SB & MC
Sports Biomechanics and Motor Control
Sports biomechanics seeks to gain an understanding of the mechanics of sports movements. Such questions as how the approach speed, leg plant angle and knee angle affect high jumping performance may be addressed experimentally. Questions such as why high jumpers use a curved approach may be answered using computer simulation modelling. Both approaches are evident in the research articles listed in the following pages.
Motor control goes beyond the mechanics of movement and seeks to gain an understanding of sports technique from a perspective of coordination and neuro-muscular control. Thus while sports biomechanics may explain why a double straight somersault is mechanically unstable, motor control aims to answer how the instability may be controlled using in-flight corrections based upon proprioceptive feedback. Again computer simulation is a powerful tool for such investigations.
Research publications
- Methods
- Aerial Movement
- Cricket
- Dynamic Jumps
- Gymnastics
- Impact
- Motor Control
- Racket Sports
- Other Sports
Current research projects
Optimising fast bowling performance in cricket
3D markerless motion capture of fast bowling
Technique and performance in batting against short pitch bowling
Investigating appropriate pitch length for junior age group cricket
Optimum performance in the badminton smash
Speed and accuracy in badminton smashing and tennis serving
Variability in springboard diving
Maximisation of rotation potential in forward somersaulting dives
Maximisation of rotation potential in forward somersaults on trampoline
Limits for producing twist during second somersault in trampolining
Accelerated whip backs in tumbling
Control of giant circles on high bar
Release windows for Kovacs regrasp skill on high bar
Learning strategies for the upstart on horizontal bar
Learning to balance in upright and inverted stance
Control of balance in upright and inverted stance
Head movement and viewing during double somersaults with twist
Balance in dance
Optimum technique in triple jumping
How to become the ideal endurance runner
Using the biomechanics of sprint running to inform strength and conditioning regimes
Longitudinal effects of strength and conditioning of the golf athlete
Mathematical descriptions of in vivo muscle function
Explosive force and joint stability: the Effect of Acute and Chronic Exercise
Hamstrings muscle structure and function and the antecedents of hamstrings injury
Hip and knee joint loading of karate players during training and competition
Effect of joint compression and soft tissue motion on force transmission
Soft tissue motion during impacts
Developing concussion tests in a fully interactive environment
Designing a robotic running foot for footwear testing
Neuromuscular underpinnings of asymmetrical human movement
Optimising neuromuscular function in amputees following very severe injury (VSI)
Neuromechanical risk factors of Achilles tendinopathy
Force dissipation in the lower limb
Biomechanical changes with development of fatigue during running
Strategies to reduce injuries in youth hockey players
Current Researchers
- Dr Fred Yeadon - Emeritus Professor of Computer Simulation in Sport
- Dr Mark King - Professor of Sports Biomechanics
- Dr Matthew Pain - Reader in Biomechanics
- Dr Mike Hiley - Senior Lecturer in Sports Biomechanics and Motor Control
- Dr Sam Allen - Senior Lecturer in Biomechanics
- Dr Sam Winter - Lecturer in Biomechanics
- Dr Daniel Fong - Senior Lecturer in Rehabilitation Science
- Dr Glen Blenkinsop - Lecturer in Motor Control & Biomechanics of Sport
