Ishanka Weerasekara

Position:  Lecturer
Discipline:  Physiotherapy
Location: Gippsland
Phone:  +61351226550
Email:  i.weerasekara@federation.edu.au

Qualifications

PhD (Physiotherapy) – The University of Newcastle – 2020

Master of Philosophy – University of Peradeniya – 2015

Bachelors in Physiotherapy – University of Peradeniya – 2011

Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Statistics – University of Peradeniya – 2013

Diploma in Exercise and Sport Sciences – University of Peradeniya – 2010


Teaching

Courses

Bachelor of Physiotherapy

Units

Health & Healthcare in Australia (NHPHS 1401)

Biography

Ishanka, a licensed physiotherapist registered with AHPRA, specializes in evidence synthesis within the fields of health and health education. She currently holds a position as a Lecturer in Physiotherapy at Federation University in Gippsland, VIC, Australia, and serves as an Adjunct Associate Lecturer at The University of Newcastle, NSW, and The University of Adelaide, SA. Passionate about advancing “evidence-based research” in medical and health sciences, Ishanka is committed to increasing research value and reducing research waste. Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=YUCSVZgAAAAJ&hl=en

Areas of expertise

Ishanka has a clinical background in musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy, particularly in the management of the ankle injuries.

She has a research background in musculoskeletal research, and in evidence synthesis, mainly systematic review methodology.

Research interests

  • Musculoskeletal research
  • Ankle sprain, and chronic ankle instability
  • Mobilisation with movement (MWM)
  • Evidence based research
  • Systematic review and evidence synthesis methodology

Supervision

PhD supervision

  1. Samaher Mohammed Alowaydhah (The University of Newcastle) – “Effect of Exercise on the Elderly, and Factors Influencing Physical Activity in Elderly Living in Australian residential homes” – Co-supervisor
  2. Dilhari Senarath (The University of Adelaide) – “A longitudinal cohort study investigating the healthcare access and utilisation for neck pain in Australia” – Co-supervisor

Masters supervision

Master of Clinical Physiotherapy

  1. Kaspar Raulline Ullern / Magnus Richardsen (Western Norway University of Applied Sciences) – “Instructions on pain allowance in exercise prescription for rotator cuff related shoulder pain” – Co-supervisor
  2. Hanna Christina Lunderby Syvertsen (Western Norway University of Applied Sciences) – Co-supervisor

    Master of Clinical Nursing

  3. Guro Thorbjørnsen / Brita Ingeborg Tveit (Western Norway University of Applied Sciences) – “Primary school children and obesity – Public health nurses conversation with parents” - Principal supervisor
  4. Elise Marie Steen / Kristin Eskeland Bones (Western Norway University of Applied Sciences) – “How do newly qualified Norwegian health nurses experience the transition and integration into working life. A qualitative study.” - Principal supervisor

MPhil

  1. Piyumi Amarasinge (University of Peradeniya) – “Lumbar spine characteristics of people with knee osteoarthritis presenting with lower back pain symptoms, and investigating the effect of an exercise program in improving pain and disability of this population” - Principal supervisor
  2. Hashini Wijayasinghe (University of Peradeniya) – “Clinical decision making on weight-bearing status of radiographs in assessing foot and ankle musculoskeletal complaints of ambulatory patients: current practice and the Sri Lankan health care practitioners’ perspectives” - Principal supervisor

