Dr Andrew Claus
Honorary Senior Lecturer
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Researcher biography
From 2020 Andrew has led research development at the Tess Cramond Pain and Research Centre (Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital). Topics including clinical outcome measures, service evaluation and strategic planning, clinical trials employing pain education, opioid management, quantitative sensory testing and medical procedures. Current and recent projects include:
- Initiating the Pelvic Exenteration Pain Management Research Collaboration in 2024: A multidisciplinary community of clinicians and researchers at the Tess Cramond Pain and Research Centre, the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, and the STARS Hospital, to study how the quality of life can be improved for people who have pelvic organs and tissues removed to manage cancer.
- Collaboration with the Institute of Urban Indigenous Health, to embed multidisciplinary research and quality improvement in the co-design and implementation of collaborative care between the TCPRC- IUIH, at the Moreton Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service in Caboolture through 2023-2024.
- Contributing to the non-surgical pain management stream for the NHMRC-NIHR Collaborative Research Grant, for a multicentre RCT on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of lumbar fusion surgery for patients with persistent, severe low back pain: Short: FusiOn veRsus bEst coNServatIve Care (the FORENSIC trial)
- The LIDOPAIN RCT in 2023: Lidocaine Infusion Dose Optimisation for Pain After Injury to Nerves, was a double-blind placebo-controlled pilot feasibility study for lidocaine infusions, with comprehensive pre-post evaluation of patient questionnaires and sensory testing profiles, to identify which patients do and to not respond to this infusion. https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=382966&isReview=true
- Advisor for Phoebe Ng, oral thesis defense 2024: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: Insights into health profile and paraspinal muscle activation.
- Advisor for Fraser Labrom, thesis awarded 2023: Three dimensional analysis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis during growth.
- Collaboration with UQ RECOVER Injury Research Centre have
- Currently completing a project funded by the RBWH Foundation, to examine small nerve fibre expression acutely and subacutely after motor vehicle accident, as a marker associated with the transition from acute to chronic pain.
- Developed a chatbot for providing pain education for children and for adults,
- Investigated the validity of phone apps for measuring the 6-minute walk test in people with persistent pain.
- Locally at the Tess Cramond Pain and Research Centre I co-lead annual projects for
- quality improvement: UQ PHRM4071 student placement and Pain Medicine Trainee projects.
- audit: ePPOC annual data reporting.
- systematic reviews: UQ HRSS7801 group physiotherapy student project.
From 2004-2019 Andrew's PhD and postgraduate supervision as a lecturer in physiotherapy, focussed on how the brain controls posture and movement. This included studies of sitting, standing, stepping, squatting, pushing and postural control with low back pain and with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Extending understanding of postural control continues with colleagues at QUT Biomechanics and Spine Research Group (Prof Peter Pivonka, Maree Izatt and Assoc Prof Paige Little), the UQ Schools of ITEE (Dr Pauline Pounds) and SBMS Motor Control and Pain laboratory (Assoc Prof Kylie Tucker), and with Curtin University / UWA Raine cohort study (Prof Leon Straker).
Journal Articles
Ng, Phoebe T.T., Duncombe, Phoebe, van den Hoorn, Wolbert, Claus, Andrew, Izatt, Maree T., Pivonka, Peter, Labrom, Robert D. and Tucker, Kylie (2024). Achieving maximal voluntary contraction of paraspinal muscles requires two tasks: Insight from an EMG study of females with and without adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Journal of Biomechanics, 173 112251, 112251. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2024.112251
Ng, Phoebe T T, Tucker, Kylie, Zahir, Farah, Izatt, Maree T, Straker, Leon and Claus, Andrew (2024). Comparison of physiological and behavioural nutrition-related factors in people with and without adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, from cohort data at 8 to 20 years. JBMR Plus, 8 (3) 013, ziad013. doi: 10.1093/jbmrpl/ziad013
