Hayley Leake

Research Interests

Adolescent health Paediatrics Pain Physiotherapy Primary care Rural and remote area health

Dr Hayley Leake

Research Fellow

School of Allied Health and Human Performance

College of Health

Available For Media Comment.

Dr Hayley Leake is a Research Fellow on the 'EQUIPP Partnership' (Equipping the General Public to Prevent and Overcome Chronic Pain) within the IIMPACT Group (UniSA Allied Health & Human Performance), at the University of South Australia. Hayley has a clinical background as a physiotherapist, and holds an appointment as an honorary Research Fellow at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) in the Centre for Pain IMPACT in Sydney.
Hayley has published over 40 research articles with a h-index of 18. She was awarded the 2023 South Australian Science Excellence and Innovation Awards for PhD Research Excellence. She was also awarded the 2022 Ruth Grant Prize for dedication to physiotherapy research by UniSA. She has been acknowledged for her successful science communication and engagement, being recognised as a Pain Champion for Australia’s leading pain advocacy group, Pain Australia.

Date Position Institution name
2023 - ongoing Research Fellow University of South Australia

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2023 Award PhD Research Excellence Award 2023 South Australian Government, Department of Science & Innovation Australia 10000

Date Institution name Country Title
2018 - 2022 University of South Australia Australia PhD
2008 - 2012 University of South Australia Australia Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours)