Honours supervision

  1. Jasmine Baye (The University of Newcastle) - “Consumer engagement with stroke research: perspectives of stroke survivors and carers” - Co-supervisor
  2. Swathy Raveendran (The University of Newcastle) – “Optical coherence tomography (OCT) in evaluating retinal changes associated with chronic heart disease” - Co-supervisor
  3. Thomas Hogben (The University of Newcastle) – “Optical coherence tomography in Huntington’s Disease” - Co-supervisor
  4. Denika Mantle (The University of Newcastle) – “Sport related concussion and retinal changes in optical coherence tomography” - Co-supervisor
  5. Remy Tidy (The University of Newcastle) – “Optical coherence tomography measurements of the neurosensory retina in post Covid-19 patients” - Co-supervisor
  6. Ellen Irwin (The University of Newcastle) - “Post-covid with magnetic resonance spectroscopy to identify any biochemical changes in the brain” - Co-supervisor
  7. Helana Wong (The University of Newcastle) – “Retinal thickness changes in alzheimer’s disease assessed by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and neuropsychological tests” - Co-supervisor
  8. Thamodi Walpola (University of Peradeniya) – “Evaluation of the secretor status of ABO and Rh blood group antigens in saliva of oral candidosis patients presenting to the Dental Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya” - Principal supervisor
  9. Nivedha Uthayarajan (University of Peradeniya) – “Diet, consumed food and water quality among people with chronic kidney disease (CKD)” - Principal supervisor

Publications

Reports

  1. do Nascimento, I. J. B., Weerasekara, I., Marquez, J., Abdulazeem, H. M., Vasanthan, L. T., Deeken, G., ... & Novillo-Ortiz, D. (2024). The role of digital health technologies in women’s health, empowerment and gender equality: project report. World Health Organization. (2024).

