I am Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Exchange in the School of Health & Bioscience. I am an experienced clinical researcher and I coordinate the Human Motor Performance Research Group (HMPG) (www.hmpg.uel.ac.uk). Each component of my research programme furthers knowledge of biomechanical and neural control mechanisms and changes in skeletal muscle contractile properties and in specific musculoskeletal diseases of clinical populations and in healthy subjects. My early research looked at changes in muscle physiology following major knee injury and developed my interest in rehabilitation programmes for musculoskeletal disorders. Today, the focus of my research is on neuromuscular motion analysis and changes in skeletal muscle as a result of disease and across the lifespan. Current research projects focus on the biomechanical adaptations and neuromuscular impairments in adults with hip and knee osteoarthritis; childhood obesity; children and young adults with haemophilia.

Fields of Health Studies and Professional Health Sciences, MSc teaching and project supervision, PhD supervision. Member of Health & Bioscience: School Board, School Management Committee, Chair of Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee and Deputy Leader of Postgraduate Research Subdegrees Committee.

My research demonstrates how physical activity can impact on physiological function and may mitigate the effects of disease and trauma. The majority of my research is focused on children and older people and involves NHS trusts. Current research projects include: biomechanical adaptations and neuromuscular impairments in 1) Adult osteoarthritis of the hip and knee and major knee injury. 2) Children with haemophilia and childhood obesity.

• MSc Advanced Practice for Health Professionals

MSc modules:

• Evaluation of interventions in practice
• Muscles movement and exercise
• Gait balance and posture
• MSc dissertations

PhD Students

2004 to 2008:  Anastasia Protopapadaki ‘Biomechanical analysis of  

stair climbing and gait: impact of hip and knee osteoarthritis’.

2005 to present:  David Stephensen ‘Influence of muscle morphology on muscle strength and gait in children with haemophilia.

2007 to present:  Steve Cousins ‘Impact of childhood obesity on biomechanical characteristics of the foot and lower limb.

2009 to present:  Elizabeth Nicholls ‘Impact of Olympics 2012 on post graduate training for UK sports physiotherapists

MSc Student Projects (completed)

2009: Pilot Study to identify strength and architectural characteristics of gastrocnemius musculature in healthy older adults (E. Purcell).

2008:  Determination of relationships of quadriceps femoris muscle characteristics and flexibility in patello-femoral pain. (C. Bilsborough).

2008:  Haemophiliac gait analysis in young adults: characteristics post prophylaxis (I. d’Young).   

2008:  Evaluation of the effect of a behavioural approach on the rehabilitation of British troops (S. Searight).

2007:   Inter-limb comparison of voluntary activation using superimposed twitch interpolation technique in healthy subjects 40-60 years (Individual projects: G Solanki; R Singh).

2007:   Determination of inter-limb differences in muscle architecture of the vastus lateralis and lateral gastrocnemius muscle in healthy human subjects (Individual projects: K Savvas; V Nallapuneni).

2007:   Reliability of ultrasound measurements of vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius in 40-60 year old healthy subjects (Individual projects: P Madeti; R Alagasamy).

2006:   MSc Physiotherapy (Distinction): What is the test retest reliability of ultrasound and isokinetic muscle testing in the lower limb in 7-12 year old males? (S Old).

2006:   Post Grad Diploma (Physiotherapy): Biomechanical characteristics, muscle activity patterns during level walking in healthy children (S John).

2005:   MSc Phsyiotherapy (Distinction) What are the gait abnormalities in the child with a haemophiliac target ankle joint? (D Stephensen).

2004:  MSc Physiotherapy (Distinction): Hip, knee and ankle kinematics and kinetics during stair climbing in healthy young individuals (A Protopapadaki).

2003:   MSc Phsyiotherapy: The rate of recovery of knee kinematics during the early period following arthroscopic partial menisectomy (M Klarneta).

Recent Publications:

1. Stephensen D, Drechsler WI, Winter M, Scott O. (2009) Comparison of biomechanical gait parameters of young children with haemophilia and those of age-matched peers. Haemophilia 15, 509–518.  Haemophilia DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2516.2008.01934.x

2. Forth, H. L., Cramp, M. C. and Drechsler, W. I. (2009) 'Does physiotherapy treatment improve the self-reported pain levels and quality of life of women with vulvodynia? A pilot study' Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 29:5,423-429.

3. A. Protopapadaki, W.I. Drechsler, M.C. Cramp, F.J. Coutts, O.M.Scott. (2007) Hip, knee, ankle kinematics and kinetics during stair ascent and descent in healthy young individuals. Clinical Biomechanics 22:302-310.

