Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing is a research strand of the Sport and Exercise Research Centre.
We undertake research that aims to identify and solve pertinent health challenges by improving our understanding and knowledge of the relationships between physical activity and health across the lifespan.
Current research
- Examining associations between physical activity, mental health, and wellbeing during COVID-19
- The effect of early exercise engagement on quality-of-life post-stroke
- The effect of interrupting sitting time on vascular and cognitive health in various clinical populations
Key researchers
Key publications
Smith, M., Sharpe, B., Arumuham, A., & Birch, P. (2022). Examining the Predictors of Mental Ill Health in Esport Competitors. Healthcare, 10, 626. (Read the press release about this study)
Impact
Our findings have been disseminated to other researchers and practitioners with an interest in understanding how physical activity may positively impact people after stroke. Additional impact work involves developing policy documents around promoting physical activity after the COVID-19 pandemic, and further developing support for patients after stroke and impacting health care provision.
HELP Hampshire Stroke Clinic
The HELP Hampshire Stroke Clinic (image top), led by Professor James Faulkner, is a community-based exercise and education programme that involves collaboration with Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Hobbs Rehabilitation. The programme has impacted upon the pathway of patient referrals from the NHS into community care, and since its inception in March 2019, the programme has worked with many stroke patients. Weekly exercise classes are delivered face-to-face and online, with improvements in participants health outcomes being tracked during the programme. Find out more about HELP Hampshire.
Press releases, e.g. University exercise expert aids in development of health and wellbeing resilience programme for older people.
Postgraduate research
PhD opportunities
- Using physical activity to support patients following stroke
- Understanding the experiences of stroke patients with regards to physical activity
- Using physical activity to support individuals with long-COVID
Current research students
- Ellie Gennings: The impact of outdoor physical activity on adolescent wellbeing: developing and validating a new measure of wellbeing
- Nick Hudson: Effect of aerobic and resistance exercise training on health outcomes in people living with symptoms of long-COVID-19
- Eloise Paine: The effect of robotics on energy expenditure in stroke patients
- Amy Wright: Biomechanical effect of using the Alter-G Bionic Leg within Rehabilitation for patients with Stroke
Image top: A HELP Hampshire Stroke Clinic session