Refereed journal articles

  1. Babić, A., Barcot, O., Visković, T., Šarić, F., Kirkovski, A., Barun, I., Križanac, Z., Ananda, R. A., Fuentes Barreiro, Y. V., Malih, N., Dimcea, D. A., Ordulj, J., Weerasekara, I., Spezia, M., Žuljević, M. F., Šuto, J., Tancredi, L., Pijuk, A., Sammali, S., . . . Puljak, L. (2024). Frequency of use and adequacy of Cochrane risk of bias tool 2 in non-Cochrane systematic reviews published in 2020: Meta-research study. Res Synth Methods.
  2. Walpola, T., Jayawardene, K. L. T. D., & Weerasekara, I. (2024). The secretor status of blood group antigens in the saliva in people with oral cancers: a systematic review. Systematic reviews, 13(1), 13.
  3. Thwaites, C., Rowntree, N., Hodge, A., Fowler-Davis, S., McKercher, J. P., Weerasekara, I., ... & Morris, M. E. (2023). Patient-reported outcome measures for rehabilitation hospitals: a scoping review. Physical Therapy Reviews.
  4. Weerasekara, I., Hall, M., Shaw, L., & Kiegaldie, D. (2023). Instruments evaluating the quality of the clinical learning environment in nursing education: An updated systematic review☆. Nurse Education in Practice, 71, 103732.
  5. Braga Ferreira, L., Lanna de Almeida, R., Arantes, A., Abdulazeem, H., Weerasekara, I., Ferreira, L. S. D. N., ... & Marcolino, M. S. (2023). Telemedicine-Based Management of Oral Anticoagulation Therapy: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25, e45922.
  6. Shaw, L., Weerasekara, I., &. Kiegaldie, D. (2023). Investigating the Effects of Intraprofessional Learning in Nursing Education: Protocol for a Longitudinal Study. Nursing Reports, 13(2), 740-750.
  7. Pathirathna, M. L., Nandasena, H. M., Samarasekara, B. P., Dasanayake, T. S., Weerasekara, I., & Haruna, M. (2023). Is Maternal Carbohydrate Intake Having an Impact on Newborn Birth Weight? A Systematic Review. Nutrients, 15(7), 1649.
  8. Amarasinghe, P., Wadugodapitiya, S., & Weerasekara, I. (2023). Biomechanical and clinical relationships between lower back pain and knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review. Syst Rev, 12(1), 28.
  9. Dzator, S., Weerasekara, I., Shields, M., Haslam, R., & James, D. (2022). Agreement Between Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry and Bioelectric Impedance Analysis for Assessing Body Composition in Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 10-1097.
  10. Prabani, K. I. P., Weerasekara, I., & Damayanthi, H. D. W. T. (2022). COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Public Health, 212, 66-75.
  11. Snodgrass, S. J., Weerasekara, I., Edwards, S., Heneghan, N. R., Puentedura, E. J., & James, C. (2022). Relationships between the physical work environment, postures and musculoskeletal pain during COVID-19: a survey of frequent computer users. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 64(11), e782-e791.
  12. Perez-Neri, I., Pineda, C., Flores-Guerrero, J.L., Estêvão, M.D., Vasanthan, L.T., Lorente, S., Garcia-Gonzalez, R., Devulapalli, V., Weerasekara, I., de Aguiar, D.R. and Barros-Sevillano, S., 2022. Adherence to literature search reporting guidelines in leading rheumatology journals’ systematic reviews: umbrella review protocol. Rheumatology International, 42(12), 2135-2140.
  13. Weerasekara, I., Durage, L., Devane, D., & Lund, H. (2022). Academic Recognition of Systematic Reviews and the Evidence-based Research Approach in Postgraduate Health and Clinical Sciences in Sri Lanka-Can the University of Peradeniya Take the Lead?. Sri Lankan Journal of Health Sciences, 1(1).
  14. Senarath, I. D., Chen, K. K., Weerasekara, I., & de Zoete, R. M. (2023). Exercise‐induced hypoalgesic effects of different types of physical exercise in individuals with neck pain: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Pain Practice, 23(1), 110-122.
  15. Pathirathna, M. L., Nandasena, H. M. R. K. G., Atapattu, A. M. M. P., & Weerasekara, I. (2022). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidal attempts and death rates: a systematic review. BMC psychiatry, 22(1), 506.
  16. Bandara, E., Kularathne, W. N. I., Brain, K., & Weerasekara, I. (2022). Safety and efficacy of therapeutic taping in primary dysmenorrhea: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep, 12(1), 7146.
  17. Bohatko-Naismith, J., McCormack, L., Weerasekara, I., James, D., & Marley, J. (2022). Health screening questionnaires used in the management of mental distress acquired during an injured worker's return to work: A scoping review. Work, 72(1), 75-90.
  18. Weerasekara, I., Osmotherly, P. G., Snodgrass, S. J., Walmsley, S., Tessier, J., & Rivett, D. A. (2022). Feasibility of Using Detuned Laser as a Placebo In Manual Therapy Research: An Analysis of Participant Perceptions. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 45(2), 163-169.
  19. Pathirathna, M. L., Samarasekara, B. P., Dasanayake, T. S., Saravanakumar, P., & Weerasekara, I. (2022). Adverse perinatal outcomes in COVID-19 infected pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. In Healthcare 10(2), 203.
  20. Weerasekara, I., Baye, J., Burke, M., Crowfoot, G., Mason, G., Peak, R., ... & English, C. (2021). What do stroke survivors’ value about participating in research and what are the most important research problems related to stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)? A survey. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 21, 1-10
