Nuha

Current student, International student

The overlap between sports as an applied science and the natural sciences of physics and mathematics is very intriguing and gives the study of Sports Biomechanics the potential to solve many of the problems we face in practice.

I have always enjoyed advancing my learning and I felt that continuing my studies would put me in a good position to both share and foster knowledge, as well as contribute to the overall advancement of the field through research.

I chose to study at Loughborough due to its renowned reputation for sports science and sports research, and particularly the academic excellence of the Sports Biomechanics MSc programme.

The daily advancement of my understanding of Sports Biomechanics felt very rewarding and each small milestone was an achievement that shaped the trajectory of my learning experience. The lab-based learning sessions were of particularly great value in ensuring that the instilled theoretical knowledge delivered in the classroom was transferable in practice.

Nuha

The knowledge and skills I developed during my MSc have been greatly transferable to my current research and have added tremendously to my ability to successfully carry on my work with a PhD at Loughborough.

I am now studying for a PhD focusing on the kinematics, motor control and motor organisation of the basketball layup shot as a variable and unpredicted task. My research looks to understand how motor behaviour is influenced in the face of these challenges. I hope that my findings can inform coaches and players of what mechanical variables govern a successful layup outcome.

Since Biomechanics is a discipline that heavily relies on technology, I learned how to use the different hardware and software typically employed in my current research, such as motion capture systems, force plates, electromyography (EMG) and computer simulation modelling. The module focused on the delivery of data analysis methods in Biomechanics was also an essential skillset that I have carried throughout my higher education rely upon for my research.

As Sports Biomechanics is an inter-disciplinary field of study, my advice to those wanting to study this master’s is to be prepared to think like a sports scientist, a mathematician, physicist, engineer, and sometimes, a photographer (if you are using motion capture). I would also suggest reading up on the scope and capacity of this field of science.

I would greatly encourage anyone to get into this field of study. Biomechanics is a relatively new field of study which means that it’s exciting and has rapid technological advancements, it’s growing in potential to answer important real-life questions.

With the increasing demand for performance analysis expertise in sport the opportunities are endless. Whether in research labs and academia, or in practice and applied settings, there are various applications to a Biomechanics degree.

Back to all stories