Year Citation
2025 Mardon, A. K., Leake, H. B., Wilson, M. V., Karran, E. L., Parker, R., Malani, R., . . . Chalmers, K. J. (2025). Pain science education concepts for pelvic pain: an e-Delphi of expert clinicians. Frontiers In Pain Research, 6(1498996), 1-11.
DOI
2025 Mardon, A. K., Wilson, D., Leake, H. B., Harvie, D., Andrade, A., Chalmers, K. J., . . . Moseley, G. L. (2025). The acceptability, feasibility, and usability of a virtual reality pain education and rehabilitation program for Veterans: a mixed-methods study. Frontiers in Pain Research, 6(1535915), 1-15.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC1
2024 Lorimer Moseley, G., Leake, H. B., Beetsma, A. J., Watson, J. A., Butler, D. S., van der Mee, A., . . . Ryan, C. G. (2024). Teaching Patients About Pain: The Emergence of Pain Science Education, its Learning Frameworks and Delivery Strategies. Journal of Pain, 25(5), 104425.
DOI Scopus44 Europe PMC30
2024 Mardon, A. K., Leake, H. B., Szeto, K., Moseley, G. L., & Chalmers, K. J. (2024). Recommendations for patient education in the management of persistent pelvic pain: a systematic review of clinical practice guidelines. Pain, 165(6), 1207-1216.
DOI Scopus8 WoS10 Europe PMC7
2024 Mardon, A. K., Chalmers, K. J., Heathcote, L. C., Curtis, L. A., Freedman, L., Malani, R., . . . Leake, H. B. (2024). "I wish I knew then what I know now" - pain science education concepts important for female persistent pelvic pain: a reflexive thematic analysis. Pain, 165(9), 1990-2001.
DOI Scopus9 WoS7 Europe PMC7
2024 Hansford, H. J., Cashin, A. G., Doyle, J., Leake, H. B., McAuley, J. H., & Jones, M. D. (2024). Barriers and enablers to using intervention reporting guidelines in sports and exercise medicine trials: a mixed-methods study. Journal Of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 54(2), 142-152.
DOI Scopus5 Europe PMC3
2024 Leake, H. B., Heathcote, L. C., Ferencz, N., Birnie, K. A., Davis, A., Karran, E. L., . . . Moseley, G. L. (2024). Co-design and evaluation of pain science messages on social media with adolescents with a history of chronic pain. The Journal of Pain, 25(9, article no. 104580), 1-16.
DOI Scopus2 WoS3 Europe PMC2
2024 Rizzo, R. R. N., Wand, B. M., Leake, H. B., O'Hagan, E. T., Traeger, A. C., Gustin, S. M., . . . Bunzli, S. (2024). Why might fears and worries persist after a pain education-grounded multimodal intervention for chronic back pain? A qualitative study. Pain Reports, 9(6), 1-8.
DOI
2023 Mardon, A. K., Leake, H. B., Hayles, C., Henry, M. L., Neumann, P. B., Moseley, G. L., & Chalmers, K. J. (2023). The efficacy of self-management strategies for females with endometriosis: a systematic review. Reproductive Sciences, 30(2), 390-407.
DOI Scopus14 WoS16 Europe PMC14
2023 Jordan, A., Williams, M., Jones, A., Noel, M., Neville, A., Clinch, J., . . . Leake, H. B. (2023). Pediatrician explanations of pediatric pain in clinical settings: a delicate craft. Journal of Pain, 24(8), 1396-1405.
DOI Scopus7 WoS6 Europe PMC5
2023 O'Hagan, E. T., Cashin, A. G., Rizzo, R. R. N., Leake, H. B., Zahara, P., Bagg, M. K., . . . McAuley, J. H. (2023). Development of a booster intervention for graded sensorimotor retraining (RESOLVE) in people with persistent low back pain: a nested, randomised, feasibility trial. Musculoskeletal Care, 21(2), 444-452.
DOI
2023 Rizzo, R. R. N., Wand, B. M., Leake, H. B., O'Hagan, E. T., Bagg, M. K., Bunzli, S., . . . McAuley, J. H. (2023). "My back is fit for movement': a qualitative study alongside a randomized controlled trial for chronic low back pain. Journal of Pain, 24(5), 824-839.
DOI Scopus16 WoS16 Europe PMC15
2023 Mouatt, B., Leake, H. B., Stanton, T. R., Moseley, G. L., Simons, L. E., & Braithwaite, F. A. (2023). A single-item mood question adequately discriminates moderately severe to severe depression in individuals with persistent pain: preliminary validation. British Journal of Anaesthesia, 131(4), e137-e139.
DOI
2023 Wewege, M. A., Bagg, M. K., Jones, M. D., Ferraro, M. C., Cashin, A. G., Rizzo, R. R. N., . . . McAuley, J. H. (2023). Comparative effectiveness and safety of analgesic medicines for adults with acute non-specific low back pain: systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMJ (Clinical Research Edition), 380(e072962), 1-15.
DOI Scopus44 WoS38 Europe PMC30
2023 Moseley, G. L., Pearson, N., Reezigt, R., Madden, V. J., Hutchinson, M. R., Dunbar, M., . . . Wand, B. M. (2023). Considering Precision and Utility When we Talk About Pain. Comment on Cohen et al. The Journal of Pain, 24(1), 178-181.
DOI Scopus12 WoS13 Europe PMC11
2022 Rizzo, R. R. N., Ferraro, M. C., Wewege, M. A., Cashin, A. G., Leake, H. B., O'Hagan, E. T., . . . McAuley, J. H. (2022). Targeting neurotrophic factors for low back pain and sciatica: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rheumatology (Oxford, England), 61(6), 2243-2254.
DOI Scopus3 Europe PMC3
2022 Leake, H. B., Moseley, G. L., Murphy, L. K., Murray, C. B., Palermo, T. M., & Heathcote, L. C. (2022). How does pain work? A qualitative analysis of how young adults with chronic pain conceptualise the biology of pain. European Journal of Pain, 27(3), 424-437.
DOI
2022 Leake, H. B., Mardon, A., Stanton, T. R., Harvie, D. S., Butler, D. S., Karran, E. L., . . . Berryman, C. (2022). Key Learning Statements for persistent pain education: an iterative analysis of consumer, clinician and researcher perspectives and development of public messaging. The Journal of Pain, 23(11), 1989-2001.
DOI Scopus22 WoS19 Europe PMC21
2022 Mardon, A. K., Leake, H. B., Szeto, K., Astill, T., Hilton, S., Moseley, G. L., & Chalmers, K. J. (2022). Treatment recommendations for the management of persistent pelvic pain: a systematic review of international clinical practice guidelines. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 129(8), 1248-1260.
DOI Scopus32 WoS30 Europe PMC19
2022 Wewege, M. A., Desai, I., Honey, C., Coorie, B., Jones, M. D., Clifford, B. K., . . . Hagstrom, A. D. (2022). The effect of resistance training in healthy adults on body fat percentage, fat mass and visceral fat: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 52(2), 287-300.
