Mr Kexun Kenneth Chen

Research Interests

Central Nervous System Exercise Physiology Pain Musculoskeletal Health Neuroscience, Behaviour and Brain Health Translational Health Outcomes

Mr Kexun Kenneth Chen

School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences

College of Health

Kenneth Chen is a PhD Candidate within the School of Allied Health Science and Practice. He started his PhD journey in 2021. He is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist who undertook his undergraduate training at The University of Queensland. He worked as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist in Brisbane, and as a researcher at RECOVER Injury Research Centre in The University of Queensland and the Geriatric Education and Research Institute (GERI) in Singapore.

Kenneth’s research focuses on investigating the underlying mechanism of chronic neck pain. With his clinical background, he investigate the physiological effect of exercise on the central pain modulation in individuals with chronic neck pain. Kenneth combines expertise from various clinical perspectives including exercise physiology, physiotherapy, and exercise science, and has established fruitful collaborations with other health and medical disciplines. 

Year Citation
2026 Chen, K. K., Hardin, T., Mohtasham, A., Orlando, J. F., de Zoete, R. M. J., & Burke, A. L. J. (2026). Non-Specific Low Back Pain in South Australian Public Hospital Emergency Departments: A Retrospective Observational Study.. Emerg Med Australas, 38(1), e70205.
DOI
2026 Dickson, C., de Zoete, R. M. J., Berryman, C., Weinstein, P., Didyk, C., Chen, K. K., & Rothmore, P. (2026). Physiotherapist-related barriers and enablers to the implementation of high-value physiotherapy for chronic pain: a scoping review and narrative synthesis of 37 studies. Disability and Rehabilitation, 24 pages.
DOI
2025 Senarath, I. D., Weerasekara, I., Humphries, M., Chen, K. K., Farrell, S. F., & de Zoete, R. M. J. (2025). Physical exercise therapy for chronic non-specific neck pain: protocol for a meta-analysis of individual participant data.. Systematic reviews, 14(1), 43-1-43-9.
DOI
2025 Chen, K. K., Rolan, P., Hutchinson, M. R., & de Zoete, R. M. J. (2025). Reliability of Temporal Summation of Pain in Healthy and Clinical Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. European Journal of Pain, 29(8), 19 pages.
DOI Scopus7 WoS7 Europe PMC1
2024 Dickson, C., de Zoete, R. M. J., Berryman, C., Weinstein, P., Chen, K. K., & Rothmore, P. (2024). Patient-related barriers and enablers to the implementation of high-value physiotherapy for chronic pain: a systematic review. Pain Medicine, 25(2), 104-115.
DOI Scopus22 WoS20 Europe PMC18
2024 Chen, K. K., Rolan, P., Hutchinson, M. R., Dickson, C., & de Zoete, R. M. J. (2024). Exercise-induced changes in central sensitization outcomes in individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain: A systematic review with meta-analysis. European Journal of Pain, 28(9), 1431-1449.
DOI Scopus13 WoS16 Europe PMC9
2023 Lau, L. K., Abdul Jabbar, K. B., Pang, W. J. B., Chen, K. K., Seah, W. T., Ullal Mallya, J., . . . Wee, S. L. (2023). Physiological and Cognitive Determinants of Gait Variability of Asian Population: The Yishun Study. Gerontology, 69(3), 1-11.
DOI Scopus1 Europe PMC1
2023 Chen, K. K., Hutchinson, M. R., Rolan, P., & de Zoete, R. M. J. (2023). Effect of exercise on chronic neck pain and central sensitization: A protocol for a randomized crossover trial.. Exp Physiol, 108(5), 672-682.
DOI Scopus4 WoS3 Europe PMC4
2022 Senarath, M. K. I. D., Chen, K. K., Weerasekara, I., & de Zoete, R. M. J. (2022). Exercise-induced hypoalgesic effects of different types of physical exercise in individuals with neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.. Pain Pract, 23(1), 110-122.
DOI Scopus24 WoS22 Europe PMC15
