Associate Dean (Quality & International)

I've been involved in Sport and Exercise Science for nearly thirty years and it's an area I am passionate about. I began studying sport way back in the early 1990s at the University of Chichester and I soon came to realise my specific area of interest was the biomechanics of sports injuries.

Upon graduation, I studied Athletic Training and Sports Medicine at Campbell University in North Carolina (USA), and then completed an MSc in Sports Medicine and Kinesiology at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville (USA).

I returned to the University of Chichester to read for a PhD in Biomechanics, focussing on the biomechanics of the lateral ankle sprain.

I taught at the University of Hertfordshire for 12 years before taking up the role as Head of School of Sport Science and Physical Activity at the University of Bedfordshire in the summer of 2013.

In April 2021, I stepped away from my Head of School role and took over as Associate Dean Quality & International with the Faculty of Education, English & Sport.

I am a reader in Biomechanics and the majority of my research is focused on lower limb biomechanics and the ankle sprain mechanism.

I have twelve successful PhD supervisions, two successful MPhil supervisions and four successful MSc by Research supervisions. I am currently supervising seven PhD students and two MSc by Research students. I have recently examined PhDs and MSc by Research at Loughborough University, Trinity College Dublin, Swansea University and here at the University of Bedfordshire.

I am a seven-time Ironman Triathlon finisher, marathon runner and ParkRunner.

Qualifications

• PhD Biomechanics: University of Chichester
• Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, University of Chichester
• MSc Sports Medicine and Kinesiology: University of Tennessee, USA
• BSc (Hons) Sports Science: University of Chichester

Teaching Expertise

• Sports Injuries
• Rehabilitation & Exercise Therapy
• Anatomy & Biomechanics
• Athletic Bracing & Taping

Research Interests

I have research interests in the following areas:

• The Biomechanics of Functional Ankle Instability including Postural Sway and Reaction Time to Simulated Ankle Sprain Mechanisms
• Prehabilitation and gait
• Golf, dance and footwear biomechanics

Successful Research Supervision

• Charlotte Gautrey: The Biomechanics of the Dynamic Defence Mechanism (PhD)
• Peter Thain: The Effects of Ice Application on the Dynamic Defence Mechanism (PhD)
• Joanna Denyer: The effects of foot structure and athletic taping on lower limb biomechanics (PhD)
• James Johnstone: In-match Physiological Assessment of Elite Bowlers in Cricket (PhD)
• Ashley Richardson: Biomechanics of the golf swing (PhD)
• Sean Maloney: The effect of stiffness and asymmetries on change of direction speed (PhD)
• Diogo Leal: The development of an exercise tool to highlight hormonal alterations when overreached to reduce the incidence of the overtraining syndrome (PhD)
• Lyndsey Northeast: Three-dimensional biomechanical analysis of a simulated ankle sprain during static and dynamic activity (PhD)
• Ben Maylor: The effects of breaking up prolonged sitting on cardiometabolic risk markers and appetite control (PhD)
• Jack Wells: Establishing preferential training modalities aimed at maximising golfer’s clubhead speed (PhD)
• Elizabeth Myers: Physical literacy and human flourishing: Creating meaningful physical education experiences (PhD)
• Megan Williams: An examination of lower limb biomechanics and the closed kinetic chain (MPhil)*
• Thomas Cresswell: Dynamic balance in alpine skiers (MPhil)*
• Nesrine Dally: Sex differences in muscle activity and ground reaction forces during squat and landing manoeuvres (MSc by Research)
• Joseph Brooks: The effect of acetominophen and ginger on exercise-induced pain and fatigue in the lower limbs of healthy young men (MSc by Research)
• Stephanie White: Sedentary behaviour and cardiometabolic risk in children (MSc by Research)
• Oliver Lilley: The Effects of Ankle Bracing and Footwear on the Dynamic Defence Mechanism following a Futsal Simulation. (MSc by Research)

Ongoing Research Supervision

• Chris Long: Kinetic and kinematic variables relating to stability in elite Rugby Union (PhD): submitted July 2021
• Diana Soares: Effects of shoe midsole thickness on postural stability in older adults (PhD): submits July 2023
• Jordanne Hine: The influence of visual and auditory stimuli on postural control. (PhD): submits October 2023
• Nicole Rafermati: Do high ambient temperatures affect physical performance and recovery during and following 120 min of simulated soccer compared with a temperate environment. (MSc by Research): submits September 2022