4. W.I. Drechsler, M.C. Cramp, O.M. Scott. (2006) Changes in muscle strength and EMG median frequency after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Eur. J App. Physiology 98:6, 613-623.

5. Morrissey M.C., Hooper D.M., Drechsler W.I., Hill H. (2004) Relationship of leg muscle strength and knee function in the early period after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Scandanavian J Med Sci Sports 14: 360-366.

6. Morrissey M.C., Drechsler W.I., Morrissey D., Knight P.R., Armstrong P.W. McAuliffe T.B. (2002) Effects of distally fixated versus nondistally fixated leg extensor resistance training on knee pain in the early period after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Physical Therapy 82:1,35-43.

7. Hooper D.M., Morrissey M.C., Drechsler W.I., Clark N.J., Coutts F.J., McAuliffe T.B. (2002). Gait analysis: six and twelve months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery.  Clin Orthop & Related Research 403 168-178.

8. Hooper D.M., Hill H., Drechsler W.I., Morrissey M.C. (2002) Range of motion specificity resulting from closed and open kinetic chain resistance training after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. J. Strength Con. Res. 16:3, 409-415.

9. Hooper D.M., Morrissey M.C., Drechsler W.I., Morrissey D. and King J.B. (2001) Open and closed kinetic chain exercises in the early period after ACL reconstruction: Improvements in level walking, stair ascent and descent. American Journal of Sports Medicine 29:2, 167-174.

10. Hooper D.M., Morrissey M.C., Drechsler W.I., McDermott M., McAuliffe T.B.  (2001)  Validation of the Hughston Clinic subjective knee questionnaire using gait analysis. Med & Sci. in Sports and Ex.  33, 1456-1462.

1. Stephensen D, Drechsler W.I, Winter M, Scott O.M. Kinematic and kinetic gait parameters and EMG activity in children with haemophilia and age-matched controls. 14th Meeting of Gait & Clinical Movement Analysis Society (GCMAS) Denver Colorado, March 2009.

2. Drechsler W.I., Cramp M.C., Scott O.M. (2007) Changes in muscle strength and function after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. World Congress of Physical Therapy (WCPT) June, Vancouver, Canada.

3. Protopapadaki, W.I. Drechsler, M.C. Cramp, F.J. Coutts, O.M. Scott. (2007) Alteration in lower limb kinematics and kinetics in individuals with knee osteoarthritis during stair climbing.  World Congress of Physical Therapy (WCPT) June, Vancouver, Canada.

4. Protopapadaki, W.I Drechsler, M.C. Cramp, F.J. Coutts, O.M. Scott. (2007) Alteration in lower limb kinematics and kinetics in individuals with hip osteoarthritis during stair climbing. World Congress of Physical Therapy (WCPT) June, Vancouver, Canada.

5. Old S, Drechsler W.I., Stephensen D. (2007) Pilot study to determine reliability and feesability of using Ultra Sound to measure muscle architecture and muscle strength in healthy children aged 7-12 years. CSP Robert Williams Award, World Congress of Physical Therapy (WCPT) June, Vancouver, Canada.

6. Drechsler W.I., Cramp M.C., Scott O.M. (2005) EMG power spectrum profiles and changes in knee extensor strength after surgery. The Physiological Society, University College London, December PC23 24P.

7. Stephensen D, Drechsler W.I. Winter M, Evans G, Scott O.M. (2005) Gait alterations exist in children with haemophilia after relatively few haemarthroses and despite prophylaxis – a motion analysis study. International Society on Thrombosis & Haemostasis (ISTH) conference August, Sydney, Australia.

8. Stephensen D, Winter M, Evans G, Drechsler W.I (2005) Ultrasound diagnosis of acute joint pain may lead to more effective and efficient use of haemophilia therapy. International Society on Thrombosis & Haemostasis (ISTH) conference August, Sydney, Australia.

9. D. Stephensen, W.I. Drechsler, M. Winter, G. Evans, O.M. Scott. (2005) Gait deviations in children with severe haemophilia following bleeding into the ankle joint. International Society of Biomechanics XXth meeting, August, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

10. Drechsler W.I., Cramp M.C., Scott O.M. (2004) Quadriceps femoris activation and EMG median frequency after knee sugery. The Physiological Society, Kings College London, December C101 52P.

