Dr David Tomlinson

Who am I?

I am a post-doctoral researcher within the Musculoskeletal Science and Sports Medicine Research Centre at Manchester Metropolitan University. My skill set focuses on muscle/exercise physiology training and assessment, especially in the older and frail persons. I have substantial experience using and undertaking endurance, strength and power capacity tests in both lab and field-based settings, muscle size, volume and characteristic measures using MRI, DEXA, and ultrasound scanning and evaluating an individual’s muscle specific characteristics using biochemistry and histology techniques. In addition to my academic research background, he has (1) designed specific strength and endurance based exercise group programs for older adults (60+); (2) integrated the GP exercise referral service in South Cheshire with a NHS funded 6 week back pain clinic; (3) designed exercise sessions for both early intervention and long term mental health patients in partnership with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Academic and professional qualifications

PhD Sport and Exercise Sciences (Manchester Metropolitan University)

MSc Sport and Exercise Science - Exercise Physiology (Manchester Metropolitan University)

BSc (Hons) Sport with Exercise and Coaching (Manchester Metropolitan University)

Previous employment

October 2008 – August 2015 Everybody Sport and Recreation Trust – Exercise Referal Instructor

December 2005 – September 2008 IRM Institute (Sport and Exercise Science Department) MMU Cheshire - Research Assistant (Physiology)

Research expertise

• The effect of obesity and intramuscular fat on physical function in both a young and older population.
• Muscle/exercise physiology training and assessment, especially in the older and frail persons.
• The effect of sedentary behaviour and physical activity on the muscle-tendon unit.

Publications

• Featured Works

  GL. Pearson, D. Tomlinson, D. Ryan, J. Wullems (2017). Physical activity and the elderly/geriatric physiology. Chapter 20 In Physical Activity: A multi-disciplinary introduction. N. Draper, G. Stratton. In: Physical Activity: A multi-disciplinary introduction. (Eds) Nick Draper & Gareth Stratton.. Taylor and Francis Books/Routledge Publishing,

  DJ. Tomlinson, RM. Erskine, CI. Morse, K. Winwood, GL. Onambélé-Pearson (2014). Erratum to: Combined effects of body composition and ageing on joint torque, muscle activation and co-contraction in sedentary women. Age (Dordr). 36(3), pp.1419-1419.

  JS. McPhee, J. Perez-Schindler, H. Degens, D. Tomlinson, P. Hennis, et al. K. Baar, AG. Williams. (2011). HIF1A P582S gene association with endurance training responses in young women. Eur J Appl Physiol. 111(9), pp.2339-2347.

• Journal articles

  AJ. Buffey, GL. Onambélé-Pearson, RM. Erskine, DJ. Tomlinson (2021). The validity and reliability of the Achilles tendon moment arm assessed with Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, relative to MRI and ultrasound assessments. Journal of Biomechanics. 116, pp.110204-110204.

  DJ. Tomlinson, RM. Erskine, CI. Morse, JM. Pappachan, E. Sanderson-Gillard, et al. GL. Onambélé-Pearson. (2021). The combined effects of obesity and ageing on skeletal muscle function and tendon properties in vivo in men. Endocrine.

  D. Grant, D. Tomlinson, K. Tsintzas, P. Kolić, GL. Onambele-Pearson (2020). The Effects of Displacing Sedentary Behavior With Two Distinct Patterns of Light Activity on Health Outcomes in Older Adults (Implications for COVID-19 Quarantine). Frontiers in Physiology. 11,

  DJ. Tomlinson, RM. Erskine, CI. Morse, K. Winwood, GL. Onambélé-Pearson (2014). Erratum to: Combined effects of body composition and ageing on joint torque, muscle activation and co-contraction in sedentary women. Age (Dordr). 36(3), pp.1419-1419.

  DJ. Tomlinson, RM. Erskine, CI. Morse, K. Winwood, GL. Onambélé-Pearson (2014). Erratum to: Combined effects of body composition and ageing on joint torque, muscle activation and co-contraction in sedentary women. Age (Dordrecht, Netherlands). 36(3),

  JS. McPhee, J. Perez-Schindler, H. Degens, D. Tomlinson, P. Hennis, et al. K. Baar, AG. Williams. (2011). HIF1A P582S gene association with endurance training responses in young women. Eur J Appl Physiol. 111(9), pp.2339-2347.

• Chapters in books

  G. Onambele-Pearson, D. Ryan, D. Tomlinson, J. Wullems (2018). Physical activity and older adults. In: Physical Activity. Routledge, pp.381-403.

  GL. Pearson, D. Tomlinson, D. Ryan, J. Wullems (2017). Physical activity and the elderly/geriatric physiology. Chapter 20 In Physical Activity: A multi-disciplinary introduction. N. Draper, G. Stratton. In: Physical Activity: A multi-disciplinary introduction. (Eds) Nick Draper & Gareth Stratton.. Taylor and Francis Books/Routledge Publishing,

• Conferences

  PJ. Hennis, D. Tomlinson, G. Rayat, E. Murphy (2019). A Pilot Observational Study Investigating The Impact Of Glycogen Storage Disease III On Aerobic Capacity. In: Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. Orlando, FL, 28/5/2019. pp.582-582.

