Shacklock Michael graduated as a physiotherapist from the Auckland School of Health Sciences in 1980. During his undergraduate training, he quickly developed an interest in manual therapy and has pursued this interest throughout his career. He worked in public hospitals and private practices for several years in New Zealand before traveling to Adelaide, South Australia in 1985, to take part in post-graduate study. In 1989, he completed a Graduate Diploma in Advanced Manipulative Therapy at the University of South Australia and converted this to a Master of Applied Science in 1993. He has taught internationally for over 10 years and has given numerous keynote and invited presentations throughout the western world. His Masters thesis was on the effect of order of movement on the peroneal neurodynamic test, in which he discovered the concept of neurodynamic sequencing1. Since then he has studied mechanics and physiology of the nervous system,
performing research and writing a number of publications on the subject. Michael edited the extremely successful book Moving in on Pain2 and has published in Physiotherapy3 and Manual Therapy4 and written leading and
invited articles for the Australian Journal of Physiotherapy5, 6 and New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy7. Michael’s most recent publications consist a new book on clinical neurodynamics 8 , an editorial for Manual Therapy on critical issues in research and clinical application of neurodynamic and neural tension testing and treatments 9 and an overview paper on clinical neurodynamics for Manuelle Therapie which is in German.10

Michael’s recent area of research has been the in vivo imaging of mechanical function of the nervous system and he teaches clinical neurodynamics internationally. He owns and directs a city based sports physiotherapy practice.

Michael Shacklock’s current positions are founding director of Neurodynamic Solutions (NDS), Principal, City Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic, Adelaide, South Australia. He is a member of the International Advisory Board for Manual Therapy. He is also a reviewer for the international peer-reviewed journals Manual Therapy, Pain and the Physiotherapy Research Foundation.

1 Shacklock M 1989 The plantarflexion/inversion straight leg raise, Master of Applied Science thesis, University of
South Australia

2 Shacklock M 1995 Moving in on Pain, Butterworth-Heinemann, Sydney

3 Shacklock M 1995 Neurodynamics. Physiotherapy 81: 9-16

4 Shacklock M 1996 Positive upper limb tension test is a case of surgically proven neuropathy: analysis and validity. Manual Therapy 1: 154-161

5 Shacklock M 1999a Central pain mechanisms; a new horizon in manual therapy. Australian Journal of
Physiotherapy 45: 83-92

6 Shacklock M 1999b The clinical application of central pain mechanisms in manual therapy. Australian Journal of
Physiotherapy 45: 215-221

7 Shacklock M 2000 Balanced on a tight rope between low back pain and evidence-based practice. New Zealand
Journal of Physiotherapy 28 (3): 22-27

8 Shacklock M 2005a Clinical Neurodynamics: a new system of musculoskeletal treatment, Elsevier, Oxford

9 Shacklock M 2005b Improving application of neurodynamic (neural tension) testing and treatments: a message to researchers and clinicians. Manual Therapy, in press

10 Shacklock M 2006 Van neuraler Spannung zu klinischer Neurodynamik – Neues System zur Anwendung neuraler Test – und Behandlungstechniken. Manuelle Therapie 10: 22-30