Human Motor Performance Group

Research and Scholarly Activities

Research and scholarly activity undertaken to date and work in progress is summarised under individual researchers:

The Group has a broad capability for integrated physiological and motion analysis together with the ability to measure oxygen uptake and overall fitness. Each component research project of the programme furthers knowledge of biomechanical and neural control mechanisms and changes in skeletal muscle contractile properties in healthy subjects and in specific neurological and musculoskeletal diseases of clinical populations. We have a vision of continued collaboration not only with clinical colleagues but also across disciplines and professional groupings at UEL. The Stratford campus of UEL in the London Borough of Newham is now recognised locally, nationally and internationally as a centre for human motor performance, and we have a vision of shared research studies working alongside microbiologists and biochemists in research labs on the same floor and collaboration with local external agencies such as sports, leisure and social clubs to enhance understanding of human health and potential. Having the Olympics as a local activity in 2012 enhances this potential and all research activities have the capacity to contribute and support the Centre of Disabilities Sport and Health, the Institute of Health and Human Potential, and the Institute for Research into Child Development, all located at the Stratford Campus of UEL. 

Members of our group have national status for their research and some are developing international reputations and collaborations having been mentored by Professor Scott and external Professors. Over the past four years we have secured two externally funded PhD students (A. Protopapadaki, D. Stephensen) and have 3 PhD students (S. Cousins, K. Hastings, P. Barchha) funded as Graduate Teaching Assistants by the School, all supervised by members of the Group. More recently, funding for a research assistant was successful (R. Mahaffey) and internal research money was granted for another PhD student (L. Suckling)

Research by:

Professor (Emeritus) Scott has focussed on nerve-muscle interaction and the mechanisms that control and influence muscle properties. Her vision of the group was to identify optimal rehabilitation regimes to mitigate the effects of disease and trauma on physical dysfunction. Much of the work has been in the clinical environment. Volunteer participants have ranged from the very young to the more elderly and from the very fit to those recovering from brain injury and stroke. Now, as Professor (Emeritus), Scott continues to support on going research projects across the group, preparation of grant applications, participating in PhD supervision, completing data analysis and submitting manuscripts for publication.

Dr Cramp focused her early research on neuromuscular adaptation of lower limb muscles, with a particular interest in changes after stroke. This work has developed to examine the effects of exercise for rehabilitative purposes after stroke (Cramp 2005). Currently, her research centres on the biomechanical and physiological premise for therapeutic intervention and the effective application of physical interventions. PhD research projects are centred around neuromuscular adaptations to exercise with ageing and after stroke, effects of fatiguing activity on motor performance and muscle strengthening using assistive devices/exercise.

Dr Culpan evaluated the effects of aerobic exercise training on functional outcomes after rehabilitation for acquired brain injury (Culpan 2004). Culpan has developed this work and current research projects include monitoring changes in peripheral muscle and whole body oxygen uptake using near infra red spectroscopy and automated gas analysis. Cuplan and Cramp are developing PhD research projects looking at a stroke population and the effects of endurance exercise and strength training on changes in functional activity during and after rehabilitation. Collaborative research (Cramp, Culpan, Scott) with Oxford Brookes University (Dawes) is ongoing.

Dr Drechsler's PhD research looked at changes in muscle physiology following major knee injury (Drechsler 2004, 2005, 2006) and developed an interest in rehabilitation programmes for musculoskeletal disorders. Today, the focus of her research is on neuromuscular motion analysis and changes in skeletal muscle as a result of disease and across the lifespan. Current PhD research projects are focused on the biomechanical adaptations and neuromuscular impairments in adults with osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and knee and on children with haemophilia, childhood obesity and juvenile arthritis. PhD research has been completed in adults with end stage hip and knee OA (Protopapadaki), one paper is already published (Protopapadaki et al. 2007) and several papers are currently in preparation (Drechsler, Cramp, Scott). Drechsler and Scott were successful in obtaining PhD research funding (L. Suckling) from the School looking at the impact of haemophilia in adolescence and young adults. This work will further current PhD research (D. Stephensen), funded by the Haemophilia Society looking at the impact of Haemophilia in young children.

Dr Ferrari has a long standing interest in foot position in children.  Her PhD research considered whether the female foot is predisposed to hallux valgus deformity. Her research has included the development of a lower limb assessment score to measure hypermobility in children and this has been used to investigate the relationship between hypermobility and hallux valgus deformity.  She works closely with the paediatric rheumatology team at Great Ormond Street Hospital specialising in foot problems in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and joint hypermobility syndromes. Jill is part of a research team which is looking at the role of foot orthoses in rehabilitation of children with Developmental Coordination Disorder and is currently developing a project to investigate the influence of footwear on the control of foot position in hypermobile children.

Dr Morrison graduated with his PhD from Glasgow Caledonian University which looked at the influence of body mass on the anthropometric structure of the peripubescent foot and on the spatio-temporal parameters of peripubescent gait. Currently he is developing his research around the impact of disease on the growth, development and function of the paediatric foot and these interests have developed into a PhD research project (S. Cousins) to investigate the biomechanical adaptations and functional activity levels in childhood obesity. He has secured funding to investigate the impact of obesity on foot function and, in collaboration with colleagues, Stewart is involved in research projects looking at the biomechanics of Developmental Coordination Disorder and Turner syndrome.

UEL HOMESEARCH