  GL. Pearson, D. Tomlinson, RM. Erskine, CI. Morse (2017). Diet quantity not quality, age, BMI and sporting activities are prolific predictors of bone health in middle-aged and older persons. Dublin, 9/11/2017.

  D. Tomlinson, RM. Erskine, CI. Morse, K. Winwood, GL. Pearson (2014). The Continuum of Adiposity and its Effect on Skeletal Muscle Size, Structure and Function in Untrained Young versus Old Males. Newcastle United Football Club, 10/9/2014.

  RM. Erskine, DJ. Tomlinson, CI. Morse, K. Winwood, P. Hampson, et al. JM. Lord, GL. Onambele-Pearson. (2014). The effects of ageing, obesity and chronic systemic inflammation on human skeletal muscle properties in vivo. Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK, 7/7/2014.

  DJ. Tomlinson, GL. Onambele, CI. Morse, K. Winwood, RM. Erskine (2014). The impact of obesity on bone mineral density changes with ageing in sedentary women. 36. D.J., Onambele G.L., Morse C.I., Winwood K., Erskine R.M. Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK, 7/7/2014.

  RM. Erskine, DJ. Tomlinson, CI. Morse, K. Winwood, GL. Onambele-Pearson (2014). Does serum IL-6 concentration explain the relationships between adiposity and muscle size and strength in young and older adults? 34. , , , Onambele-Pearson GL. Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2/7/2014.

  DJ. Tomlinson, GL. Onambele, CI. Morse, K. Winwood, RM. Erskine (2013). The Effect of Adiposity on Skeletal Muscle Size and Strength in Untrained Women. Morse C.I., ., Erskine R.M. Birmingham, UK,

  JS. McPhee, D. Tomlinson, AG. Williams, DA. Jones (2008). Prescribing exercise intensity based on VO2max fails to induce peripheral training adaptations in all people. Lisbon, Portugal,

Expert reviewer for journals and publishers

Member of the Reviewer Board for Nutrients (Impact Factor 4.171)

Projects and initiatives

Invitations as speaker at public engagement events: 

•  Pearson, G. (with support from Tomlinson D.J., Sims D., Pheasey, G. and Ryan D.), 2018 (Filmed September 2017, to air January 2018). Contributor to Channel 4’s ‘How to Get Fit Fast’ TV programme, by Susannah Wilkinson (http://www.channel4.com/programmes/how-to-get-fit-fast)
• Tomlinson D.J, 2017 (October). Sustaining Health and Promoting Exercise (SHAPE) Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (cquin) project. The Big Book of Best Practice 2017/18 Showcase Event. Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Macclesfield Town Hall. Cheshire, UK.
• Tomlinson D.J., McEwan I. and Grant D. 2017 (October). The Impact of Ageing on Body Composition. Winsford Health & Wellbeing Event. Mid Cheshire NHS Foundation Trust. Winsford Lifestyle Centre. Cheshire, UK.
• Tomlinson D.J., 2017 (February). The Impact of Ageing, Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour on Skeletal Muscle. St Luke’s Church Hall, Willaston, Crewe.
• Pearson G., Ryan D., Praval K. and Tomlinson D.J., 2017 (February). How to track and intervene on skeletal muscle ageing. Alsager Health & Wellbeing Event. Maria Ashdown, Alsager Partnership. Alsager Civic Centre. Stoke-on-Trent, UK.
• Tomlinson D.J., 2016 (April). The Link between Ageing, Physical Activity and Mental Health. Crewe & Nantwich U3A, Wistaston Memorial Hall, Crewe.
• Pearson G., Ryan D. and Tomlinson D.J., 2016 (April). Science Day: Sport and Exercise science demonstrations to years 6 (Via Daniel Virr, Head of General Science). The Manchester Grammar School, Old Hall Lane, Manchester.
• Pearson G., Ryan D. and Tomlinson D.J., 2016 (March). Healthy ageing: exercise, adiposity, & self-monitoring considerations. Everybody Sport and Recreational Trust (ESAR) - Everybody Sport and Recreational Trust (ESAR). Shavington Leisure Centre CW2 5DJ.

Media appearances or involvement

Public Media features:

•  Pearson G., Ryan D. and Tomlinson D.J., 2016 (December). Healthy ageing: exercise, adiposity, & self-monitoring considerations. Crewe and Nantwich U3A newsletter (Ed. David Fishburne).
• The Scientist. November 1, 2015. Fat Saps Muscle: The accumulation of fat within skeletal muscle, as happens with obesity, diminishes muscle performance by Tracy Vence

Prizes and awards

Prize winning poster presented at the British Society for Research on Ageing Annual Meeting. Liverpool John Moores University (2014).