Dr Vaughan Nicholson

Senior Lecturer
School of Allied Health

Vaughan Nicholson

Areas of expertise: improving function in older adults; motor control; motor imagery; mental practice; strength training; balance training; perception; paralympic swimming classification

Phone: 07 36237687

Email: Vaughan.Nicholson@acu.edu.au

Location: ACU Brisbane Campus

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-1187-3144

Dr Vaughan Nicholson is a lecturer in Physiotherapy within the School of Allied Health at Australian Catholic University, Brisbane. He completed his physiotherapy studies in 2005 and his PhD in 2015. Vaughan's PhD research assessed the effectiveness of group based exercise classes and active gaming on physical function in middle-aged and older adults.

[https://doi.org/10.2147/cia.s71769; https://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2013-0148; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-015-9976-6; 10.1016/j.jsams.2014.07.018]

His current research continues to assess the effectiveness of novel and accessible rehabilitation modalities in older adults. His ongoing research is specifically assessing the utility of motor imagery as an assessment and training tool in older adults [https://doi.org/10.2147/cia.s164401; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphys.2019.08.007]. He is currently conducting studies within the rehabilitation setting to identify whether motor imagery ability relates to executive function and falls risk in older adults following a fall and to assess whether motor imagery training can assist with maintaining strength following lower limb fractures. His second area of research relates to his background as a physiotherapist for the Australian Paralympic swim team. This Para swimming research is focused on the development of an evidence based classification system for Paralympic swimming.

[https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2018.04.021; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2018.11.015; https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1504606; https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13910]

He also teaches 2nd and 3rd year physiotherapy subjects in the Bachelor of Physiotherapy program.

Select publications

  • Evans, K, Papinniemi, A, Vuvan, V, Nicholson, V, Dafny, H, Levy, Tamina, Chipchase, L. (2022). The first year of private practice-new graduate physiotherapists are highly engaged and satisfied but edging toward burnout. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2022.2113005
  • Hogarth, L, Nicholson, V, Payton, C, & Burkett, B. (2021). Modelling the age-related trajectory of performance in Para swimmers with physical, vision and intellectual impairment. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine Science in Sports, 31(4), 925-935. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13910
  • Smith, R, Connick, M, Beckman, E, Hogarth, L, & Nicholson, V. (2021). Establishing the reliability of instrumented trunk impairment assessment methods to enable evidence-based classification in Para swimming. Journal of Sports Sciences, 39(Sup 1), 73-80. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2021.1930699
  • Nicholson, V, Watts, N, Chani, Y, & Keogh, JWL. (2019). Motor imagery training improves balance and mobility outcomes in older adults: a systematic review. Journal of Physiotherapy, 65(4), 200-207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphys.2019.08.007
  • Hogarth, L, Nicholson, V, Spathis, J, Tweedy, S, Beckman, E, Connick, M, et al. (2019). A battery of strength tests for evidence-based classification in Para swimming. Journal of Sports Sciences, 37(4), 404-413. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1504606
  • Hogarth, L, Payton, C, Nicholson, V, Spathis, J, Tweedy, S, Connick, M, et al. (2019). Classifying motor coordination impairment in Para swimmers with brain injury. J Sci Med Sport, 22(5), 526-531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2018.11.015
  • Nicholson, VP, Keogh, JWL, & Low Choy, NL. (2018). Can a single session of motor imagery promote motor learning of locomotion in older adults? A randomized controlled trial. Clin Interv Aging, 13, 713-722. https://doi.org/10.2147%2FCIA.S164401
  • Nicholson, VP, Spathis, JG, Hogarth, LW, Connick, MJ, Beckman, EM, Tweedy, SM, et al. (2018). Establishing the reliability of a novel battery of range of motion tests to enable evidence-based classification In Para Swimming. Phys Ther Sport, 32, 34-41.
  • Nicholson, VP, McKean, M, Lowe, J, Fawcett, C, & Burkett, B. (2015). Six weeks of unsupervised Nintendo Wii Fit gaming is effective at improving balance in independent older adults. J Aging Phys Act, 23(1), 153-158. https://doi.org/10.1123/JAPA.2013-0148
  • Nicholson, VP, McKean, MR, & Burkett, BJ. (2015). Low-load high-repetition resistance training improves strength and gait speed in middle-aged and older adults. J Sci Med Sport, 18(5), 596-600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2014.07.018

Projects

  • 2022-2023 Innovations Connections grant scheme. Weakley, J., Halson, S., Cole, M., Townshend, A., Johnston, R., Timmins, R., Nicholson, V., Morrison, M. Validation of Performance Agility. $35000
  • 2020-2021 ACU Faculty of Health Science Project grant 2021. Nicholson, V. Is perceived walking ability and executive function influenced by motor imagery training. $7847

Accolades and Awards

  • Winner Best New Investigator Award for Physical Activity and Health Promotion at the 2013 Asics Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport, Phuket, Thailand

Appointments and Affiliations

  • Member Australian Physiotherapy Association
  • Member Sports Medicine Australia
  • Member Australian Association of Gerontology
  • 2018 - present: Clinial Advisory Committee member - Healthia Limited
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