Labrom, Fraser R., Izatt, Maree T., Askin, Geoffrey N., Labrom, Robert D., Claus, Andrew P. and Little, J. Paige (2024). Segmental deformity markers offer novel indicators of deformity progression risk in deformity-matched adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. Spine Deformity, 12 (6), 1647-1655. doi: 10.1007/s43390-024-00927-7
Simmich, Joshua, Andrews, Nicole Emma, Claus, Andrew, Murdoch, Megan and Russell, Trevor Glen (2024). GPS-based 6-minute walk test for people with persistent pain: a validation study. JMIR Formative Research, 8 e46820, 1-14. doi: 10.2196/46820
Labrom, Fraser R., Izatt, Maree T., Askin, Geoffrey N., Labrom, Robert D., Claus, Andrew P. and Little, J. Paige (2023). Quantifying typical progression of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: longitudinal three-dimensional MRI measures of disc and vertebral deformities. Spine, 48 (23), 1642-1651. doi: 10.1097/brs.0000000000004829
Duncombe, Phoebe, Izatt, Maree T., Pivonka, Peter, Claus, Andrew, Little, J. Paige and Tucker, Kylie (2023). Quantifying muscle size asymmetry in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis using three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging. Spine, 48 (24), 1717-1725. doi: 10.1097/brs.0000000000004715
Andrews, Nicole Emma, Ireland, David, Vijayakumar, Pranavie, Burvill, Lyza, Hay, Elizabeth, Westerman, Daria, Rose, Tanya, Schlumpf, Mikaela, Strong, Jenny and Claus, Andrew (2023). Acceptability of a Pain History Assessment and Education Chatbot (Dolores) Across Age Groups in Populations With Chronic Pain: Development and Pilot Testing. JMIR Formative Research, 7 ARTN e47267, 1-17. doi: 10.2196/47267
Murdoch, Megan, Window, Peter, Morton, Caroline, O'Donohue, Riley, Ballard, Emma and Claus, Andrew (2023). People at a persistent pain service can walk it, but some struggle to talk about it: reliability, detectable difference and clinically important difference of the six-minute walk test. Musculoskeletal Care, 21 (1), 221-231. doi: 10.1002/msc.1687
Ng, P. T.T., Straker, L., Tucker, K., Izatt, M. T. and Claus, A. (2023). Advancing use of DEXA scans to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate lateral spinal curves, for preliminary identification of adolescent idiopathic ccoliosis. Calcified Tissue International, 112 (6), 656-665. doi: 10.1007/s00223-023-01075-2
Bernardes, Christina M, Ekberg, Stuart, Birch, Stephen, Claus, Andrew, Bryant, Matthew, Meuter, Renata, Isua, Jermaine, Gray, Paul, Kluver, Joseph P, Malacova, Eva, Jones, Corey, Houkamau, Kushla, Taylor, Marayah, Lin, Ivan and Pratt, Gregory (2023). Yarning about pain: Evaluating communication training for health professionals at persistent pain services in Queensland, Australia. British Journal of Pain, 17 (3), 306-319. doi: 10.1177/20494637221149831
Bernardes, Christina Maresch, Houkamau, Kushla, Lin, Ivan, Taylor, Marayah, Birch, Stephen, Claus, Andrew, Bryant, Matthew, Meuter, Renata, Isua, Jermaine, Gray, Paul, Kluver, Joseph P, Jones, Corey, Ekberg, Stuart and Pratt, Gregory (2022). Communication and access to healthcare: Experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people managing pain in Queensland, Australia. Frontiers in Pain Research, 3 1041968, 1-18. doi: 10.3389/fpain.2022.1041968
Ng, P.T.T., Claus, A., Izatt, M.T., Pivonka, P. and Tucker, K. (2022). Is spinal neuromuscular function asymmetrical in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis compared to those without scoliosis?: A narrative review of surface EMG studies. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 63 102640, 102640. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2022.102640
Bernardes, Christina M., Ekberg, Stuart, Birch, Stephen, Meuter, Renata F. I., Claus, Andrew, Bryant, Matthew, Isua, Jermaine, Gray, Paul, Kluver, Joseph P., Williamson, Daniel, Jones, Corey, Houkamau, Kushla, Taylor, Marayah, Malacova, Eva, Lin, Ivan and Pratt, Gregory (2022). Clinician perspectives of communication with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders managing pain: needs and preferences. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (3) 1572, 1-17. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19031572
Bernardes, Christina M., Lin, Ivan, Birch, Stephen, Meuter, Renata, Claus, Andrew, Bryant, Matthew, Isua, Jermaine, Gray, Paul, Kluver, Joseph P., Ekberg, Stuart and Pratt, Gregory (2021). Study protocol: Clinical yarning, a communication training program for clinicians supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients with persistent pain: A multicentre intervention feasibility study using mixed methods. Public Health in Practice, 3 100221, 100221. doi: 10.1016/j.puhip.2021.100221
