School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Dr Zhiqi Liang

Lecturer
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Affiliate of Centre for Innovation in Pain and Health Research (CIPHeR)
Centre for Innovation in Pain and Health Research
+61 7 344 36006
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Researcher biography

Zhiqi Liang is a Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and Lecturer in Physiotherapy at the University of Queensland. She teaches on the Master of Physiotherapy (Musculoskeletal) Program and maintains a clinical role at the Headache Clinic in the University of Queensland. Her research is on neck pain and headache, especially migraine, exploring mechanisms of neck pain in headache and treatment directions, including patient preferences, for individualised management. In 2024, she was awarded the David Lamb Award by the International Federation of Manual and Musculoskeletal Physical Therapists Incorporated (IFOMPT) for high quality research that has made an impact to musculoskeletal physiotherapy internationally. Zhiqi has been a musculoskeletal physiotherapist for more than 15 years and her clinical expertise is recognised by Fellowship within the Australian College of Physiotherapists, where she has been actively involved as an examiner and facilitator for the Specialisation Training Program and currently serves on the Board of Censors.

Publications

Journal Articles (19)
Conference Papers (2)
Thesis (1)

Journal Articles

Pensri, Chalomjai, Liang, Zhiqi, Treleaven, Julia, Jull, Gwendolen and Thomas, Lucy (2025). Cervical musculoskeletal impairments in migraine and tension-type headache and relationship to pain related factors: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 76 103251, 103251-76. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2024.103251
Jull, Gwendolen, Luedtke, Kerstin, Bevilaqua-Grossi, Debora and Liang, Zhiqi (2025). A physical therapy specialist interest group in the International Headache Society be in on its creation!. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, 33 (2), 1-2. doi: 10.1080/10669817.2025.2470501
Peek, Aimie L., Liang, Zhiqi, Treleaven, Julia and Rebbeck, Trudy (2025). Exploring the Relationship Between Brain Neurochemistry, Cervical Impairments and Pain Sensitivity in People with Migraine, Whiplash-Headache, Low Back Pain and Healthy Controls: A Secondary Analysis of a Cross-Sectional Case-Control Study. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14 (5) 1510, 1510. doi: 10.3390/jcm14051510
Luedtke, Kerstin, Liang, Zhiqi, Bevilaqua-Grossi, Debora and Jull, Gwendolen (2025). WITHDRAWN: The International Headache Society welcomes a Physiotherapy Specialist Interest Group. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice 103289, 103289. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2025.103289
Luedtke, Kerstin, Liang, Zhiqi, Bevilaqua-Grossi, Debora and Jull, Gwendolen (2025). The International Headache Society welcomes a physiotherapy special interest group. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 76 103281, 103281. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2025.103281
Liang, Zhiqi, Thomas, Lucy, Jull, Gwendolen and Treleaven, Julia (2023). Subgrouping individuals with migraine associated neck pain for targeted management. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 66 102801, 1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2023.102801
Luedtke, Kerstin, Bevilaqua-Grossi, Debora, Liang, Zhiqi and Jull, Gwendolen (2023). Special issue: headache and neck pain. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 66 102807, 1-1. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2023.102807
Schulz, Michael, Xu, Wenrui, Treleaven, Julia, Thomas, Lucy and Liang, Zhiqi (2023). Individual perceptions on the relationship between migraine and neck pain. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 66 102812, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2023.102812
Treleaven, Julia, Thomas, Lucy, Jull, Gwendolen and Liang, Zhiqi (2023). Letter to the Editor. Clinical Rehabilitation, 37 (12), 026921552311807-1718. doi: 10.1177/02692155231180718
Liang, Zhiqi, Thomas, Lucy, Jull, Gwendolen and Treleaven, Julia (2022). The temporal behaviour of migraine related neck pain does not inform on the origin of neck pain: an observational study. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 58 102522, 102522. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2022.102522
Liang, Zhiqi, Thomas, Lucy, Jull, Gwendolen and Treleaven, Julia (2022). The Neck Disability Index reflects allodynia and headache disability but not cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction in migraine. Physical Therapy, 102 (5) pzac027. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzac027
Liang, Zhiqi, Thomas, Lucy, Jull, Gwendolen and Treleaven, Julia (2021). Cervical musculoskeletal impairments in migraine. Archives of Physiotherapy, 11 (1) 27, 27. doi: 10.1186/s40945-021-00123-0
Liang, Zhiqi, Thomas, Lucy, Jull, Gwendolen, Minto, Joanne, Zareie, Hossein and Treleaven, Julia (2021). Neck pain associated with migraine does not necessarily reflect cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 61 (6), 882-894. doi: 10.1111/head.14136
Dinsdale, Alana, Liang, Zhiqi, Thomas, Lucy and Treleaven, Julia (2021). Is jaw muscle activity impaired in adults with persistent temporomandibular disorders? A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 48 (4), 487-516. doi: 10.1111/joor.13139
Dinsdale, Alana, Liang, Zhiqi, Thomas, Lucy and Treleaven, Julia (2020). Are jaw range of motion, muscle function and proprioception impaired in adults with persistent temporomandibular disorders? A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 47 (11), 1448-1478. doi: 10.1111/joor.13090
Liang, Zhiqi, Galea, Olivia, Thomas, Lucy, Jull, Gwendolen and Treleaven, Julia (2019). Cervical musculoskeletal impairments in migraine and tension type headache: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 42, 67-83. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2019.04.007
Liang, Zhiqi, Clark, Ross, Bryant, Adam, Quek, June and Pua, Yong Hao (2014). Neck musculature fatigue affects specific frequency bands of postural dynamics during quiet standing. Gait and Posture, 39 (1), 397-403. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2013.08.007
Pua, Yong-Hao, Clark, Ross A., Ong, Peck-Hoon, Bryant, Adam L., Lo, Ngai-Nung and Liang, Zhiqi (2013). Association between seated postural control and gait speed in knee osteoarthritis. Gait and Posture, 37 (3), 413-418. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2012.08.014
Pua, Yong-Hao, Liang, Zhiqi, Ong, Peck-Hoon, Bryant, Adam L., Lo, Ngai-Nung and Clark, Ross A. (2011). Associations of knee extensor strength and standing balance with physical function in knee osteoarthritis. Arthritis Care and Research, 63 (12), 1706-1714. doi: 10.1002/acr.20615

Conference Papers

Dinsdale, Alana, Liang, Zhiqi, Thomas, Lucy and Treleaven, Julia (2020). Is jaw muscle activity impaired in adults with persistent temporomandibular disorders?. UQ Postgraduate Research Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 4 December 2020.
Dinsdale, Alana, Liang, Zhiqi, Thomas, Lucy and Treleaven, Julia (2020). Are jaw range of motion, muscle function and proprioception impaired in adults with persistent temporomandibular disorders?. UQ Postgraduate Research Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 4 December 2020.

Thesis

Liang, Zhiqi (2021). The nature of neck pain in migraine. PhD Thesis, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/67752e6