Professor Mark King

Bsc, PhD

Pronouns: He/him

Professor of Sports Biomechanics

Research groups and centres

Mark did his degree (Mathematics and Sports Science, 1993) and PhD (subject-specific computer simulation of dynamic jumping, 1998) at 含羞草视频. He was appointed as Lecturer in Sports Biomechanics in 1999, progressed to Senior Lecturer (2006), Reader (2012) and Professor of Sports Biomechanics in 2019. Mark is currently the Lead for the Sport Performance Research Theme in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences. He has been the Warden of Royce Hall since 1999 and is responsible for the welfare of 375 students.

In cricket, Mark has strong links with the England and Wales Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council. Mark is accredited as a Human Movement Specialist for both the ECB and ICC and 含羞草视频 is accredited as an ICC testing centre for suspected illegal bowling actions. Furthermore, in racket sports Mark has strong links with Badminton World Federation, the Tennis Foundation and the Lawn Tennis Association.

Sport-wise, Mark is currently Senior County Captain for Leicestershire Badminton having represented Leicestershire 1^st team over 100 times. At Masters level, Mark has won medals in Badminton at English National, All England, European and World Levels.

Elite sport performance 鈥� how important is technique?

Using both experimental and theoretical approaches, Mark鈥檚 lecture will explore optimum sport performance. Drawing on examples from a variety of sports, he will outline how we can increase our understanding of the critical factors linked to performance improvement or injury risk.

Professor Mark King talks about his sport biomechanics research at 含羞草视频.

Over the last 20 years, Mark has developed the field of subject-specific torque-driven computer simulation modelling including advances in determining subject-specific torque parameters and visco-elastic parameters, incorporating wobbling masses, optimising human movement within a perturbation environment, incorporating biarticular effects, and modelling the transmission of force through the body using visco-elastic elements within joints. Mark’s contributions to this field are world leading and were first recognised when he received the Young Investigators Award at the European College of Sport Science in 1997 and subsequently five of his PhD students have won awards for their work on simulation modelling (including the prestigious New Investigators award at the International Society of Biomechanics in Sport (twice) and the Andrzej Komor New Investigators award at the International Engineering of Sport Conference). Mark has currently published 30 academic journal papers on computer simulation, delivered six keynote lectures and 16 invited presentations.

Since 2004, Mark has developed and sustained strong links with the ECB with collaborative PhD research projects on: lower back injuries in fast bowling, fast bowling performance, computer modelling of fast bowling, power hitting in batting, spin bowling, optimum pitch lengths for junior cricketers, and vertebral adaptation / stress fracture in fast bowling. The findings of these projects have had a direct influence on the coaching of cricket and were recognised in REF2014 through a highly rated impact case study. The success of the research in fast bowling justified the ECB funding a post-doc position for four years plus two new PhD studies linked to the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine. In addition, the collaboration with the ECB and Mark’s research into illegal bowling actions enabled Mark to establish an International Cricket Council accredited Centre at 含羞草视频 in 2014.

In the last six years Mark’s research scope has extended further to include research on racket sports focusing on badminton, tennis and wheelchair tennis in collaboration with the Badminton World Federation, Marque Makers, Tennis Foundation / Peter Harrison Centre and The Lawn Tennis Association. These collaborations have secured over £200k of external funds to support research studies.

To date Mark has received over £1.5 million in externally funded grants for research and approximately £100k in enterprise funding. Mark has 67 journal publications including 16 in Journal of Biomechanics and 14 in Journal of Sports Sciences.

Selected Research Projects and Sources of Funding

Computer simulation modelling of fast bowling to minimise lumbar stress fractures in cricket, EPSRC DTP and ECB £69,000. 2019-2023
Modelling of prosthetics for Olympic athletes, English Institute of Sport, £50,000, 2019-2020.
Developing the world’s fastest badminton racket, Marque Makers, £90,000, 2018-2021.
Optimum performance in the badminton smash. Badminton World Federation. £18,000. 2016-2019.
Technical excellence project – fast bowling in cricket. ECB, £95,000. 2015-2019.
Investigating appropriate pitch length for junior age group cricket. ECB, £30,000. 2014-2017.
Maximising spin rate for finger spinners and wrist spinners in cricket. ECB, £23,000. 2010-2015.
Technique and performance in batting against short pitch bowling. ECB, £20,000. 2011-2015.
Optimising Fast Bowling Performance in Cricket. ECB, £100,000. 2010-2015.
Bowling Action Research - ICC Project. ICC, £4,500. 2009-2010.
Fast bowling: performance and injuries. ECB, £80,000. 2006-2010.Investigating feel fatigue and injury in tennis. EPSRC (IMRC) and Head sport, £222,000. 2002-2007.

Shorter pitch lengths for junior cricket

Shortening cricket pitches to revitalise junior cricket throughout England and Wales

Faster, healthier, longer

Our research informs cricket coaching 鈥� reducing injury, enhancing performance and extending playing careers