Holden, Sinead, Matthews, Mark, Rathleff, Michael Skovdal, Kasza, Jessica, Vicenzino, Bill, FOHX Group, Claus, Andrew, Nee, Robert and Crossley, Kay M. (2021). How do hip exercises improve pain in individuals with patellofemoral pain? Secondary mediation analysis of strength and psychological factors as mechanisms. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 51 (12), 602-610. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2021.10674
Brown, Jarryd, Doherty, Darren, Claus, Andrew P., Gilbert, Kelly and Nielsen, Mandy (2021). In a pandemic that limits contact, can videoconferencing enable interdisciplinary persistent pain services and what are the patient's perspectives?. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 103 (3), 418-423. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2021.10.018
Labrom, Fraser R., Izatt, Maree T., Claus, Andrew P. and Little, J. Paige (2021). Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis 3D vertebral morphology, progression and nomenclature: a current concepts review. European Spine Journal, 30 (7), 1823-1834. doi: 10.1007/s00586-021-06842-z
Matthews, Mark, Rathleff, Michael Skovdal, Claus, Andrew Philip, McPoil, Tom, Nee, Robert, Crossley, Kay M, Kasza, Jessica and Vicenzino, Bill T. (2021). Infographic. Does foot mobility affect the outcome in the management of patellofemoral pain with foot orthoses versus hip exercises? A randomised clinical trial. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 55 (5), 281-282. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-103081
Dewar, Rosalee M., Tucker, Kylie, Claus, Andrew P., van den Hoorn, Wolbert, Ware, Robert S. and Johnston, Leanne M. (2021). Evaluating validity of the Kids-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Kids-BESTest) Clinical Test of Sensory Integration of Balance (CTSIB) criteria to categorise stance postural control of ambulant children with CP. Disability and Rehabilitation, 44 (15), 1-8. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2021.1887374
Dewar, Rosalee M., Tucker, Kylie, Claus, Andrew P., Ware, Robert S. and Johnston, Leanne M. (2021). Postural control performance on the Functional Reach Test: validity of the Kids-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Kids-BESTest) criteria. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 102 (6), 1170-1179. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2020.12.018
Matthews, Mark, Rathleff, Michael Skovdal, Claus, Andrew, McPoil, Tom, Nee, Robert, Crossley, Kay, Kasza, Jessica and Vicenzino, Bill (2020). Does foot mobility affect the outcome in the management of patellofemoral pain with foot orthoses versus hip exercises? A randomised clinical trial. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 54 (23), 1416-1422. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2019-100935
Costa, Nathalia, Nielsen, Mandy, Jull, Gwendolen, Claus, Andrew P. and Hodges, Paul W. (2020). Low back pain websites do not meet the needs of consumers: A study of online resources at three time points. Health Information Management Journal, 49 (2-3), 137-149. doi: 10.1177/1833358319857354
Dewar, Rosalee, Claus, Andrew P., Tucker, Kylie, Ware, Robert S. and Johnston, Leanne M. (2019). Reproducibility of the Kids Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Kids-BESTest) and the Kids-Mini-BESTest for children with cerebral palsy. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 100 (4), 695-702. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2018.12.021
Claus, Andrew P., Hides, Julie A., Moseley, G. Lorimer and Hodges, Paul W. (2018). Different ways to balance the spine in sitting: Muscle activity in specific postures differs between individuals with and without a history of back pain in sitting. Clinical Biomechanics (Bristol, Avon), 52, 25-32. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2018.01.003
Matthews, M., Rathleff, M. S., Claus, A., McPoil, T., Nee, R., Crossley, K. and Vicenzino, B. (2017). Can we predict the outcome for people with patellofemoral pain? A systematic review on prognostic factors and treatment effect modifiers. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 51 (23), 1650-1660. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2016-096545
Dewar, R., Claus, A. P., Tucker, K., Ware, R. and Johnston, L. M. (2017). Reproducibility of the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) and the Mini-BESTest in school-aged children. Gait and Posture, 55, 68-74. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2017.04.010
Claus, Andrew P. and MacDonald, David A. (2017). Interpreting pain symptoms and how pain affects neuromuscular control in dancers: if I'm in pain, how should I train?. Journal of Dance Medicine and Science, 21 (1), 5-12. doi: 10.12678/1089-313X.21.1.5
