Sport and Exercise Science
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Dr Richard Mills
Senior Lecturer in Biomechanics
My profile
Biography
Rick is a senior lecturer in biomechanics with interest in balance and postural control. His research focuses on reactive and anticipatory mechanisms of postural control across the lifespan. The results of his work informs clinical practice for those with movement impairment, including special populations such as Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Coordination Disorder, and idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.
Rick obtained his PhD in Biomechanics & Motor Control from The University of Ottawa (Canada), his MSc in Sport and Exercise Biomechanics from Liverpool John Moores University (UK), and his BKin(Hons) in Kinesiology from McMaster University (Canada). Additionally, he has completed the PGCLTHE course at Manchester Metropolitan University (UK) and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Teaching
Subject areas
Biomechanics
Health and Exercise Science
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Supervision
Rick has supervised several research students to successful completions in biomechanics.
He is always willing to consider applications for PhDs and other higher degrees from promising students.
Research outputs
Biomechanics; Balance; Postural control; Developmental aspects of balance and postural control; Gait analysis
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Journal articles
Harkness-Armstrong, C., Hodson-Tole, E.F., Wood, G., Mills, R. (2023) 'Children with developmental coordination disorder are less able to fine-tune muscle activity in anticipation of postural perturbations than typically developing counterparts.' Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 17
Blodgett, J., Ventre, J., Mills, R., Hardy, R., Cooper, R. (2021) 'A systematic review of one-legged balance performance and falls risk in community-dwelling adults.' Ageing Research Reviews, 67pp. 101501-101501.
Ocana, P.D., Darabseh, M.Z., Ishihara, K., Aburub, A., Zambolin, F., Montgomery, G., Mills, R., Scorcelletti, M., Cameron, J., Ganse, B., Degens, H., Bagley, L. (2021) 'Age-related declines in muscle and respiratory function are proportionate to declines in performance in Master Track Cyclists.' European Journal of Applied Physiology, 121(12) pp. 3447-3457.
Bailey, H.G.B., Kirk, C., Mills, R.S., Foster, R.J. (2020) 'A preliminary cross-sectional assessment of postural control responses to continuous platform rotations following a sport-related concussion.' Gait & Posture, 81pp. 213-217.
Maudsley-Barton, S., Yap, M.H., Bukowski, A., Mills, R., McPhee, J. (2020) 'A new process to measure postural sway using a Kinect depth camera during a Sensory Organisation Test.' PLoS One, 15(2)
Mills, R., Levac, D., Sveistrup, H. (2018) 'Kinematics and postural muscular activity during continuous oscillating platform movement in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.' Gait and Posture, 66pp. 13-20.
Mills, R., Levac, D., Sveistrup, H. (2018) 'The Effects of a 5-Day Virtual-Reality Based Exercise Program on Kinematics and Postural Muscle Activity in Youth with Cerebral Palsy.' Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics,
Mills, R.S., Sveistrup, H. (2018) 'Kinematics and postural muscular activity during continuous oscillating platform movement in children and adolescents.' Experimental Brain Research, 236(5) pp. 1479-1490.
Levac, D., McCormick, A., Levin, M.F., Brien, M., Mills, R., Miller, E., Sveistrup, H. (2017) 'Active Video Gaming for Children with Cerebral Palsy: Does a Clinic-Based Virtual Reality Component Offer an Additive Benefit? A Pilot Study.' Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 38(1) pp. 74-87.
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Conference papers
Montgomery, G., Darabseh, M., Ocana, P., Ishihara, K., Aburub, A., Zambolin, F., Mills, R., Scorcelletti, M., Ganse, B., Degens, H., Bagley, L. (2021) 'Proportionate age-related declines in muscle strength, respiratory function and performance in Master Track Cyclists.' In Future Physiology 2021. Online, 19/4/2021 - 22/4/2021.
Blissitt, G., Mills, R., Duro Ocana, P., Cameron, J., Scorcelletti, M., Ganse, B., Zambolin, F., Degens, H., Bagley, L., Montgomery, G. (2021) 'The combined effects of age and athletic status on muscle function and structure in master track cyclists.' In BASES Student Conference 2021. Online, 7/4/2021 - 8/4/2021.
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Presentations
Levac, D., Sveistrup, H., McCormick, A., Levin, M., Brien, M., Mills, R.S. (2016) Using a website to facilitate therapist monitoring of a home-based video-gaming exercise program for children with cerebral palsy. [Presentation] 6/2016.
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Theses and dissertations
Vazaka, A. (2024) Does dual tasking affect the ability to generate anticipatory postural adjustments?.
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Posters
Mills, R., Levac, D., Sveistrup, H. (2020) 'Kinematics and postural muscular activity during continuous oscillating platform movement in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.' [Poster] In Movementis Conference. Date viewed 9/7/2020.
Bailey, H., Kirk, C., Mills, R., Foster, R. (2019) 'Postural control following a sport-related concussion changes in response to continuous platform rotations.' [Poster] In International Society for Posture and Gait Research World Congress. Date viewed 2/7/2019.
Mills, R., Sveistrup, H. (2019) 'Reactive and anticipatory postural response mechanisms during continuous platform oscillation in children and adolescents - preliminary analysis.' [Poster] In International Society for Posture and Gait Research World Congress. Date viewed 2/7/2019.
Mills, R.S., Levac, D. (2017) 'The effects of a one-week intensive physiotherapy programme on kinematics and postural muscle activity in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.' [Poster] In Movementis, Oxford, United Kingdom. Date viewed 7/2017.
Levac, D., Sveistrup, H., McCormick, A., Levin, M., Brien, M., Mills, R.S. (2016) 'Combining clinic- and home-based virtual reality exercise programs for children with cerebral palsy..' [Poster] In International Conference on Cerebral Palsy and other Childhood-onset Disabilities, Stockholm Sweden. Date viewed 6/2016.
Mills, R., Barton, G., Lajoie, Y., Sveistrup, H. (2012) 'Validation of the Human Body Model against surface electromyography of the lower limb in dynamic movements.' [Poster] In Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research Forum. Date viewed 13/11/2012.