Sports kinesiology injury prevention and performance
Successful sport outcomes depend on the ability of the human body to move effectively, efficiently and safely. Using the scientific study of movement, we investigate new methods for optimising human motion to reduce the risks of injury and improve sports performance of athletes of all ages and abilities.
The Repercussion Group: - Run It Straight
A Call to Action Against a Perfect Brain Injury Delivery System
The good news is that the Runit Championship League’s $200k ‘run it straight’ final venue has been cancelled from Auckland, due to the scientific protests. The bad news is that it has been shifted to Dubai. This needs to be banned all together.
The international Repercussion Group white paper outlines the key issues and calls for a global ban on the Run It Straight competitions.
Women’s Health and Neuroscience research programme
The overall research programme focuses on women, women’s health, fertility, brain, nutrition, neuroendocrine and female athlete optimization. We wish to investigate the intricate relationship between hormones and concussion outcomes which is essential for developing targeted interventions and improving the well-being of females, who may experience unique hormonal responses after concussions. There will be a number of studies in the women’s health and neuroscience (WHN) research programme.
AUT-ACC-NSO SportSmart research programme
The AUT-ACC-NSO SportSmart research programme aims to provide evidence for six national sports organisations (NZ Rugby, NZ Rugby League, Football NZ, Touch NZ, Basketball NZ, and Netball NZ) on the effectiveness of their injury prevention initiatives. The collaboration includes scientists, health professionals, coaches, athletes and injury prevention staff.
Sports Biomechanics and Technology research programme
The AUT Sports Biomechanics and Technology research programme aims to provide solutions for community partners. Examples include video analysis of All Black Jordie Barret’s red card for his high ball catch when his foot hit a players head, and the design and testing of the ManuTech system for the Manu World Championships.
J.E. Lindsay Carter Clinic and Archive research programme
The J.E. Lindsay Carter Clinic and Archive research programme provides physique and body composition assessment using 3D body scanning, DEXA body composition analysis, ultrasound measurement, and International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry techniques. The collaboration includes AUT staff and national and international research associates.
Staff leading this work: Professor Patria Hume, Dr Kelly Sheerin
Insole testing (biomechanics and pain rating)
Insoles are commonly used to improve foot function, alleviate pain, and enhance comfort. Understanding their impact on lower limb biomechanics, foot pressure distribution, and self-reported pain and comfort is crucial for optimizing their design and application.
You are invited to participate in this research study that includes two laboratory testing sessions of one hour each plus wearing an insole for 5 weeks and reporting each of those weeks for 5 minutes.
Our research group expertise
Lower limb injury biomechanics
Monitoring sport-specific movement and load to understand injury risk factors and help develop injury prevention initiatives.
Running biomechanics
Identification, development, and optimisation of musculoskeletal movement protocols to reduce injury risk and improve performance in runners.
Sports kinanthropometry
Identification, development, and optimisation of body composition to aid athletic performance.
Sports injury epidemiology
Distribution and determinants of sports injury to help develop and evaluate injury prevention programmes.
Injury prevention in youth sport
We have a specific focus on how sport delivery structures, sport specialisation, growth and maturation impact healthy youth sport experiences.
Eccentric training
We have developed eccentric training devices with applications in performance and injury prevention.
Our activities
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
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
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
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
ManuTech splash characteristics and diver biomechanics
The aim of this study is to develop a system that will automatically measure the splash characteristics (i.e., height, volume and sound) and the diver's motion.
Team members: Professor Patria Hume.
- SPRINZ Research Associate Dr Brian Russell provided a Radio NZ interview about the effects on two stranded NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams who are set to return to terra firma after having spent 285 days orbiting the Earth. Brian conducted work with NASA as part of his PhD at AUT with Prof Patria Hume and is now considered an international expert on human physical performance in space.
- Professor Patria Hume talked about the insole study and how the composition of insoles matters when selecting a type of your foot, leg or back pain. "We looked at 10 different insole types to see which ones would be good for them in terms of foot, knee or back pain, and we found some really interesting results," Hume told Jim Mora on RNZ's Sunday Morning.
- Professor Patria Hume talks to RNZ - How comfy are your insoles?