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Dr Cristy Brooks

Position

Associate Lecturer, Interprofessional Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University

Biography

I'm an Accredited Exercise Physiologist with a background in sport and exercise science. I'm an Associate Lecturer in Interprofessional Health at Western Sydney University. I have multidisciplinary teaching and research experience in health science, exercise science, nutrition, psychology, and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. My PhD was on mediating factors in the relationship between obesity and chronic low back pain. I'm a mixed methods researcher with interests in obesity, metabolic health, pathophysiology of chronic pain, disease prevention and management over the lifespan, women’s health, nutrition, and exercise. I have current projects in food security, endometriosis and inflammatory mediation in the obesity-chronic pain relationship. My primary research interests are improving health and wellbeing, an exploring the interplay between chronic pain and obesity. Specifically, I am interested in the pro-inflammatory role of adipose tissue and the potential implications it has on many chronic diseases. This also includes the lived experience of those with obesity and chronic pain and how exercise can be used to help manage their symptoms.

Research Interests

Inflammation-mediated obesity-pain relationships, pathophysiology of chronic pain, metabolic health and chronic disease, disease prevention and management over the lifespan, exercise-based lifestyle interventions, promotion of health and wellbeing

Professional Memberships

  • Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA), Western Obesity Worldwide (WOW)
  • 2010 – current Exercise and Sport Science Australia
  • 2023 – current Precision Health Alliance
  • 2022 – current Australia & New Zealand Musculoskeletal Clinical Trials Network
  • 2022 – current Menstrual Health Research Network (NZ)
  • 2022 – current Menstrual Cycle Research Network (AU)

Awards and recognition

  • Early Career Researcher Development Grant 2024
  • Australian Postgraduate Award
  • Honours Scholarship
  • Dean’s Medal
  • SmartStart Scholarship
  • The Silver Award, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme
  • The Bronze Award, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme

Qualifications

PhD, Accredited Exercise Physiologist

Research and Publications

Publications:

  • 2024, Adler H, Lewis M, Ng CHM, Brooks C, et al. Social Media, Endometriosis, and Evidence-Based Information: An Analysis of Instagram Content. Healthcare; 2024; 12(1):121; DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12010121
  • 2023, Siette J; Dodds L; Brooks C, Deckers K. Older adults’ perspectives towards optimizing lifestyle behaviors and strategies to support healthy brain ageing during COVID-19 restrictions. Frontiers in Public Health; 11; DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1205001
  • 2023, Brooks, C., Waterton, E., Saul, H. et al. Exploring the relationships between heritage tourism, sustainable community development and host communities’ health and wellbeing: A systematic review. PLoS ONE 2023;18(3):e0282319; DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0282319
  • 2022, Brooks, C., Helson, C., McCormack, M. et al. Protocol for a randomised controlled trial of a family strengthening program to prevent unhealthy weight gain among 5 to 11-year-old children from at-risk families: the Strong Families Trial. BMC Public Health. 2022;22:1215
  • 2022, Mahumud, R. A., Sultana, M.,…Brooks, C. et al. The burden of chronic diseases and patients' preference of healthcare services among adult patients suffering from chronic diseases in Bangladesh. Health Expectations. 2022; DOI: 10.1111/hex.13634
  • 2016, Brooks C, Siegler JC, Marshall PW. Relative abdominal adiposity is associated with chronic low back pain: a preliminary explorative study. BMC Public Health. 2016;16:700.
  • 2014, Marshall PW, Romero R, Brooks C. Pain reported during prolonged standing is associated with reduced anticipatory postural adjustments of the deep abdominals. Exp Brain Res. 2014;232:3515-3524.
  • 2013, Brooks C, Siegler JC, Cheema BS, Marshall PWM. No relationship between body mass index and changes in pain and disability after exercise rehabilitation for patients with mild to moderate chronic low back pain. Spine. 2013;38:1-6.
  • 2013, Marshall PW, Kennedy S, Brooks C, Lonsdale C. Pilates exercise or stationary cycling for chronic nonspecific low back pain: does it matter? a randomized controlled trial with 6-month follow-up. Spine. 2013;38:E952-959.
  • 2013, Siegler JC, Marshall PW, Raftry S, Brooks C, Dowswell B, Romero R, Green S. The differential effect of metabolic alkalosis on maximum force and rate of force development during repeated, high-intensity cycling. J Appl Physiol. 2013;115:1634-1640.
  • 2012, Brooks C, Kennedy S, Marshall PW. Specific trunk and general exercise elicit similar changes in anticipatory postural adjustments in patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Spine. 2012;37:E1543-1550.

Contact Details

Email c.brooks@westernsydney.edu.au
Phone +61 2 4620 3356
X @DrCristyBrooks