Dewar, Rosalee, Claus, Andrew P., Tucker, Kylie and Johnston, Leanne Marie (2017). Perspectives on postural control dysfunction to inform future research: a Delphi study for children with cerebral palsy. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 98 (3), 463-479. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2016.07.021
Matthews, Mark, Rathleff, Michael Skovdal, Claus, Andrew, McPoil, Tom, Nee, Robert, Crossley, Kay, Kasza, Jessica, Paul, Sanjoy, Mellor, Rebecca and Vicenzino, Bill (2017). The foot orthoses versus hip eXercises (FOHX) trial for patellofemoral pain: a protocol for a randomized clinical trial to determine if foot mobility is associated with better outcomes from foot orthoses. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 10 (1) 5, 5. doi: 10.1186/s13047-017-0186-5
Claus, Andrew P., Verrel, Julius, Pounds, Paul E. I., Shaw, Renee C., Brady, Niamh, Chew, Min T., Dekkers, Thomas A. and Hodges, Paul W. (2016). A new method for sudden mechanical perturbation with axial load, to assess postural control in sitting and standing. Journal of Biomechanics, 49 (7), 1141-1148. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2016.02.039
Claus, Andrew P., Hides, Julie A., Moseley, G. Lorimer and Hodges, Paul W. (2016). Thoracic and lumbar posture behaviour in sitting tasks and standing: progressing the biomechanics from observations to measurements. Applied Ergonomics, 53, 161-168. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2015.09.006
Matthews, M., Claus, A. and Vicenzino, B. (2015). Successful outcome from foot orthoses and exercises for patellofemoral pain predicted by static foot measurement – a case study. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 19, e53-e54. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2015.12.504
Steinmetz, Anke, Claus, Andrew, Hodges, Paul W. and Jull, Gwendolen A. (2015). Neck muscle function in violinists/violists with and without neck pain. Clinical Rheumatology, 35 (4), 1045-1051. doi: 10.1007/s10067-015-3000-4
Varcin, Lynn, Claus, Andrew, Van Den Hoorn, Wolbert and Hodges, Paul (2014). Manual handling: differences in perceived effort, success rate and kinematics between three different pushing techniques. Ergonomics, 58 (2), 268-277. doi: 10.1080/00140139.2014.970586
Matthews, Mark Lewis Gordon and Claus, Andrew Philip (2014). Two examples of "cuboid syndrome" with active bone pathology: why did manual therapy help?. Manual Therapy, 19 (5), 494-498. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2013.11.007
Park, Rachel J., Tsao, Henry, Claus, Andrew, Cresswell, Andrew G. and Hodges, Paul W. (2013). Recruitment of Discrete Regions of the Psoas Major and Quadratus Lumborum Muscles Is Changed in Specific Sitting Postures in Individuals With Recurrent Low Back Pain. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 43 (11), 833-840. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2013.4840
Park, Rachel J., Tsao, Henry, Claus, Andrew, Cresswell, Andrew G. and Hodges, Paul W. (2013). Changes in regional activity of the psoas major and quadratus lumborum with voluntary trunk and hip tasks and different spinal curvatures in sitting. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 43 (2), 74-82. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2013.4292
Claus, Andrew P., Hides, Julie A., Moseley, G. Lorimer and Hodges, Paul W. (2009). Is ‘ideal’ sitting posture real?: Measurement of spinal curves in four sitting postures. Manual Therapy, 14 (4), 404-408. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2008.06.001
Claus, Andrew P., Hides, Julie A., Moseley, G. Lorimer and Hodges, Paul W. (2009). Different ways to balance the spine: Subtle changes in sagittal spinal curves affect regional muscle activity. Spine, 34 (6), E208-E214. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181908ead
Claus, Andrew, Hides, Julie, Moseley, G. Lorimer and Hodges, Paul (2008). Sitting versus standing: Does the intradiscal pressure cause disc degeneration or low back pain?. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 18 (4), 550-558. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2006.10.011
Conference Papers
Chang, Shantel, Mohammad Jamil, Ridhwan, Tucker, Kylie, Verrel, Julius, Pounds, Pauline and Claus, Andrew (2019). Pain and Spinal Postural Control: Does Lumbar Pain, Anticipation of Lumbar Pain, or Limb Pain Alter the Neuromuscular and Mechanical Responses to Sudden Axial Load?. Australian Pain Society, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 7-10 April 2019.
