Sport, Exercise & Wellbeing (SEW)

Exercise Regulation (Pacing)
Research in exercise regulation focuses on the physiological, neural, and psychological control mechanisms of the body during activities of daily living and exercise. This unit uses electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and multiple physiological system analysis to assess basic brain function and exercise control processes.  The multidisciplinary nature of this research has involved international collaborations with engineers and complex system specialists (e.g. National Institute of Health, USA; University of Cape Town, South Africa).

Biomechanics Research Unit
The School has extensive biomechanical equipment (isokinetic dynanometry, 2-D and 3-D digitising software, force platforms etc) and performance analysis software.  A recent focus has been on investigating the success outcomes (regained movement patterns) during the post-operative rehabilitation of patients following hip, knee and elbow surgery. The School receives industry funding for biomechanics research and consultancy from orthopaedic companies (e.g. Biomet UK Ltd; De Puy – a Johnson & Johnson company) and safety companies (e.g. Draeger UK Ltd).

Psychopathology Research
A focus of this group is to extend the knowledge base of psychologically destructive behaviours in sport (e.g. anorexia athletica and body dysmophia). The group have recently obtained a grant from the Alcohol Education Research Council (AERC) to investigate the use and abuse of alcohol in UK undergraduate students.