2022 Jabbar, K. A., Tan, D. G. H., Seah, W. -T., Lau, L. K., Pang, B. W. -J., Ng, D. H. -M., . . . Wee, S. -L. (2022). Enhanced gait variability index and cognitive performance in Asian adults: Results from the Yishun Study. Gait & Posture, 97, 216-221.
DOI Scopus4 WoS5 Europe PMC3
2022 Chen, K. K., Lee, S. Y., Pang, B. W. J., Lau, L. K., Jabbar, K. A., Seah, W. T., . . . Wee, S. -L. (2022). Associations of low handgrip strength and hand laterality with cognitive function and functional mobility - the Yishun Study.. BMC Geriatr, 22(1), 8 pages.
DOI Scopus24 WoS21 Europe PMC20
2022 Tou, N. X., Wee, S. L., Pang, B. W. J., Lau, L. K., Jabbar, K. A., Seah, W. T., . . . Ng, T. P. (2022). Association of fat mass index versus appendicular lean mass index with physical function - The Yishun Study. AGING AND HEALTH RESEARCH, 2(3), 6 pages.
DOI WoS2
2022 Soh, B. P., Lee, S. Y., Wong, W. Y., Pang, B. W. J., Lau, L. K., Jabbar, K. A., . . . Wee, S. -L. (2022). Body composition reference values in Singaporean adults using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry—The Yishun study. PLOS ONE, 17(10), e0276434.
DOI Scopus6 WoS5 Europe PMC5
2021 de Zoete, R. M., Armfield, N. R., McAuley, J. H., Chen, K., & Sterling, M. (2021). Comparative effectiveness of physical exercise interventions for chronic non-specific neck pain: a systematic review with network meta-analysis of 40 randomised controlled trials.. British journal of sports medicine, 55(13), 730-742.
DOI Scopus107 WoS102 Europe PMC77
2021 Choo, P. L., Tou, N. X., Jun Pang, B. W., Lau, L. K., Jabbar, K. A., Seah, W. T., . . . Wee, S. L. (2021). Timed Up and Go (TUG) Reference Values and Predictive Cutoffs for Fall Risk and Disability in Singaporean Community-Dwelling Adults: Yishun Cross-Sectional Study and Singapore Longitudinal Aging Study. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 22(8), 1640-1645.
DOI Scopus43 WoS37 Europe PMC30
2021 Pang, B. W. J., Wee, S. L., Lau, L. K., Jabbar, K. A., Seah, W. T., Ng, D. H. M., . . . Ng, T. P. (2021). Prevalence and Associated Factors of Sarcopenia in Singaporean Adults—The Yishun Study. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 22(4), 885.e1-885.e10.
DOI Scopus106 WoS96 Europe PMC91
2021 Lee, S. Y., Choo, P. L., Pang, B., Lau, L. K., Jabbar, K. A., Seah, W. -T., . . . Wee, S. L. (2021). SPPB reference values and performance in assessing sarcopenia in community- dwelling Singaporeans -Yishun study. BMC Geriatrics, 21(1), 11 pages.
DOI Scopus60 WoS2 Europe PMC55
2021 Chen, K. K., Wee, S. L., Pang, B., Lau, L. K., Jabbar, K. A., Seah, W. -T., & Ng, T. P. (2021). Relationship between BMI with percentage body fat and obesity in Singaporean adults - The Yishun Study. BMC Public Health, 21(1), 9 pages.
DOI Scopus38 WoS36 Europe PMC29
2021 Pang, B. W. J., Wee, S. L., Lau, L. K., Jabbar, K. A., Seah, W. T., Ng, D. H. M., . . . Ng, T. P. (2021). Obesity Measures and Definitions of Sarcopenic Obesity in Singaporean Adults - the Yishun Study. The Journal of frailty & aging, 10(3), 202-210.
DOI Scopus12 Europe PMC14
2021 Tan, V. M. H., Pang, B. W. J., Lau, L. K., Jabbar, K. A., Seah, W. T., Chen, K. K., . . . Wee, S. L. (2021). Malnutrition and Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Adults in Singapore: Yishun Health Study. Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, 25(3), 374-381.
DOI Scopus37 Europe PMC39
2021 Tou, N. X., Wee, S. L., Pang, B. W. J., Lau, L. K., Jabbar, K. A., Seah, W. T., . . . Ng, T. P. (2021). Associations of fat mass and muscle function but not lean mass with cognitive impairment: The Yishun Study. PLoS ONE, 16(8 August 2021), e0256702.
DOI Scopus22 Europe PMC23
2021 Pang, B. W. J., Wee, S. L., Lau, L. K., Jabbar, K. A., Seah, W. T., Ng, D. H. M., . . . Ng, T. P. (2021). Sensorimotor Performance and Reference Values for Fall Risk Assessment in Community-Dwelling Adults: The Yishun Study. Physical therapy, 101(7), pzab035.
