Sport Science
Understanding and optimising sport performance at all levels
- How can sport performance be optimised?
- What are the specific training needs of different groups of performers from the young to the elderly and the recreational to the elite?
- In what ways can research on sport performance inform wider knowledge about health and quality of life?
The School has an international and long-standing reputation for research into enhancing sport performance. This research theme includes understanding sport within the broader context of underlying mechanisms, behaviours and interactions that impact on performance. Research expertise covers ‘young’, ‘older’, ‘elite’ and ‘recreational’ populations.
Key research areas include: the effect of nutrition and training on performance and recovery from sport; the impact of high training volumes on the immune system; the biomechanics and motor control of elite sporting performance; talent identification and development; interactions between sport, exercise and eating disorders; the impact of sport and exercise on bone health, cognition and muscle function; and coach-athlete relationships in sport, coach behaviours, motivation and mental toughness.