  21. Downs, C., Snodgrass, S. J., Weerasekara, I., Valkenborghs, S. R., & Callister, R. (2021). Injuries in netball-a systematic review. Sports medicine-open, 7, 1-26.
  22. Damayanthi, H. D. W. T., Prabani, K. I. P., & Weerasekara, I. (2021). Factors associated for mortality of older people with COVID 19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, 7, 23337214211057392.
  23. Borges do Nascimento, I. J., O’Mathúna, D. P., von Groote, T. C., Abdulazeem, H. M., Weerasekara, I., Marusic, A., ... & International Network of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (InterNetCOVID-19). (2021). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic: an overview of systematic reviews. BMC infectious diseases, 21(1), 525.
  24. Borges do Nascimento, I. J., Marcolino, M. S., Abdulazeem, H. M., Weerasekara, I., Azzopardi-Muscat, N., Gonçalves, M. A., & Novillo-Ortiz, D. (2021). Impact of Big Data Analytics on People's Health: Overview of Systematic Reviews and Recommendations for Future Studies. J Med Internet Res, 23(4), e27275.
  25. English, C., Weerasekara, I., Carlos, A., Chastin, S., Crowfoot, G., Fitzsimons, C., Forster, A., Holliday, E., Janssen, H., Mackie, P., Mead, G., & Dunstan, D. (2021). Investigating the rigour of research findings in experimental studies assessing the effects of breaking up prolonged sitting - extended scoping review. Braz J Phys Ther, 25(1), 4-16.
  26. Weerasekara, I., Osmotherly, P. G., Snodgrass, S., Tessier, J., & Rivett, D. A. (2021). Is the fibula positioned anteriorly in weight-bearing in individuals with chronic ankle instability? A case control study. J Man Manip Ther, 29(3), 168-175.
  27. Borges do Nascimento, I. J., von Groote, T. C., O'Mathúna, D. P., Abdulazeem, H. M., Henderson, C., Jayarajah, U., Weerasekara, I., Poklepovic Pericic, T., Klapproth, H. E. G., Puljak, L., Cacic, N., Zakarija-Grkovic, I., Guimarães, S. M. M., Atallah, A. N., Bragazzi, N. L., Marcolino, M. S., Marusic, A., & Jeroncic, A. (2020). Clinical, laboratory and radiological characteristics and outcomes of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection in humans: A systematic review and series of meta-analyses. PloS one, 15(9), e0239235.
  28. Borges do Nascimento, I. J., Cacic, N., Abdulazeem, H. M., von Groote, T. C., Jayarajah, U., Weerasekara, I., Esfahani, M. A., Civile, V. T., Marusic, A., Jeroncic, A., Carvas Junior, N., Pericic, T. P., Zakarija-Grkovic, I., Meirelles Guimarães, S. M., Luigi Bragazzi, N., Bjorklund, M., Sofi-Mahmudi, A., Altujjar, M., Tian, M., . . . Marcolino, M. S. (2020). Novel Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19) in Humans: A Scoping Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Med, 9(4).
  29. Weerasekara, I., Deam, H., Bamborough, N., Brown, S., Donnelly, J., Thorp, N., & Rivett, D. A. (2020). Effect of Mobilisation with Movement (MWM) on clinical outcomes in lateral ankle sprains: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Foot (Edinb), 43, 101657.
  30. Mackie, P., Weerasekara, I., Crowfoot, G., Janssen, H., Holliday, E., Dunstan, D., & English, C. (2019). What is the effect of interrupting prolonged sitting with frequent bouts of physical activity or standing on first or recurrent stroke risk factors? A scoping review. PloS one, 14(6), e0217981.
  31. Weerasekara, I., Tennakoon, S. U. B., & Suraweera, H. J. (2020). Pain Level, Range of Motion, and Foot Volume Do Not Differ in Recurrent and First-Time Ankle Sprains. Foot Ankle Spec, 13(2), 116-122.
  32. Weerasekara, I., Osmotherly, P. G., Snodgrass, S. J., Tessier, J., & Rivett, D. A. (2019). Effects of mobilisation with movement (MWM) on anatomical and clinical characteristics of chronic ankle instability: a randomised controlled trial protocol. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 20(1), 75.
  33. Weerasekara, I., Osmotherly, P., Snodgrass, S., Marquez, J., de Zoete, R., & Rivett, D. A. (2018). Clinical Benefits of Joint Mobilization on Ankle Sprains: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 99(7), 1395-1412.e1395.
  34. Marquez, J., Weerasekara, I., & Chambers, L. (2020). Hippotherapy in adults with acquired brain injury: A systematic review. Physiother Theory Pract, 36(7), 779-790.
  35. Hunter, D. J., Rivett, D. A., McKiernan, S., Weerasekara, I., & Snodgrass, S. J. (2018). Is the inclinometer a valid measure of thoracic kyphosis? A cross-sectional study. Braz J Phys Ther, 22(4), 310-317.
  36. Weerasekara, I., & Hiller, C. E. (2017). Chronic musculoskeletal ankle disorders in Sri Lanka. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 18(1), 219.
  37. Weerasekara, I., Tennakoon, S. U., & Suraweera, H. J. (2016). Contrast Therapy and Heat Therapy in Subacute Stage of Grade I and II Lateral Ankle Sprains. Foot Ankle Spec, 9(4), 307-323.
  38. Weerasekara, I., Kumari, I., Weerarathna, N., Withanage, C., & Wanniarachchi, C. (2013). The Prevalence of Hamstring Tightness among the Male Athletes of University of Peradeniya in 2010, Sri Lanka. Int J Phys Med Rehabil, 1(108), 2.