DOI Scopus5 Europe PMC5
2021 Pang, B. W. J., Wee, S. -L., Chen, K. K., Lau, L. K., Jabbar, K. A., Seah, W. T., . . . Ng, T. P. (2021). Coexistence of osteoporosis, sarcopenia and obesity in community-dwelling adults – The Yishun Study. Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia, 7(1), 17-23.
DOI WoS24 Europe PMC21
2021 Lee, S. Y., Pang, B. W. J., Lau, L. K., Jabbar, K. A., Seah, W. T., Chen, K. K., . . . Wee, S. L. (2021). Cross-sectional associations of housework with cognitive, physical and sensorimotor functions in younger and older community-dwelling adults: The Yishun Study. BMJ Open, 11(11), e052557.
DOI Scopus25 Europe PMC16
2021 Abdul Jabbar, K., Seah, W. -T., Lau, L. K., Pang, B. W. -J., Ng, D. H. -M., Tan, Q. L. -L., . . . Wee, S. -L. (2021). Fast gait spatiotemporal parameters in adults and association with muscle strength – The Yishun study. Gait & Posture, 85, 217-223.
DOI Scopus28 WoS26 Europe PMC20
2021 Lau, L. K., Mallya, J. U., Pang, W. J. B., Chen, K. K., Abdul Jabbar, K. B., Seah, W. T., . . . Wee, S. L. (2021). Physiological and Cognitive Determinants of Dual-Task Costs for Gait Parameters: The Yishun Study. Gerontology, 67(4), 457-466.
DOI Scopus14 WoS13 Europe PMC11
2021 Lau, L. K., Wee, S. L., Mallya, J. U., Yap, P. L. K., Pang, W. J. B., Chen, K. K., . . . Ng, T. P. (2021). Physiological and cognitive determinants of gait in middle-aged, older-aged and oldest-aged Asian adults - The Yishun study. AGING AND HEALTH RESEARCH, 1(3), 7 pages.
DOI WoS4
2020 de Zoete, R. M. J., Chen, K., & Sterling, M. (2020). Central neurobiological effects of physical exercise in individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain: a systematic review.. BMJ Open, 10(7), e036151.
DOI Scopus28 WoS25 Europe PMC23
2020 Chen, K. K., Wee, S. L., Pang, B. W. J., Lau, L. K., Jabbar, K. A., Seah, W. T., . . . Ng, T. P. (2020). Bone mineral density reference values in Singaporean adults and comparisons for osteoporosis establishment - The Yishun Study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 21(1), 633.
DOI Scopus18 WoS21 Europe PMC17
2020 Lau, L. K., Wee, S. L., Pang, W. J. B., Chen, K. K., Jabbar, K. A., Yap, P. L. K., . . . Ng, T. P. (2020). Reference values of gait speed and gait spatiotemporal parameters for a south east asian population: The yishun study. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 15, 1753-1765.
DOI Scopus37 WoS37 Europe PMC28
2019 Chen, K., Andersen, T., Carroll, L., Connelly, L., Côté, P., Curatolo, M., . . . Sterling, M. (2019). Recommendations for core outcome domain set for Whiplash-Associated Disorders (CATWAD). The Clinical Journal of Pain, 35(9), 727-736.
DOI Scopus31 WoS27 Europe PMC23
2019 Bobos, P., MacDermid, J., Nazari, G., & Furtado, R. (2019). Psychometric properties of the global rating of change scales in patients with neck disorders: a systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression. BMJ Open, 9(11), e033909.
DOI
2019 McGee, S., Sipos, T., Allin, T., Chen, C., Greco, A., Bobos, P., & MacDermid, J. (2019). Systematic review of the measurement properties of performance-based functional tests in patients with neck disorders. BMJ Open, 9(11), e031242.
DOI
2018 Kelly, V. G., Chen, K. K., & Oyewale, M. (2018). Reliability of the 30-15 intermittent fitness test for elite wheelchair rugby players. SCIENCE AND MEDICINE IN FOOTBALL, 2(3), 191-195.
DOI WoS4
- Enhanced Gait Variability Index in older Asian Adults and Increased Physiological Fall Risk: Results from the Yishun Study (2022). Advances in Geriatric Medicine and Research.
DOI

Year Citation
2025 de Zoete, R., Ruitenbeek, J. -R., Chen, K. K., & Cagnie, B. (2025). Exercise Therapy for Neck Pain. In J. Lewis (Ed.), The Head and Neck Theory and Practice. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

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