Danielle Girard

Research Interests

Cancer Therapy Disability and functional capacity Exercise Exercise Physiology Mental Health Women's and maternal health

Dr Danielle Girard

Program Director: Clinical Exercise Physiology

UniSA Allied Hlth & Human Perf

Teaching Enterprise

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Available For Media Comment.

Welcome to my homepage.
I am a Senior Lecturer and Program Director of the Clinical Exercise Physiology degree within the Allied Health & Human Performance Unit at the University of South Australia.
As an Accredited Exercise Physiologist with Exercise and Sports Science Australia since 2010, I have experience in designing and delivering exercise-based interventions to support clients in the prevention and management of chronic conditions and injuries, with a focus on restoring optimal physical function, health, and wellbeing.
I am a mid-career researcher with a focus on exercise-based interventions for the prevention and management of a wide range of chronic health conditions, including cancer, mental illness, and cardiovascular disease. I have a particular research interest in women’s health, exploring conditions such as pregnancy loss, endometriosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
My passion for health and exercise has been the driving force behind my teaching and research in the field of clinical exercise physiology, as well as my commitment to preparing students to become competent and confident health practitioners. I have extensive experience in teaching, mentoring, and supervising both undergraduate and postgraduate students, and I coordinate the fourth-year course HLTH4011 Clinical Exercise Physiology.
I also currently serve as Vice-President of the Council of Heads of Exercise, Sport and Movement Sciences (CHESMS) and am a ARENA Member.

Cancer related fatigue,Neuromuscular fatigue,Efficacy of exercise therapy in chronic disease,Ageing,Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Date Position Institution name
2018 - ongoing Senior Lecturer Clinical Exercise Physiology University of South Australia
2009 - 2016 Sessional Lecturer Charles Sturt University

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2023 Recognition Commendation for Sustained Excellence in Teaching, Allied Health & Human Performance. University of South Australia Australia -

Date Institution name Country Title
2011 - 2017 Charles Sturt University Australia Doctorate of Philosophy
2010 - 2010 Charles Sturt University Australia Bachelor of Exercise Science (Honours)
2007 - 2009 Charles Sturt University Australia Bachelor Human Movement (Exercise Rehabilitation)

