Patrick Vallance
Patrick Vallance is a physiotherapist, lecturer and researcher at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, where he has been working since June 2025 as a Lecturer in Physiotherapy within the Monash Exercise Neuroplasticity Research Unit (ENRU). He is also affiliated with the University of Melbourne since September 2020 as a Project Officer at the Centre for Digital Transformation of Health. In February 2025, he completed his PhD at Monash University with the dissertation “Neural deficits relevant to pain symptoms and functional impairments in individuals with Achilles or patellar tendinopathy”, in which he investigated the neuroscientific aspects of tendon disorders.
His research focuses on the neurological mechanisms underlying pain and functional impairments in individuals with Achilles or patellar tendinopathy. To do so, he uses advanced techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to measure the neuromuscular excitability of the central nervous system. The quality of his doctoral research was internationally recognised with the BJSM PhD Academy Award, presented by the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Patrick is a co-host and core member of the Monash Musculoskeletal Research Unit (MMRU) podcast, where he contributes to translating scientific research into clinical practice. He also served as co-investigator in a randomised controlled trial on the effectiveness of shockwave therapy for insertional Achilles tendinopathy, and spoke at the 2025 ASICS Sports Medicine Australia (SMA) conference.
Through his combination of neuroscientific research, digital health innovation and his role as a knowledge disseminator via podcast and education, Patrick offers physiotherapists unique insights into the underlying mechanisms of tendinopathy. His approach helps clinicians understand why some patients continue to experience pain despite adequate loading, and how neurological factors play a role in recovery and functional outcomes.
Podcasts
Pain and tendinopathy – with Patrick Vallance
In this episode, Luke Perraton speaks with Patrick Vallance about his doctoral research on pain in tendinopathy. Patrick discusses the neuroscientific background of his PhD research, including how pain mechanisms behave in individuals with Achilles or patellar tendinopathy and what this means for clinical practice.
Using heel raise and hop tests to assess Achilles Tendinopathy – with Patrick Vallance
Luke Perraton and Peter Malliaras discuss with Patrick a publication from his doctoral research, which investigated the relationship between self-reported pain and pain during the heel raise and hop tests in men with midportion and insertional Achilles tendinopathy. Patrick explains what the findings mean for assessing severity and progression in clinical practice.
Publications from Patrick
For a complete overview of his publications, please visit his ResearchGate page.
- Vallance P, Siddique U, Frazer A, Malliaras P, Vicenzino B & Kidgell DJ. Transcranial magnetic stimulation and electrical stimulation techniques used to measure the excitability of distinct neuronal populations that influence motor output in people with persistent musculoskeletal conditions: A scoping review and narrative synthesis of evidence. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology. 2025;82:103011.
- Vallance P, Kidgell DJ, Vicenzino B & Malliaras P. Endogenous pain modulation is not different in basketball or volleyball athletes with patellar tendinopathy compared to asymptomatic athletic controls. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice. 2025;76:103280.
- Malliaras P, Perraton L, Vallance P, Powers T & Alsulaimani B. Response letter: The only defendable scientific position: A strong case against radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy for insertional Achilles tendinopathy. Clinical Rehabilitation. 2025;39(5):703–704.
- Alsulaimani B, Perraton L, Vallance P, Powers T & Malliaras P. Does shockwave therapy lead to better pain and function than sham over 12 weeks in people with insertional Achilles tendinopathy? A randomised controlled trial. Clinical Rehabilitation. 2025;39(2):174–186.
- Vallance P, Kidgell DJ, Frazer AK, Malliaras P & Vicenzino B. The Functional Organization of Corticomotor Neurons Within the Motor Cortex Differs Among Basketball and Volleyball Athletes With Patellar Tendinopathy Compared to Asymptomatic Controls. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. 2024;34(9):e14726.
- Berkovic D, Vallance P, Harris IA, Naylor JM, Lewis PL, de Steiger R, Buchbinder R, Ademi Z & Ackerman IN. Barriers and enablers to the implementation and sustainability of short-stay arthroplasty programs for elective primary total hip and knee replacement: A systematic review with qualitative evidence synthesis. Musculoskeletal Care. 2024;22(2):e1897.
- Vallance P, Malliaras P, Vicenzino B & Kidgell DJ. Determining intracortical, corticospinal and alpha motoneurone excitability in athletes with patellar tendinopathy compared to asymptomatic controls. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. 2024;34(2):e14579.
- Whale R, Hasani F, Haines T, Munteanu SE, Ellis K, Patel S, Buchholtz K, Warne J, Vallance P & Malliaras P. Assessing calf exercise fidelity among people with Achilles tendinopathy using videos recorded via Zoom®: an observational study. Disability and Rehabilitation. 2023;46(4):697–704.
- Vallance P, Crowley L, Vicenzino B & Malliaras P. Contralateral mechanical hyperalgesia and altered pain modulation in men who have unilateral insertional Achilles tendinopathy: A cross-sectional study. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice. 2021;52:102353.
- Vallance P, Hasani F, Crowley L & Malliaras P. Self-reported pain with single leg heel raise or single leg hop offer distinct information as measures of severity in men with midportion and insertional Achilles tendinopathy: An observational cross-sectional study. Physical Therapy in Sport. 2021;47:23–31.