Boyce, UTS. Primary supervisor Professor Arianne Verhagen, Co-supervisor Dr Alana McCambridge, Advisor Emeritis Professor Colleen Canning (USyd).
I can offer PhD supervision for the following projects:
Develop and assess effects of an individualised exercise and self-management intervention in people living with cervical dystonia.
Exploration of fatigue and fatigability in people living with cervical dystonia and other movement disorders
Cerebellar neuromodulation effects on head tremor, postural sway, gait and saccade adaptation in cervical dystonia
Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in neurological movement disorders
Distinctions/Honours
Flinders University Vice Chancellors Award for Early Career Researchers 2011
Invited member of the Australian Dystonia Network (DNA) Advisory Board 2015-2018
Areas of expertise
Physiotherapy
Neurorehabilitation
Dystonia
Movement Disorders
Professional practice for allied health
Committees/Professional groups/Services
Acting Chair and member of the Research Committee, Department of Exercise Sciences
Department representative on the Faculty Research Steering Group (Acting)
Member of the Post Graduate Committee, Department of Exercise Sciences
New Zealand Registered Physiotherapist
Selected publications and creative works (Research Outputs)
- Miterko, L. N., Baker, K. B., Beckinghausen, J., Bradnam, L. V., Cheng, M. Y., Cooperrider, J., ... Heck, D. H. (2019). Consensus Paper: Experimental Neurostimulation of the Cerebellum. Cerebellum (London, England), 18 (6), 1064-1097. 10.1007/s12311-019-01041-5
- Bradnam, L., Chen, C. S., Callahan, R., Hoppe, S., Rosenich, E., & Loetscher, T. (2019). Visual compensation in cervical dystonia. Journal of clinical and experimental neuropsychology, 41 (7), 769-774. 10.1080/13803395.2019.1629394
- McCambridge, A. B., Zaslawski, C., & Bradnam, L. V. (2019). Investigating the mechanisms of acupuncture on neural excitability in healthy adults. Neuroreport, 30 (2), 71-76. 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001159
- Bradnam, L., Chen, C., Graetz, L., & Loetscher, T. (2018). Reduced vision-related quality of life in people living with dystonia. Disability and rehabilitation, 1-5. 10.1080/09638288.2018.1528636
- Prudente, C. N., Zetterberg, L., Bring, A., Bradnam, L., & Kimberley, T. J. (2018). Systematic Review of Rehabilitation in Focal Dystonias: Classification and Recommendations. Movement disorders clinical practice, 5 (3), 237-245. 10.1002/mdc3.12574
- Boyce, M. J., Lam, L., Chang, F., Mahant, N., Fung, V. S. C., & Bradnam, L. (2017). Validation of Fear of Falling and Balance Confidence Assessment Scales in Persons With Dystonia. Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPT, 41 (4), 239-244. 10.1097/npt.0000000000000198
- Hordacre, B., Bradnam, L. V., & Crotty, M. (2017). Reorganization of the primary motor cortex following lower-limb amputation for vascular disease: a pre-post-amputation comparison. Disability and rehabilitation, 39 (17), 1722-1728. 10.1080/09638288.2016.1207110
- Barr, C., Barnard, R., Edwards, L., Lennon, S., & Bradnam, L. (2017). Impairments of balance, stepping reactions and gait in people with cervical dystonia. Gait & posture, 55, 55-61. 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2017.04.004
Identifiers
Contact details
Primary office location
BUILDING 904 - Bldg 904
262 KHYBER PASS
NEWMARKET
AUCKLAND 1023
New Zealand