Dr Thomas O'Brien

Tom completed his BSc in Sport and Exercise Science at Aberystwyth University in 2016 before completing his MSc in Exercise Physiology at Loughborough University. He became a Research Assistant within the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport (PHC) in 2017, where he also undertook a part-time PhD exploring thermoregulatory challenges to warm-up and cooling strategies in para populations.

As part of his research role, Tom assisted with a breadth of ongoing research within the PHC, whilst also providing physiological support for the GB Wheelchair Rugby (GBWR) team as part of the PHC’s ongoing support to the sport. This included athlete screening and fitness profiling for both elite and talent pathway players. In 2020, this led to Tom becoming a key member of the multidisciplinary team leading both sports science and strength and conditioning provisions throughout the Tokyo Paralympic cycle and at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. He became their Performance Scientist in 2021 upon completion of his PhD, maintaining a research link with the PHC. During this time, he successfully led and collaborated on research and innovation projects related to performance enhancement within wheelchair rugby as part of an inter-disciplinary approach to understanding para-sport performance, linking this to his PhD research.

In December 2022 Tom took on a part-time role as a Research Associate at the PHC, where he managed and expanded collaborations within the wheelchair rugby community and led knowledge exchange with national and international governing bodies. His integrated researcher approach allowed him to lead on research and innovation within the sport of wheelchair rugby while providing world-class physiological and diagnostic testing to players to help best prepare them for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, where he was again a key member of the multidisciplinary team.

Since September 2023, Tom was also a University Teacher in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University where he tutored on the MSc Musculoskeletal Sport Science and Health module "Para Sport: Rehabilitation to Performance", and delivered various lectures related to applied para-sport on courses including MSc Strength & Conditioning, and BSc Sport and Exercise Science, among others.

In 2024, Tom became a lecturer in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences where he will be the module leader for the MSc Musculoskeletal Sport Science and Health module “Para Sport: Rehabilitation to Performance” alongside continuing to deliver Para sport specific content across the school aligning to the University's Para sport strategy.

Tom's research is primarily focused on optimising performance in Paralympic sport using an interdisciplinary approach. His doctoral research at Loughborough University delved into the thermoregulatory responses to warm-up and cooling strategies, specifically tailored for para athletes. He explored the unique challenges faced by Paralympic athletes, particularly wheelchair rugby players, in hot environmental conditions such as those encountered during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. His work identified effective cooling strategies, emphasizing the importance of pre-cooling techniques, which played a crucial role in the gold medal success of the GB Wheelchair Rugby team.

Tom’s current research interests continue to revolve around enhancing para sport performance through innovative training and recovery interventions. He is particularly interested in exploring methods for monitoring wheelchair mobility performance, training load monitoring and fatigue responses to training and competition in wheelchair sports. His work integrates physiological, biomechanical, and data science perspectives to provide a holistic understanding of wheelchair sporting demands.

Future research plans include expanding on the aforementioned themes and exploring acute and chronic thermoregulatory interventions in wheelchair sports populations, investigating acute training tools such as blood flow restriction training for strength development in para athletes, optimising aerobic and anaerobic testing and monitoring tools within the same population, and quantifying head impacts and prevention strategies within wheelchair sports for predictions and measurement of traumatic brain injury. Through collaboration with leading experts, Tom aims to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and practical solutions in the field of sports science, and strength and conditioning for Paralympic athletes.

Tom has made significant contributions to the field of para sport through various impactful external activities. A notable example is the creation of the "Chilling the Game: Mastering Cooling Strategies for Wheelchair Rugby" infographic. This educational resource, which distils key findings from Tom's PhD research, is hosted on the World Wheelchair Rugby website, reaching an international audience of athletes and coaches. This resource exemplifies Tom's commitment to translating complex scientific research into practical, accessible tools that enhance performance and safety in wheelchair rugby on a global scale.

Beyond this, Tom developed a programme of activities to feature in the GB Wheelchair Rugby Club Experience project, enhancing the professionalism and understanding of sports science and strength and conditioning within wheelchair rugby clubs across Great Britain through both online and in-person workshops.

Tom's dedication to practical applications of sports science is further demonstrated by his development of a Microsoft app using PowerBI and Power Automate for the GB Wheelchair Rugby multidisciplinary team. This tool aids practitioners in visualizing and interpreting complex data, facilitating data-driven performance decisions. Additionally, he has been active in multidisciplinary expert groups for player selection, assisting with the selection of athletes for Paralympic programmes and major events. His involvement in a working group focused on athletes with cerebral palsy underscores his commitment to aligning knowledge and best practices across various institutions.

