Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre

Dr Gaela Kilgour

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Child Health Research Centre
0730697370
Dr Gaela Kilgour

Researcher biography

Gaela Kilgour is a New Zealand physiotherapist who joined the QCPRRS team as a Post Doctoral Research Fellow in July 2023. Gaela has over 30 years of clinical experience across all areas of practice and lifespan for people with disabilities. Her training in physical education and physiotherapy, and practical experience in coaching and management across many sports has led to her passion of promoting physical activity participation for health and wellbeing for children and their families with disabilities.  Gaela completed her PhD in 2022 from the University of Melbourne on ‘The effect of a high-level mobility skills training programme on sustained physical activity participation among ambulant children with cerebral palsy’.  She was awarded “Life member of Physiotherapy New Zealand” in 2023 for her work in paediatric physiotherapy. Gaela leads the Active Start Active Future project at QCPRRS promoting participation in physical activity as an early intervention for children with cerebral palsy aged 3-7 years.

Publications

Journal Articles (6)
Conference Paper (1)

Journal Articles

Kilgour, Gaela, Lu, Alesia, Kozelj, Nicole, Tracy, Jane, Hickey, Lyndal, Granlund, Mats, Shields, Nora, Morgan, Prue, Drake, Gabrielle, Cleary, Stacey, Johnston, Leanne and Imms, Christine (2024). Participating together in CP-ACHIEVE: Experiences, opportunities and reflections from a collaborative research team of people with lived experience of cerebral palsy and health care professionals. Childhood-A Global Journal of Child Research, 31 (3), 407-426. doi: 10.1177/09075682241269682
Allermo Fletcher, Angelica, Kilgour, Gaela, Sandle, Meghan, Kidd, Sally, Sheppard, Alison, Swallow, Stephanie, Stott, Ngaire Susan, Battin, Malcolm, Korent, Wyllis and Williams, Sian A. (2024). Partnering Early to Provide for Infants At Risk of Cerebral Palsy (PĒPI ARC): protocol for a feasibility study of a regional hub for early detection of cerebral palsy in Aotearoa New Zealand. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 12 1344579. doi: 10.3389/fped.2024.1344579
Kilgour, Gaela, Stott, Ngaire Susan, Steele, Michael, Adair, Brooke, Hogan, Amy and Imms, Christine (2024). More than just having fun! Understanding the experience of involvement in physical activity of adolescents living with cerebral palsy. Disability and Rehabilitation, 46 (15), 3396-3407. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2023.2251395
Kilgour, Gaela, Stott, Ngaire Susan, Steele, Michael, Adair, Brooke, Hogan, Amy and Imms, Christine (2024). Effects of a 12 week community-based high-level mobility programme on sustained participation in physical activity by adolescents with cerebral palsy: a single subject research design study. Disability and Rehabilitation, 46 (15), 3408-3418. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2023.2256225
Kilgour, Gaela, Stott, Ngaire Susan, Steele, Michael, Adair, Brooke, Hogan, Amy and Imms, Christine (2023). The journey to sustainable participation in physical activity for adolescents living with cerebral palsy. Children, 10 (9) 1533, 1-23. doi: 10.3390/children10091533
Kilgour, Gaela, Adair, Brooke, Stott, Ngaire Susan, Steele, Michael, Hogan, Amy and Imms, Christine (2021). Do physical activity interventions influence subsequent attendance and involvement in physical activities for children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review. Disability and Rehabilitation, 44 (9), 1682-1698. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2021.1909151

Conference Paper

Reedman, S., Kilgour, G., Gomersall, S., Sakzewski L, Trost, S. and Boyd, R. (2024). Active-start-active-future: feasibility of behaviour-change intervention to reduce sedentary behaviour and promote physical activity in young children with cerebral palsy. Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Cairns, QLD Australia, 31 July- 3 August 2024. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.