Refereed conference proceedings

  1. Radosevic T, Weeresekara I, Bala M, Zajac J, Briel M, Pieper D, Puljak L. The use of evidence-based research (EBR) approach in reporting guidelines: a cross-sectional study. Global Evidence Summit 2024 in Prague. September 10-13, 2024.
  2. Babic A, Barcot O, Visković T, Šarić F, Kirkovski A, Barun I, Križanac Z, Ananda RA, Fuentes Barreiro YV, Malih N, Dimcea DAM, Ordulj J, Weerasekara I, Spezia M, Žuljević MF, Šuto J, Tancredi L, Pijuk A, Sammali S, Iascone V, Poklepovic Pericic T, Puljak L. Frequency of use and reporting adequacy of Cochrane RoB 2 tool in non-Cochrane systematic reviews published in 2020: meta-research study. 2023 Cochrane Colloquium in London. September 4-6, 2023.
  3. Alowaydhah S, Walmsley S, Weerasekara I, Marquez J. Exercise recommendations for the healthy aged and those with disease conditions: a systematic review. Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG) conference November 2022, Adelaide
  4. Weerasekara I, Lamawansa MD, Devane D, Lund  H(2022). Taking the Lead Towards a Successful Story: Academic Recognition of Systematic Reviews and the Evidence-based Research (EBR) Approach in Sri Lankan Universities. 3rd Evidence Based Research Conference: "Seeing further: the past, present and future of Evidence-Based Research", Bergen, Norway.
  5. Praveena S, Liyanage E, de Silva THESJ, Weerasekara I, Amaratunga HA (2022). Prevalence and potential risk factors of medial stress syndrome among the newly recruited officer cadets at Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka. PeMSARC’22 Peradeniya Medical School Annual Research Conference, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya
  6. Baye J, Weerasekara I, Burke M, Crowfoot G, Mason G, Rachael P, Dawn S,… English C. What do stroke survivors’ value about participating in research and what are the most important research problems related to stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)? A survey. ACT research symposium 2021
  7. Bohatko-Naismith J, Marley J, McCormack L, Weerasekara I, James D. A scoping review: The effectiveness of mental health screening tools used to detect the onset of mental health conditions of Australian construction workers while engaged in the return to work process. XXII World Congress on Safety and Health at Work; 2021 September; Canada. (accepted)
  8. Baye J, Burke M, Crowfoot G, Mason G, Rachael P, Weerasekara I, English C: What stroke survivors value about participating in research and their research priorities. A survey. In: SMART STROKES 2020 conference: August 20 – 21, 2020; Sofitel Brisbane, QLD; 2020.
  9. Pillay M, Weerasekara I, Ranawalage U, Boateng E: Investigating the Measurement of Resilience Engineering for Improving Organisational Safety. In: 3rd International Conference on Human Systems Engineering and Design: Future Trends and Applications (IHSED 2020) September 22-24 2020; Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Croatia; 2020.
  10. Weerasekara I, Osmotherly P, Snodgrass S, Tessier J, Rivett D: Fibular position in chronic ankle instability radiographically measured in weight-bearing. In: 8th International Ankle Symposium Amsterdam, Netherland; 2019.
  11. Weerasekara I, Osmotherly P, Snodgrass S, Tessier J, Rivett D: Fibular position in chronic ankle instability (CAI) and the reliability of weight bearing radiographic measurements of fibular position. In: World Confederation for Physical Therapy Congress Geneva, Switzerland; 2019.
  12. Mackie P, Weerasekara I, Crowfoot G, Janssen H, Holliday E, Dunstan D, English C: SSA 2019 Conference, 10 – 13 September 2019, Canberra, Australia: Abstracts. International Journal of Stroke 2019, 14(2_suppl):3-30.

Associations

Staff member of Cochrane Norway

Fellow of Ireland Evidence Synthesis

Associate Editor of BMC Systematic Reviews

Editorial Member of BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association

Member of Evidence Based Research Network

Member of Group Research on Valuable Research