Dr Paul Sanderson

Paul completed his first degree (part-time) in Sports Science and Sport Rehabilitation at St Mary’s University College in 2002. In 2007, he secured a sabbatical from the British Army to study for a master's degree in Physical Activity and Health at Loughborough University. Whilst still in the British Army, Paul also conducted his doctoral studies (part-time) at Loughborough University and graduated with a PhD in 2014.

On leaving the British Army, Paul secured a research associate position at Loughborough University (2014). This was followed by Lead Translational Scientist – Military Medicine and Rehabilitation (2016), then Applied Sport Scientist – Sport and Exercise Medicine (2018) and more recently (2023) Senior Teaching Fellow – Sport and Exercise Medicine (all at Loughborough University).

Paul’s principal research interests lie in the field of injury prevention and conditioning across the 'ability' spectrum. Paul's rehabilitation practice extends across exercise and sport rehabilitation. In his time in the army, Paul was the lead exercise rehabilitation instructor across the Armed Services and served at the internationally renowned Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC).

Paul has established himself as a teaching specialist. He contributes to the applied sports science aspects of the Sport Science, Coaching and Physical Educations (SSCaPE) programme (parts A – C). He supervises undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students and is the Programme Leader of the NRC PGT programmes.

Paul’s principal research interests lie in the field of musculoskeletal injury and, specifically, the prevention of overuse injury. He retains an interest in the impact of body composition on physical performance and physical conditioning across the spectrum (specifically all aspects related to musculoskeletal injury rehabilitation).

Paul has provided physical activity and health consultancy for the British Army, the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy. He has co-authored several research reports for the British Army and NATO (injury prevention and occupational performance).

Paul is a reviewer for a number of peer reviewed journals including Physiological Measurement (PMEA), BMC Public Health, and the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition.

Conference Communications

• Oral presentation: Melbourne (Aus) International Congress on Soldier Physical Performance (ICSPP) 2017.
• Oral presentation: Public Lecture Loughborough University 2017.
• Oral presentation: Loughborough University PA and Health research group 2014.