Sports medicine and elite performance
Our research furthers understanding of elite sporting performance, informs policy guideline development, and helps athletes and para-athletes improve their recovery from injury.
Research group
About our research
We are a multidisciplinary team specialising in sports medicine and elite performance nationally and internationally.
Our research ranges from developing public policy and guidance to working with elite athletes to improve their performance. We have extensive expertise in genetics, injury prevention and coaching.
We work with British Swimming and Para Swimming to monitor training and determine the factors underpinning optimal performance. Our research has made major contributions to athlete classification in Para Swimming, which has had international impact.
Our expertise in the genetic determinants of elite sports performance (with current emphasis on endurance running and rugby) is internationally recognised, as is our work on injury prevention through personal protective equipment.
We are national experts in community and disability sport, coaching, biomechanics and strength conditioning for athletes.
And we work closely with colleagues from the other research themes in the Centre for Musculoskeletal Science and Sports Medicine, Movement Impairment and Musculoskeletal Function in Health and Ageing.
Our expertise
Our expertise covers:
- biomechanics of elite sports and elite disability sports performance, alongside injury prevention
- genetics of musculoskeletal function, injury risk and concussion, and elite athlete status focusing on rugby players
- development and implementation of standards and policies for personal protective equipment, public sector community sport and sport coaching
- participation, impact and management of community and disability sport
- quantitative and qualitative approaches to sports coaching and strength conditioning
Selected impact case studies and projects
Some of our research partners
International Paralympic Committee
Medical Research Council
Holos Life Sciences
Northampton Saints
Moving Forces
Institute of Sport Exercise&Health
Sport England
World Para Swimming
Work and study with us
Contacts
Contact us
You can contact individual members of the team through their staff profiles.
For general enquiries about our work on sports medicine and elite performance, you can contact our research lead, Dr Keith Winwood.