DOI Scopus84 Europe PMC61
2021 Rizzo, R. R. N., Ferraro, M. C., Wewege, M. A., Cashin, A. G., Leake, H. B., O'Hagan, E. T., . . . McAuley, J. H. (2021). Efficacy and safety of medicines targeting neurotrophic factors in the management of low back pain: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. JMIR Research Protocols, 10(1), 1-8.
DOI Scopus2
2021 Soliman, N., Haroutounian, S., Hohmann, A. G., Krane, E., Leake, H. B., & Rice, A. (2021). Systematic review and meta-analysis of cannabinoids, cannabis-based medicines, and endocannabinoid system modulators tested for antinociceptive effects in animal models of injury-related or pathological persistent pain. Pain, 162(Suppl 1), 26-S44.
DOI Scopus102 WoS91 Europe PMC88
2021 Cashin, A. G., Folly, T., Bagg, M. K., Wewege, M. A., Jones, M. D., Ferraro, M. C., . . . McAuley, J. H. (2021). Efficacy, acceptability, and safety of muscle relaxants for adults with non-specific low back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ, 374, 1-12.
DOI Scopus83 WoS63 Europe PMC51
2021 Mardon, A. K., Leake, H. B., & Chalmers, K. J. (2021). A review of chronic pelvic pain in women. JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association, 302(21), 2206-2208.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1 Europe PMC1
2021 Summers, S. J., Chalmers, K. J., Wallwork, S. B., & Leake, H. B. (2021). Interrogating cortical representations in elite athletes with persistent posterior thigh pain - new targets for intervention?. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 24(2), 135-140.
DOI Scopus7 WoS8 Europe PMC7
2021 O'Hagan, E. T., Traeger, A. C., Bunzli, S., Leake, H. B., Schabrun, S. M., Wand, B. M., . . . McAuley, J. H. (2021). What do people post on social media relative to low back pain? A content analysis of Australian data. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 54(article no. 102402), 1-7.
DOI
2021 Leake, H. B., Moseley, G. L., Stanton, T. R., Heathcote, L. C., Pate, J. W., Wewege, M. A., & Lee, H. (2021). Using mediation analysis to understand how treatments for paediatric pain work: a systematic review and recommendations for future research. Children, 8(2), 1-19.
DOI Scopus7 WoS4 Europe PMC3
2021 Clifford, B., Koizumi, S., Wewege, M. A., Leake, H. B., Ha, L., Macdonald, E., . . . Hagstrom, A. D. (2021). The effect of resistance training on body composition during and after cancer treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 51(12), 2527-2546.
DOI
2021 O'Hagan, E. T., Leake, H. B., Heathcote, L. C., Stanton, T. R., & Moseley, G. L. (2021). The therapeutic alliance may yet prove effective. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 51(10), 526-527.
DOI
2021 O'Hagan, E. T., Leake, H. B., Heathcote, L. C., Stanton, T. R., & Moseley, G. L. (2021). Author response to "the therapeutic alliance may yet prove effective". Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 51(10), 526-528.
DOI
2021 Ferraro, M. C., Bagg, M. K., Wewege, M. A., Cashin, A. G., Leake, H. B., Rizzo, R. R. N., . . . McAuley, J. H. (2021). Efficacy, acceptability, and safety of antidepressants for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Systematic Reviews, 10(1, article no. 62), 1-13.
DOI Scopus26 Europe PMC18
2021 Leake, H. B., & Moseley, G. L. (2021). Clinimetrics: assessing functional disability in children and adolescents. Journal of Physiotherapy, 67(2), 145.
DOI
2021 Rizzo, R. R. N., Wewege, M. A., Leake, H. B., & McAuley, J. H. (2021). Commentary: The efficacy of nerve growth factor antibody for the treatment of osteoarthritis pain and chronic low-back pain: a meta-analysis. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12(619344), 1-3.
DOI
2021 Leake, H. B., Moseley, G. L., Stanton, T. R., O'Hagan, E. T., & Heathcote, L. C. (2021). What do patients value learning about pain? A mixed-methods survey on the relevance of target concepts after pain science education. Pain, 162(10), 2558-2568.
DOI
2020 Wallwork, S. B., Leake, H. B., Peek, A. L., Moseley, G. L., & Stanton, T. R. (2020). Implicit motor imagery performance is impaired in people with chronic, but not acute, neck pain. PeerJ, 2020(2, article number e8553), 1-22.
DOI
2020 Pate, J. W., Heathcote, L. C., Simons, L. E., Leake, H., & Moseley, G. L. (2020). Creating online animated videos to reach and engage youth: lessons learned from pain science education and a call to action. Paediatric and Neonatal Pain, 2(4), 131-138.
DOI
2019 Heathcote, L. C., Pate, J. W., Park, A. L., Leake, H. B., Moseley, G. L., Kronman, C. A., . . . Simons, L. E. (2019). Pain neuroscience education on you tube. PeerJ, 7(article no e6603), 1-22.
DOI
2019 Leake, H. B., Heathcote, L. C., Simons, L. E., Stinson, J., Kamper, S. J., Williams, C. M., . . . Moseley, G. L. (2019). Talking to teens about pain: a modified Delphi study of adolescent pain science education. Canadian Journal of Pain, 3(1), 200-208.
DOI Scopus33 WoS31 Europe PMC26
2019 Williams, L. J., Braithwaite, F. A., Leake, H. B., McDonnell, M. N., Peto, D. K., Moseley, G. L., & Hillier, S. L. (2019). Reliability and validity of a mobile tablet for assessing left/right judgements. Musculoskeletal science and practice, 40, 45-52.
DOI Scopus16 WoS14 Europe PMC12
2016 Stanton, T. R., Leake, H. B., Chalmers, K. J., & Moseley, G. L. (2016). Evidence of impaired proprioception in chronic, idiopathic neck pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. Physical therapy, 96(6), 876-887.
DOI Scopus176 WoS160 Europe PMC121
2013 Bowering, K. J., O'Connell, N. E., Tabor, A., Catley, M. J., Leake, H. B., Moseley, G. L., & Stanton, N. R. (2013). The effects of graded motor imagery and its components on chronic pain : a systematic review and meta-analysis. The journal of pain, 14(1), 3-13.
DOI

  • RESOLVE-D, Implementing new and effective treatments for low back pain, MRFF Early to Mid-Career Researchers Grant, 01/03/2024 - 29/02/2028

Date Role Committee Institution Country
2021 - ongoing Member Scientific Programming Committee Australian Pain Society Australia

Date Role Membership Country
2018 - ongoing Member Australian Pain Society -

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