- Dr David Burke - Technical Tutor in Sports Biomechanics
- Dr Jon Knight - Software Developer (part-time)
- Dr Dimitrios Voukelatos - University Teacher in Biomechanics
- Kat Allot - Postgraduate Teaching Assistant
- Dr Bill Haug- Strength and Conditioning lead
- Christos Kouppas - Research Student
- Natalie Eggington - Research Student
- Zoe Bamber - Research Student
- Sara Aspinall - Research Student
- Kerry Glendon - Research Student
- Harley Towler - Research Student
- Christina DAngeli - Research Student
- Kaushal Manawadu - Research Student
- Imogen Shepherd - Research Student
- Matt Lamb - Research Student
- Lewis Chapman - Research Student
- Michael Pickard - Research Student
- Cormac Nolan - Research Student
- Tracey Bye - Research Student
- Hammad Alhansan - Research Student
- Parichad Plangtaisong - Research Student
- Hao Sun - Research Student
- Alaa Alqurafi - Research Student
- Mike Webb - Research Student
- Stefan Ljutzkanov - Research Student
Visiting Academics
- Dr Laura-Anne Furlong - Visiting Fellow in Biomechanics
- Dr Wacharee Rittiwat - Srinakharinwirot University
- Dr Wei Shan - Beijing Sports University
- Dr Ying Liang - Anhui Normal University
- Dr Jeff Reinbolt, The University of Tennessee, USA
- Prof Gaofeng Sun, Anhui University, China
- Naomi Okamura, Waseda University, Japan
- Davide Zanardelli, University of Brescia, Italy
- Frederic Lamon, ETH, Zurich, Switzerland
- Nicole Schmid, ETH, Zurich, Switzerland
- Caoimhe McQuillan, Dublin City University
- Dr Yusuke Sato, Nihon University, Tokyo
- Dr Kazumichi Ae, University of Tsukuba
- Dr Giuseppe Cimadoro, University of Milan
- Dr Akiko Imura, Research Associate, University of Tokyo
- Mr Tadao Hayashi, Nippon Sport Science University
- Dr Xiaou Dandan, China Institute of Sport Science
- Dr Mickael Begon, Adjoint Professor, University of Montreal
- Roger Wangler, ETH, Zurich, Switzerland
- Dr Kate Hogarth, University of Queensland, Australia
- Dr Graham Caldwell, Associate Professor, University of Massachussetts
PhD Graduates
- Idrees Afzal
- Jasmin Willer
- Laurence Warren-West
- Laura Keylock
- Giorgos Krikelis
- Carl Robinson
- Daniel Rothwell
- Pete Alway
- Dr Liam Sanders
- Dr Nurhidayah Omar
- Dr Stuart McErlain-Naylor
- Dr Mohsen Sayyah
- Dr Fearghal Behan
- Dr Riyadh Al Saeed
- Dr Pavlos Evangelidis
- Dr Chris Peploe
- Dr Romanda Dillon
- Dr Ravina Huh
- Dr Dimitrios Voukelatos
- Dr Paul Felton
- Dr Emma Payne
- Dr Glen Blenkinsop
- D David Burke
- Dr Michael Gu
- Dr Benderi Dasril
- Dr Phil Jones
- Dr Monique Jackson
- Dr Sam Allen
- Dr Jonathan Glynn, Biomechanist, Aspire Academy, Qatar
- Dr Felix Tsui, Vicon Application Engineer
- Dr Martin Lewis, Nottingham Trent University
- Dr Behzat Kentel, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
- Dr Peter Worthington, PA Consulting Group
- Dr Neale Tillin, Lecturer, University of Roehampton
- Dr Emma Rosamond, GL Noble Denton, Leicester
- Dr Chris Mills – Principal Lecturer in Biomechanics, Portsmouth University
- Dr Veni Kong, Assistant Professor, National Institute of Education, Singapore
- Dr David Jessop, Senior Lecturer, Southampton University
- Dr Andy Roosen, Synergies Ltd
- Dr Cassie Wilson, Senior Lecturer, University of Bath
- Dr Grant Trewartha, Biomechanist at Impact Tech Labs
- Dr John Tan, Senior Lecturer, National Institute of Education, Singapore
- Dr Sharon Dixon, Senior Lecturer, Exeter University
- Dr John Challis, Professor of Kinesiology, Penn State University
- Dr Jo Prescott
- Dr Mike Harwood (2 PhDs)
- Dr David Kerwin, Professor of Biomechanics, UWIC
- Dr Mark Brewin
- Dr Mark King
- Dr Mike Hiley