• O’Brien TJ., Goosey-Tolfrey VL., Leicht CA (2024). Rectal and gastrointestinal temperature differ during passive heating and subsequent recovery. Journal of Thermal Biology: 119: 103755. DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103755
• Briley, SJ., O’Brien, TJ., Oh, Y., Vegter, RJK., Chan, M., Mason, BS., et al. (2023). Wheelchair rugby players maintain sprint performance but alter propulsion biomechanics after simulated match play. Scandinavian Journal Medicine Science in Sports. 6;33(9):1726–37. DOI: 10.1111/sms.14423
• O’Brien, TJ., Briley, SJ., Mason, BS., Leicht, CA., Tolfrey, K. & Goosey-Tolfrey, VL. (2022). A high-intensity warm-up increases thermal strain but does not affect repeated sprint performance in athletes with a cervical spinal cord injury. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. 17:440–449. DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2021-0073
• O’Brien, TJ., Lunt, KM., Stephenson, BT., Goosey-Tolfrey, VL. (2022). The effect of pre-cooling or per-cooling in athletes with a spinal cord injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 25:606–614. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2022.02.005
• Stephenson BT., O’Brien TJ., Hutchinson MJ., et al. (2022). Ice Slurry Ingestion Lowers Thermoregulatory Strain in Wheelchair Tennis Players During Repeated Sprint Intervals in the Heat. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance 17(12):1748-1755. DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2022-0174
• Bossuyt, FM., Briley, SJ., Mason, BS., O’Brien, TJ., Arnet, U., Boninger, ML. & Goosey-Tolfrey, VL. (2022). Shoulder tendon adaptations following a graded exercise test to exhaustion in highly trained wheelchair rugby athletes with different impairments. Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences 2:1–9. DOI: 10.3389/fresc.2021.755466

Book chapters

• Briley, SJ., Ferrandino, L., O’Brien, TJ. (2023) ‘A challenging but rewarding path’: Working with Disability Populations. In The Sport and Exercise Practitioner. Routledge, London, p 139-152
• Hutchinson, MJ., O’Brien, TJ., Murphy, CJ. & Goosey-Tolfrey, VL. (2022). Wheeled para-sport. In: Davison RC., Smith P., Hopker J, et al. (eds) Sport and Exercise Physiology Testing Guidelines: Volume I – Sport Testing: The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Guide (2nd ed.), 5th edition. Routledge, London; p 339-346

Academic Presentations

• O’Brien, TJ., Briley, SJ., Murphy, C. & Goosey-Tolfrey, VL. (2023). The role of power and kinetic asymmetry in differentiating elite vs. sub-elite wheelchair rugby sprint performance. UKSCA Annual Conference. Nottingham, United Kingdom.
• Briley, SJ., O’Brien, TJ., Murphy, C. & Goosey-Tolfrey, VL. (2022). Kinetic asymmetries and wingate wheelchair sprinting performance differ between elite and sub-elite wheelchair rugby players. BASES Division of Biomechanics & Motor Behaviour – ‘Biomechanics Interest Group (BIG) Steps Forward’. Online: BASES Presentation award winner.
• Bossuyt, FM., Briley, SJ., Mason, BS., O’Brien, TJ., Arnet, U., Boninger, ML. & Goosey-olfrey, VL. (2021). Shoulder tendon adaptations following repetitive activity in wheelchair rugby athletes. Canadian Society of Biomechanics Conference. Montreal, Quebec.
• Bossuyt, FM., Briley, SJ., Mason, BS., O’Brien, TJ., Arnet, U., Boninger, ML. & Goosey-Tolfrey, VL. (2021). Unilateral shoulder pain is associated with asymmetries in tendon thickness following maximum exertion in an elite wheelchair rugby athlete. Proceedings of the 38th International Conference of Biomechanics in Sports. Presented online.
• O’Brien, TJ., Briley, SJ., Mason, BS. & Goosey-Tolfrey, VL. (2019). The effects of warm-up on simulated wheelchair rugby gameplay and thermoregulation. International Paralympic Committee VISTA Conference. Amsterdam, Netherlands.
• Oh, YT., Mason, BS., Briley, SJ., O’Brien, TJ., Altman, V. & Goosey-Tolfrey, VL. (2019). Differences in propulsion kinematics of highly trained wheelchair rugby players after a fatiguing bout of exercise. International Paralympic Committee VISTA Conference. Amsterdam, Netherlands.
• Briley, SJ., Hutchinson, MJ., O’Brien, TJ., Mason, BS. & Goosey-Tolfrey, VL. (2018). Determining the appropriate resistance for assessing wheelchair propulsion performance using the Lode Esseda Ergometer. Rehab Move Congress. Groningen, Netherlands.