Academic Staff
Prof. Sharon TSANG
Associate Professor
PhD (RU), MMani Th (Curtin), MSc HC (PolyU), BSc PT (PolyU), FHKCOP (Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy), FACP (Specialist Research Physiotherapist)
- ST535
- +852 2766 4332
- sharon.tsang@polyu.edu.hk
ORCID ID
SCOPUS IDBiography
Sharon is a musculoskeletal physiotherapist and spine biomechanics specialist with two decades of clinical, teaching, and research expertise. She joined the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in 2005, advanced from Senior Clinical Associate to Assistant Professor in 2015. She has been serving as Honorary Senior Physiotherapist at the New Territories East Cluster of the Hospital Authority since 2017. Sharon coordinates the MSc in Manipulative Physiotherapy Programme at PolyU, and has contributed as the Standards Committee member of International Federation of Manual and Musculoskeletal Physical Therapist Incorporated (IFOMPT) between 2022 and 2024.
Sharon’s research dissects the dynamic interplay, neuromuscular control and functional capacity of the spine in chronic musculoskeletal conditions. Using quantitative movement and motor-control analysis, pain profiling, and implementation science, she translates biomechanical insights into innovative manual-therapy and rehabilitation protocols tailored to spinal dysfunction and adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. She is the Fellow (FACP), Specialist Research Physiotherapist as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists in 2025.
Her integrated teaching philosophy empowers students to sharpen their clinical reasoning and hands-on practice to enhance the quality and efficacy of the clinical service. Her dedication and commitment to teaching and learning has been honoured with the Departmental Outstanding Teaching Awards in 2009 and 2018 and the Faculty Award for Outstanding Performance in Teaching in 2018.
Education and Academic Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Master of Science in Health Care (Physiotherapy), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Master of Manipulative Therapy, Curtin University, Australia
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Roehampton, United Kingdom
Professional Qualifications
- Registered Physiotherapist (Australia and Hong Kong)
- Fellow of The Hong Kong College of Physiotherapy (FHKCOP, Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist)
- Fellow of Advanced Higher Education (FHEA)
- Fellow of Australian College of Physiotherapists (FACP, Specialist Research Physiotherapist)
Research Interests
Research Output
- So BCL, Szeto GPY, Lau RWL, Dai J, Tsang SMH. Effects of ergomotor intervention on improving occupational health in workers with work-related neck-shoulder pain. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019;16(24): pii:E5005.
- Tsang SMH, So BCL, Lau RWL, Dai JJ, Szeto GPY. Comparing the effectiveness of Ergonomics and Motor Control to conventional treatment for pain and functional recovery of work-related neck-shoulder pain: A randomized trial. European Journal of Pain. 2019;23(6):1141-52.
- Tsang SMH, Szeto GPY, Xie PYF, Lee RYW. Association of electromyographic activation patterns with pain and functional disability in people with chronic neck pain. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 2018;118(7):1481-92 .
- Tsang SMH, So BCL, Lau RWL, Dai J, Szeto GPY. Effects of combining ergonomic interventions and motor control exercises on muscle activity and kinematics in people with work-related neck-shoulder pain. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 2018;118:751-6.
- Xie YF, Szeto G, Madeleine P, Tsang S. Spinal kinematics during smartphone texting – A comparison between young adults with and without chronic neck-shoulder pain. Applied Ergonomics. 2018;68:160-8.
- Chan MKY, Chow KW, Lai AYS, Mak NKC, Sze JCH, Tsang SMH. The effects of therapeutic hip exercise with abdominal core activation on recruitment of the hip muscles. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2017;18:313.
- Tsang SMH, Szeto GPY, Li LMK, Wong DCM, Yip MMP, Lee RYW. The effects of bending speed on the lumbo-pelvic kinematics and movement pattern during forward bending in people with and without low back pain. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2017;18:157.
- Tsang SMH, Szeto GPY, Lee RYW. Relationship between the neck acceleration and muscle activities in people with chronic neck pain: implications for functional disability. Clinical Biomechanics. 2016;35:27-36
- Tsang SMH, Szeto GPY. Lee RYW. Altered spinal kinematics and muscle recruitment pattern of the cervical and thoracic spine in people with chronic neck pain during functional task. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology. 2014;24(1):104-13
- Tsang SMH, Szeto GPY, Lee RYW. Normal kinematics of the neck: the interplay between cervical and thoracic spines. Manual Therapy.