Dewar, Rosalee, Claus, Andrew, Tucker, Kylie, Ware, Robert and Johnston, Leanne (2018). Reproducibility of the Kids-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Kids-BESTest) and the Mini-BESTest in children with CP. Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Auckland, New Zealand, 21-24 March 2018.
Dewar, Rosalee, Claus, Andrew, Tucker, Kylie, Ware, Robert and Johnston, Leanne (2018). Reproducibility of the Kids-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Kids-BESTest) and the Mini-BESTest in children with cerebral palsy. Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Auckland, New Zealand, 21-24 March 2018. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
Hu, E., Hodges, P. W. and Claus, A. P. (2017). Assessment of the soft tissue artefact with surface measures for lumbar spinal motion using ultrasound imaging. International Society of Biomechanics XXVI Congress, Brisbane, Australia, 23-27 July 2017.
Young, A., Tucker, K., Verrel, J., Pounds, P. and Claus, A. (2017). Mechanical perturbation of spinal postural control with sudden axial load demonstrates different timing of trunk muscles in sitting versus standing. International Society of Biomechanics XXVI Congress, Brisbane / Brisbane Convention Centre, 23-27 July 2017.
Dewar, R., Claus, A., Tucker, K. and Johnston, L. (2016). Postural control in children with cerebral palsy: a Delphi consensus study on definitions, frameworks, assessments and interventions. 8th Biennial conference of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Adelaide, Australia, 30 March - 2 April 2016.
Hu, E., Claus, A. and Hodges, P. (2015). How accurate are surface measures for change in spinal posture? a novel approach that quantified skin artefact with ultrasound imaging. Australian Physiotherapy Association, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 3-6 October 2015.
Matthews, M., Claus, A. and Vicenzino, B. (2015). Clinical predictors of treatment success for patients with patellofemoral pain: a systematic review. Australian Physiotherapy Association, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 3-6 October 2015.
Claus, A., Mellor, R. and McLean, R. (2015). Healthy athletes within normal weight range are susceptible to DVT: 5 case studies. Australian Physiotherapy Association, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 3-6 October 2015.
Chia KL, Claus AP and Hodges PW (2013). Do people who report low back pain with sitting, sit in a different posture to those without pain? An observational study. Australian Physiotherapy Association, Melbourne, Australia, 17-20 October 2013.
Varcin-Coad, L., Claus, A., van den Hoorn, W. and Hodges, P. (2013). Optimum biomechanics to reduce the slip risk in manual handling push tasks. Australian Physiotherapy Association, Melbourne, Australia, 17-20 October 2013.
Park, Rachel, Tsao, Henry, Claus, Andrew, Cresswell, Andrew and Hodges, Paul (2011). Changes in regional activity of the psoas major and quadratus lumborum with different trunk and hip tasks and spinal curvatures in sitting. XXIIIrd Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics, Brussels, Belgium, 3-7 July 2011.
Claus A, Hides J, Moseley L and Hodges P (2009). Spinal posture in sitting: How do we sit and how
should we sit?. International Society for Postural and Gait Research, Bologna Italy, 25-29 June 2009. http://ispgr.silkstart.com/cpages/italy-2009-1:
Claus, A., Hides, J., Moseley, L. and Hodges, P. (2007). Spinal postures in sitting: Can researchers and subjects differentiate postures at lumbar and thoraco-lumbar regions?. ISPGR 18th International Conference, Burlington, USA, 14-18 July 2007. ISPGR.
Claus, Andrew P., Hides, Julie A., Moseley, G. Lorimer and Hodges, Paul W. (2007). Neutral lumbar spine posture in sitting: Examining spinal curves and muscle activity. World Confederation for Physical Therapy 15th International Conference, 2007, Vancouver, Canada, June 2-6, 2007. London, UK: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/S0031-9406(07)60001-7
Claus, Andrew, Hides, Julie, Moseley, G. Lorimer and Kippers, Vaughan (2004). Differential Activation of Lumbar Multifidus with Cognitive Contraction and Upright Postures: A Multifidus Manifesto. The University of Queensland School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Postgraduate Research Conference Day, Emmanuel College, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Qld., 14 July 2004. St. Lucia, Qld.: The University of Queensland.
Thesis
Claus, Andrew (2008). Physiology of sitting. PhD Thesis, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/179355