11. Drechsler W.I., Cramp M.C., Scott O.M. (2004) Quadriceps femoris function and EMG power spectrum profiles after ACL reconstruction. XVth International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology (ISEK), June, Boston USA.

12. Drechsler W.I., Protopapadaki A., Coutts F.C., Scott O.M. (2004) Hip, knee, ankle kinematics and kinetics during stair ascent and descent in healthy young individuals. XVth International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology (ISEK), June, Boston USA.

13. Protopapadaki A., Drechsler W.I., Coutts F.C. Hip, knee, ankle kinematics and kinetics during stair ascent and descent in healthy young individuals. Physiotherapy Research Society (PRS) April 2004, London, UK.

14. Drechsler W.I., Morrissey M.C., Scott O.M. (2003) Quadriceps femoris function and EMG frequency after ACL reconstruction. Proceedings World Congress of Physical Therapy  RR-PL-1173.

15. W.I. Drechsler M.C. Morrissey, M. Cramp, O.M. Scott.  Quadriceps femoris activation and EMG frequency after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. 6th Annual Congress of the European College of Sports Science – 15th Congress of the German Society of SportsScience. Cologne, July 2001

Invited Scientific and Professional Presentations:

1. Drechsler WI, Stephensen D, I. D’Young (2008) (invited seminar) Centre for Haemostasis & Thrombosis, St Thomas’ Hospital, London - Biomechanical changes in children and young adults with severe haemophilia on prophylaxis.  

2. Drechsler W.I. (2007) (invited speaker) CSP, London SE branch - Neuromuscular adaptations after major knee injury.

3. Drechsler (2005) (invited seminar) NIH funded combined MSc Physiotherapy/PhD programme and DPT and PhD students University of Delaware, USA.

4. Drechsler W.I. (2003) Recent developments in knee rehabilitation. (invited speaker) Knee Symposium, Winchester NHS Trust, Winchester UK.

5. Cramp M.C., Drechsler W.I., Coutts F.C. (2003), (2005) Gait Balance and Posture - Introductory course for clinical physiotherapists from North East London Consortium. University of East London, Human Motor Performance Laboratories, Stratford, London.

Funding Applications

2009-2012: Dr William M Scholl Podiatric Research and Development Fund: Does excessive body mass alter the dynamic function of young, male children’s feet? (Morrison S, Cramp MC, Drechsler WI, Ferrari J) £155,253.

2007:  Wellcome Summer Studentship: Investigation of the neurophysiological and morphological properties of quadriceps femoris and triceps surae to explain muscle strength in healthy adults. (Drechsler WI, Petterson S) £1200 (non completion, student withdrew, monies returned).

2007: School of Health & Bioscience UEL, Research bursary: Reliability of strength and muscle architecture properties in children aged 7-12 years (Drechsler WI, Petterson S) £4,000.

2006: Strategic Promotion of Ageing Research Capacity (SPARC): A comparison of lower limb biomechanics and muscle activity patterns in healthy young and healthy older subjects during stair climbing (Drechsler WI) £25,000 (shortlisted).

2005-2009:  Haemophilia Society:  The haemophiliac ankle – what are the effects on walking pattern, posture and muscle strength (Stephensen D, Drechsler WI, Scott OM,) £25,000.

2005:  School of Health & Bioscience UEL, Research bursary: EMG changes after knee   surgery; power spectrum analysis of median frequency (Drechsler WI) £1,000.

2004:  PPP Health Foundation, 3 year Research Fellow – Stair Climbing a Problem: a biomechanical analysis of stair climbing (Drechsler WI) £185,000 (shortlisted).

2004:  Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Robert Williams Travel Scholarship for WCPT presentation, Barcelona, Spain (Drechsler WI) £1,400.

2004:  School of Health & Bioscience UEL: Research bursary (Drechsler WI, co investigator Dr Mary Cramp) £8,260.

1999:  Nuffield Summer Studentship: Validity of assessing knee swelling using standard circumferential measurements. (Drechsler WI, co investigator Dr Matt Morrissey) £1,000.

Grant Reviewer:

MRC

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Research Foundation.

Journal Reviewer:

Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy (Editorial review board member since 2005)

Journal of Applied Biomechanics

Clinical Biomechanics

Medical Engineering & Physics

Physiotherapy Journal UK

Manual Therapy.

WCPT 2007: Abstract reviewer

Membership of Professional Societies:

Health Professions Council

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy UK

Physiotherapy Research Society, UK

Manipulation Association of Chartered Physiotherapists

The Physiological Society

European College of Exercise and Sports Science

International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology