Sports Kinesiology Injury Prevention and Performance
Successful sport outcomes depend on the ability of the human body to move effectively and efficiently. Using the scientific study of movement, we can investigate new methods for optimising human motion and work to reduce the risks of injury and improve sports performance of athletes of all ages and abilities.
Te Kukunetanga research programme
Te Kukunetanga aims to improve the pregnancy journey and outcomes for wahine and their whanau.
A women’s body undergoes unique progressive changes in shape and size throughout pregnancy and in the six months after the birth. While it's generally accepted that the physical changes experienced throughout this time affect the way women walk, balance, exercise and carry out daily tasks, we currently have limited insight into how these changes evolve across time, and how they differ between women.
Female Athlete Performance and Health research programme
The Female Athlete Performance and Health research programme aims to enable girls and women to understand their physiology and their bodies. We research how the menstrual cycle affects performance and health, and help to create positivity around being a woman in sport.
Our research group expertise
Lower limb injury biomechanics
Monitoring sport-specific movement and load to understand injury risk factors and to help develop physical preparation technique programmes.
Running biomechanics
Identification, development, and optimisation of musculoskeletal movement protocols to reduce injury risk and improve performance in runners and cyclists.
Sport injury risk profiling
Functional movement screening, concussion risk assessment and evaluation of asymmetries in athletes force/torque production are among the ways we profile injury risk for individuals and sporting populations.
Sports kinanthropometry
Identification, development, and optimisation of body composition to aid athletic performance.
Sport injury epidemiology
Survey design and analysis to identify risk factors and help develop and evaluate injury prevention programmes.
Our activities and students
ACC SportSmart – Nutrition, Youth and Technique literature reviews
Collaboration with ACC to further develop the SportSmart injury prevention education programme, providing guidelines to help everyone get the most out of sport and stay injury free.
Team members: Professor Patria Hume, Dr Hannah Wyatt, Associate Professor Chris Whatman, Anja Zoellner, Professor Simon Walters, Dr Craig Harrison, Natalie Hardaker, Professor Elaine Rush, Professor Jacqueline Alderson, Dr Stacy Sims
The digital runner
To use established sport science knowledge, in conjunction with the latest technological advances in wearables and data science to enhance the prediction and prevention of running-related injuries.
Team members: Dr Kelly Sheerin, Dr Hannah Wyatt, Professor Patria Hume, Professor Thor Besier, Dr Sarah-Kate Millar
Blue Fairy App: injury prevention good movement practice
Collaboration with ACC and Conical Ltd. to develop an augmented reality app ‘The Blue Fairy’ to promote and harness injury prevention good movement practice for children.
Team members: Professor Patria Hume, Dr Hannah Wyatt, Associate Professor Chris Whatman, Associate Professor Simon Walters, Sharon Kearney, Natalie Hardaker, Dr Craig Harrison
The effect of lateral forefoot wedging on walking and running gait in healthy adults
To establish how lateral wedging in orthoses is used clinically by Podiatrists, and how lateral wedging effect foot and ankle function during walking and running.
Team members: Aaron Jackson (AUT podiatry), Associate Professor Matt Carroll (AUT podiatry), Dr Kelly Sheerin, Professor Duncan Reid
Surf Life Saving New Zealand: lower-limb injury prevention
Collaboration with Surf Life Saving New Zealand to investigate the influence of IRB modifications to lower limb kinematics and loading in lab and on water.
Team members: Professor Patria Hume, Dr Hannah Wyatt, Stephen Reay, Michael Grobelny, Adam Jenkinson (AUT design team), Valance Smith (Te Ara Poutama), Ross Merritt and Surf Life Saving New Zealand
The impact of minimalist footwear on musculoskeletal health
The aim is to investigate the role of minimalist footwear activity on musculoskeletal health in children and adults.
Team members: Maisie Squibb (Institute of Technology Carlow), Dr Peter Francis (Institute of Technology Carlow), Dr Kelly Sheerin
Measuring motor skills and musculoskeletal development in infants
The aim of this study is to quantify the development in infant biomechanics during an infant’s first year of walking experience.
Team members: Ricardo Florez (The University of Auckland), Associate Professor Justin Fernandez (The University of Auckland), Professor Patria Hume, Dr Kelly Sheerin, Dr Hannah Wyatt
Does a menstrual cycle phased rehabilitation programme improve strength recovery and self- reported functional outcomes after ACL reconstruction?
The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of menstrual cycled rehabilitation programmes following ACL reconstruction in female athletes
Team Members: Emma O’Loughlin, Professor Duncan Reid, Dr Stacy Sims and Dr Mark Fulcher (The University of Auckland)
Brain injury assessment tool (BIST)
Team members: Professor Alice Theadom, Professor Patria Hume, Professor Richard Siegert, Dr Susan Mahon, Renata Bastos Gottgtroy, Natalie Hardaker.
Applied mechanics and performance in cycling
Team members: Dr Rodrigo Bini and Professor Patria Hume
A concussion management strategy: community rugby In New Zealand
The aim of this project is to implement and evaluate a concussion management pathway in New Zealand community rugby.
Team members: Dr Danielle Salmon, Associate Professor Chris Whatman, Dr Simon Walters
Functional gait differences in surgical approaches for hi joint arthroplasty
The aim of this study to compare functional and patient reported outcome measures across three different surgical approaches for total hip arthroplasty.
Team members: Professor Thor Besier, Professor Rocco Pitto, Dr Tim Godwin, Dr Pablo Ortega-Auriol, Dr Kelly Sheerin, Dr Hannah Wyatt
Doctoral candidates
- Jaron Kung (Auckland)
Topic: The Associations between Maturation, Specialisation, Performance and Injury in New Zealand Youth Basketball Players
Supervisors: Chris Whatman, Mike McGuigan - Jasper Wong (Auckland)
Topic: The relationships between biomechanics, training load, and running related injury
Supervisors: Kelly Sheerin, Hannah Wyatt, Chris Whatman - Renata Bastos Gottgtroy (Auckland)
Topic: Modelling multimodal data for early detection of concussion using contemporary machine learning methods: A personalised approach to concussion diagnosis and rehabilitation management
Supervisors: Patria Hume, Alice Theadom, Dave Parry - Sabina Just (Auckland)
Topic: The connection of emotion and motion in pregnancy and the influence on childbirth
Supervisors: Hannah Wyatt, Heather Donald and Sarah Kate Millar - Anja Zoellner (Auckland)
Topic: The effects of early specialisation on movement competency, neuromuscular performance, and injury risk in youth football players
Supervisors: Chris Whatman, Paul Read, Kelly Sheerin - Emma O’Loughlin (Wellington)
Topic: Does a menstrual cycle phased rehabilitation programme improve strength recovery and self- reported functional outcomes after ACL reconstruction?
Supervisors: Duncan Reid, Stacy Sims, Mark Fulcher - Natalie Hardaker (Wellington)
Topic: Sex Differences: The effects on injury risk, recovery, and performance in sport
Supervisors: Patria Hume, Stacy Sims, James Selfe - Paul Goodman (USA)
Topic: Concussion in Ice Hockey - The strength and conditioning coach's role in the return to play rehabilitation protocols
Supervisors: Patria Hume, Gregory Myer, Patrick Neary - Melissa Cuthbertson-Moon (UK)
Topic: FITSMART: An injury prevention intervention to reduce the incidence, severity, and cost of fitness related injuries in New Zealand
Supervisors: Patria Hume, Hannah Wyatt and Isaac Carlson (advisor) - Shuhao Wang (China)
Topic: Morphological considerations for lower-extremity running related injury prevention in runners
Supervisors: Hannah Wyatt, Kelly Sheerin, Patria Hume - Miriam Kiptui (Africa)
Topic: Safer running through KimbiaSmart Kenya: a nationwide injury prevention programme for running in Kenya
Supervisors: Hannah Wyatt, Kelly Sheerin, Patria Hume
Masters Candidates
- Anja van Gulden (Auckland)
Topic: Traditional or modern? The coaching of Judo in New Zealand
Supervisors: Hannah Wyatt, Chris Whatman, Andrew McDaid - Esther George (Wellington)
Topic: Return to running following bony stress injuries in female runners
Supervisors: Kelly Sheerin and Duncan Reid - Victor Lopez Jr (USA)
Topic: Risk Factors in Developing USA Rugby 7s Playing Populations
Supervisors: Patria Hume, Meryle Weinstein, Answorth Allen - Braityn Callaghan (Auckland)
Topic: Coach Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Sport Injury Prevention in Youth Basketball
Supervisors: Chris Whatman, Tricia Lucas - Nyena Kawai (Auckland)
Topic: Surf-Related Training Habits and Related Knowledge and Attitudes in Adult Recreational Surfers
Supervisors: Chris Whatman - Tom Cooper (Auckland)
Topic: Maturation status and injury in Northern Region football players
Supervisors: Chris Whatman - James Farr (Wellington)
Topic: The 11+ Part 2: Can it be improved to further enhance physical performance in female youth football players?
Supervisors: Mike McGuigan, Chris Whatman
International Intern Candidates
- Oliver Viant (Auckland)
Topic: Te Kukunetanga running during pregnancy
Supervisors: Hannah Wyatt, Kelly Sheerin
SPRINZ SKIPP Research Associate Members
Professor Thor Besier | Auckland | The University of Auckland |
Dr Sian Clancy | Auckland | Drug Free Sport New Zealand |
Associate Professor Justin Fernandez | Auckland | The University of Auckland |
Dr Mark Fulcher | Auckland | Axis Sports Medicine Specialists and New Zealand Football |
Dr Bruce Hamilton | Auckland | High Performance Sport New Zealand |
Dr Stephen Hollings | Auckland | T&F Stats and Research |
Helen Kilding | Auckland | NZ Defence Force |
Associate Professor Andrew McDaid | Auckland | The University of Auckland |
Dr Chloe McKenzie | Auckland | High Performance Sport New Zealand |
Associate Professor Mike Hamlin | Christchurch | Lincoln University |
Associate Professor Nicholas Gill | Hamilton | University of Waikato |
Dr Brian Russell | Nelson | Contempo Lab |
Dr Stacy Sims | Tauranga | DrStacySims LLC and ERW Ltd |
Isaac Carlson | Wellington | Accident Compensation Corporation |
Dr Doug King | Wellington | Hutt Valley District Health Board |
Jody McGowan | Wellington | Kinetics Physiotherapy |
Dr Ken Quarrie | Wellington | New Zealand Rugby |
Dr Rodrigo Bini | Australia | La Trobe University |
Dr Liz Bradshaw | Australia | Australian Catholic University |
Professor Sayumi Iwamoto | Japan | Toyo University |
Professor Sarah Shultz | USA | Seattle University |
Dr Denny Wells | Australia | Logemas Pty Ltd |
Dr Stephven Lemalu Kolose | Auckland | Worksafe NZ |
Dr Karen Hind | UK | Durham University |
Research group leader
Members
SKIPP Adjunct Professors
- Professor Jacqueline Alderson, Australia
University of Western Australia - Professor Lindsay Carter, USA
Emeritus retired - Professor Justin Keogh, Australia
Bond University - Professor Roland van den Tillaar, Norway
Nord-Trøndelag University College - Professor Barry Wilson, Dunedin
Emeritus retired