Sport and Exercise Science (Impact page)

One of the biggest challenges society faces is endemic levels of inactivity.

Research has shown that physical activity and exercise can have massive benefits for individuals of all ages including those undertaking treatment for a variety of conditions.

However, not all forms of physical activity are ideal for any one individual. We therefore need a better understanding of basic principles and our environment in order to optimise translational benefit, from disease prevention or rehabilitation to personal well-being or elite performance.

Researchers in Sport and Exercise Sciences use exercise as a fundamental physical challenge to gain insight into normal biological control processes and functional adaptability.

This is fundamental to understanding the dynamic relationship between activity patterns, physical and mental health, predisposition to and recovery from chronic conditions (such as cardiorespiratory diseases, diabetes and cancer) across the lifespan.

We believe exercise is currently under-utilised in diagnostic procedures, and that targeted exercise interventions are likely to be more effective than many current therapeutic approaches.

Our approach involves an unusually broad molecular cell-to-systems research portfolio, with translational benefits ranging from promotion of physical activity to rehabilitation strategies.