Year Citation
2025 Hartmann, T. E., & Girard, D. (2025). Pregnancy Loss and Psychological Morbidity: The Potential Role of Exercise. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 53(3), 150-157.
DOI
2024 Gower, B., Blacket, C., Girard, D., Boyle, T., & Davison, K. (2024). Prospective associations between systolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol, and physical activity behaviour and the development of cardiovascular disease. Preventive Medicine, 183(107958), 10 pages.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC1
2023 Gower, B., Girard, D., Maiorana, A., Durey, B., Holland, D. J., & Davison, K. (2023). Recommendations for objective cardiovascular assessment to inform clinical exercise prescription: An Exercise Physiologist and Physiotherapist expert consensus. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 26(9), 454-458.
DOI Scopus2 WoS3 Europe PMC2
2022 Brinsley, J., Smout, M., Girard, D., & Davison, K. (2022). Acute mood and cardiovascular responses to moderate intensity vinyasa yoga, static yin yoga and aerobic exercise in people with depression and/or anxiety disorders: a 5-arm randomised controlled trial. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 22(100450), 1-11.
DOI Scopus12 WoS9
2022 Mellow, M. L., Hull, M. J., Smith, A. E., Wycherley, T. P., Girard, D., & Crozier, A. J. (2022). Mixed-methods evaluation of Daily Moves, a community-based physical activity program for older adults. BMC Geriatrics, 22(1), 12 pages.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC2
2022 Luongo, A., Murray, C. M., & Girard, D. (2022). An exploration of the perceptions of Allied Health Professionals on their roles within residential aged care. Allied Health Scholar, 3(1), 1-33.
DOI
2021 Evans, H. E. L., Forbes, C. C., Vandelanotte, C., Galvão, D. A., Newton, R. U., Wittert, G., . . . Short, C. E. (2021). Examining the priorities, needs and preferences of men with metastatic prostate cancer in designing a personalised eHealth exercise intervention. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 28(4), 431-443.
DOI Scopus12 WoS11 Europe PMC9
2021 Brinsley, J., Girard, D., Smout, M., & Davison, K. (2021). Is yoga considered exercise within systematic reviews of exercise interventions? A scoping review. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 56(article no. 102618), 1-15.
DOI Scopus16 WoS13 Europe PMC9
2021 Evans, H. E. L., Forbes, C. C., Galvão, D. A., Vandelanotte, C., Newton, R. U., Wittert, G., . . . Short, C. E. (2021). Evaluating a web- and telephone-based personalised exercise intervention for individuals living with metastatic prostate cancer (ExerciseGuide): protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial.. Pilot Feasibility Stud, 7(1), 21.
DOI Scopus17 WoS14 Europe PMC15
2021 Evans, H. E. L., Forbes, C. C., Galvão, D. A., Vandelanotte, C., Newton, R. U., Wittert, G., . . . Short, C. E. (2021). Usability, Acceptability, and Safety Analysis of a Computer-Tailored Web-Based Exercise Intervention (ExerciseGuide) for Individuals With Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Multi-Methods Laboratory-Based Study (Preprint).
DOI
2021 Evans, H. E. L., Forbes, C. C., Galvão, D. A., Vandelanotte, C., Newton, R. U., Wittert, G., . . . Short, C. E. (2021). Usability, acceptability and safety analysis of a computer-tailored web-based exercise intervention (ExerciseGuide) for individuals with metastatic prostate cancer: A multi-methods lab-based study. JMIR Cancer, 7(3), 1-16.
DOI Scopus8 WoS7 Europe PMC9
2021 Evans, H. E. L., Galvão, D. A., Forbes, C. C., Girard, D., Vandelanotte, C., Newton, R. U., . . . Short, C. E. (2021). Acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a web-and telephone-based personalised exercise intervention for individuals with metastatic prostate cancer: the ExerciseGuide pilot randomised controlled trial. Cancers, 13(23), 5925-1-5925-22.
DOI Scopus21 WoS21 Europe PMC17
2020 Gower, B., Girard, D., Mitchell, B. L., Gehling, T., Maiorana, A., & Davison, K. (2020). Lack of Cited Evidence Underpinning Recommendations for Objective Assessment of Cardiovascular Function to Inform Exercise Prescription: A Systematic Review. Sports Medicine, 50(8), 1469-1481.
DOI Scopus1 WoS2
2020 Brinsley, J., Schuch, F., Lederman, O., Girard, D., Smout, M., Immink, M. A., . . . Rosenbaum, S. (2020). Effects of yoga on depressive symptoms in people with mental disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 55(17), 1-10.
DOI Scopus132 WoS119 Europe PMC82
2014 Girard, D., Marino, F. E., & Cannon, J. (2014). Evidence for reduced neuromuscular function in men with a history of androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer. Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging, 34(3), 209-217.
DOI Scopus9 WoS9 Europe PMC4

Year Citation
2023 Gower, B., Girard, D., Boyle, T., & Davison, K. (2023). Physical Activity And The Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease Incidence And Mortality In The UK Biobank. In MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS & EXERCISE Vol. 55 (pp. 162). CO, Denver: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS.

  • Evaluation of the Daily Moves Program, City of Unley, 05/08/2019 - 31/07/2022

  • An evaluation of the benefits in the strength for life program, Council on the Ageing SA Inc, 02/01/2017 - 30/06/2017

Courses I teach

  • HLTH 4011 Clinical Exercise Physiology (2025)
  • HLTH 4011 Clinical Exercise Physiology (2024)
  • HLTH 4014 Clinical Exercise Physiology Practicum 3 (2024)

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2022 Principal Supervisor - - Master Full Time Mrs Emily Jayne Arthur
2022 Co-Supervisor - - Master Full Time Miss Lauren McDougall

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2019 - 2022 External Supervisor The Development and Evaluation of ExerciseGuide – A Web-Based Exercise and Behaviour Change Intervention to Support Individuals with Metastatic Prostate Cancer Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Holly Elizabeth Louise Evans

Date Role Committee Institution Country
2025 - ongoing Vice-President Council of Heads of Exercise, Sport and Movement Sciences (CHESMS) Council of Heads of Exercise, Sport and Movement Sciences (CHESMS) Australia
2022 - ongoing Member Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology External Advisory Committee Charles Sturt University Australia
2016 - ongoing Member The Clinical Education Group (ClinExEd) Council of Heads of Exercise, Sport and Movement Sciences (CHESMS) Australia

Date Role Membership Country
2010 - ongoing Member Exercise & Sport Science Australia -

Date Title Type Institution Country
2024 - ongoing Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Exercise Physiology (specialty section of Frontiers in Physiology and Frontiers in Sports and Active Living). Peer Review Frontiers in Physiology and Frontiers in Sports and Active Living Switzerland

Connect With Me

External Profiles

Other Links