London South Bank University
The Academy Sport Physical Activity and Wellbeing
Overview of Activities of Interest to the Academy of Sport Physical Activity and Wellbeing:
The Sport, Exercise Science Research Centre works across three main research themes, which capitalise on the research strengths of the groups. The Research Centre benefits from excellent links into Sport and Fitness Industries and to the Health sector. Central to the range of research activities is the equipment base of the Centre - state-of-the-art facilities to carry out a complete range of measurements in physiology, biomechanics, psychology and metabolism - and the additional methods capacity available through involvement of the rest of the Faculty of Engineering, and University as a whole.
Research Themes
The movement neuroscience theme encompasses research on mechanisms of and factors affecting motor control. A multi-disciplinary approach is adopted in particular to improving our understanding of the cross-talk between peripheral muscle metabolism and motor control, which can be applied to increase our knowledge of disease pathology and to optimise athletic performance and rehabilitation. In addition, biomechanical and mechanical modelling techniques are applied to better understand the physiological and biomechanical effects of targeted and whole body vibration. The major topics studied under this theme include the following:
- neuromuscular biomechanical models of limb co-ordination in complex movements
- neural and cardio-respiratory adaptation in response to single and paired stimuli including exercise, vibration, hypoxia and hypercapnia;
- acute effects of limb and whole body vibration on neuromuscular function and muscle strength;
- biomechanical strategies to damp external vibrations induced by normal gait or external stimulation;
- effect of barefoot strategies on mechanical characteristics of human gait;
- development of new electromyography analytical techniques.
In the nutrition and muscle metabolism theme, a mechanistic approach is adopted to better understand acute exercise-induced adaptations and how nutritional interventions can be used to optimise such adaptations. In tandem, methodological approaches to nutritional assessment are investigated. The main topics addressed under this theme are:
- metabolic inertia, factors that limit oxidative metabolism and hence performance during exercise;
- muscle protein turnover in response to exercise and dietary protein requirements;
- effect of nutritional supplements on performance and recovery.
In the third theme clinical and applied science, the scientific principles and findings from the previous two themes are applied to answer practical research questions within sport, physical activity and public health sectors and thus provide evidence to inform working practice of coaches/instructors and health practitioners. We have experience of working with companies to commercialise intellectual property as well as developing our own spin-out company.
This has led to the filing and granting of a number of patents on the following topics: new training devices based on the strength-enhancing effects of muscle vibration; hypoxia training device; development of a sandal to replicate the increased proprioceptive feedback of barefoot walking.
Two of the patents have been successfully commercialised with products available in the marketplace: youbreathe and Fitflop. We have experience of gaining R&D grants including Audi Foundation, Department of Trade and Industry and London Development Agency. Additional topics addressed under this theme are:
- Efficacy of an exercise referral scheme in increasing activity levels and markers of health and wellbeing;
- Factors affecting uptake and adherence to exercise programmes;
- Effect of physical activity and diet upon bowel habit in different populations
- Community development and education through sport.
Website: www.lsbu.ac.uk/sports