External Roles

• Chair of the Division of Biomechanics and Motor Behaviour at the British Association for Sport & Exercise Sciences (BASES)
• Member of the Executive Committee of the International Ankle Consortium

External Examining

• External examiner at AECC University College (Ongoing)
• External examiner at University College London (Completed)
• External examiner at Hartpury College (Completed)

Recent Publications

Book Chapter

• Mitchell, A. (2016). Sports Injuries: Basic Classifications, Aetiology and Pathophysiology. In Routledge International Handbook of Sports Therapy, Injury Assessment and Rehabilitation. London: Routledge, pp1-40.

Funded Report

• Chater, A.M., Kukucska, D., Wyld, K., Yates, J.D., Richards, J.C., Daniel P. Bailey, D.P., Mitchell, A.C.S. (2020). Police Health and Wellbeing: The PHeW Project. Understanding and improving the health behaviours and psychological wellbeing of the Bedfordshire Police Force. Funded by Kathryn Holloway, Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Bedfordshire Police.

Article

• Hawkey, A., Mitchell, A., Bampouras, T., Afzal, I., Collings, F. (2020). Postural variability: an answer to healthier home working. The Sport & Exercise Scientist, 65, 19.

Publications

• Wells, J.E.T., Mitchell, A.C.S., Charalambous, L.H., Fletcher, I.M. (2022). Relationships between highly skilled golfers’ clubhead velocity and kinetic variables during a countermovement jump. Sports Biomechanics, https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2022.2041709
• Yates, J.D., Aldous, J.W.F., Bailey, D.P., Chater, A.M., Mitchell, A.C.S., & Richards, J.C. (2021). The Prevalence and Predictors of Hypertension and the Metabolic Syndrome in Police Personnel. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, (18), 6728.
• Wells, J.E.T., Mitchell, A.C.S., Charalambous, L.H., Fletcher, I.M. (2020). Relationships between highly skilled golfers' clubhead velocity and vertical ground reaction force asymmetry during vertical jumps & an isometric mid-thigh pull. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 34(10), 2824-2831.
• Charalambous, L.H., Champion, R.B., Smith, L.R., Mitchell, A.C.S., Bailey, D.P. (2019). Effects of Interrupting Prolonged Sitting with Treadmill Desk use on Postural Stability, International Journal of Sports Medicine, 40(13), 871-875.
• Wells, J.E.T., Charalambous, L.H., Mitchell, A.C.S., Coughlan, D., Brearley, S.L., Hawkes, R.A., Murray, A.D., Hillman, R.G., Fletcher, I.M. (2019). Relationships between Challenge Tour Golfers’ clubhead velocity and force producing capabilities during a countermovement jump and isometric mid-thigh pull, Journal of Sports Sciences, 37(12), 1381-1386.
• Northeast, L., Gautrey, C.N., Bottoms, L., Hughes, G., Mitchell, A.C.S., Greenhalgh, A. (2018). Full gait cycle analysis of lower limb and trunk kinematics and muscle activations during walking in participants with and without ankle instability. Gait & Posture, 64, 114-118.
• Wells, J.E.T., Mitchell, A.C.S., Charalambous, L.H., Fletcher, I.M. (2018). Relationships between highly skilled golfers' clubhead velocity and force producing capabilities in vertical jumps & an isometric mid-thigh pull. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36(16), 1847-1851.
• Richardson, K. A., Mitchell, A. C. S., Hughes, G. (2018). The effect of movement variability on putting proficiency during the golf putting strokes. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 13(4), 590-597.
• Long, C., Daggett, L., Fletcher, I.M., Mitchell, A., Charalambous, L.H. (2019). Effects of inter-positional anthrompometric factors on balance and stability research in elite male rugby union players. Journal of Sport Sciences, 38-39, doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1521633
• Johnstone, J.A., Hughes, G., Mitchell, A.C.S., Ford, P.A., Watson, T., Duffield, R., Gordon, D., Roberts, J.D., Garrett, A.T. (2017). Accelerometery and Heart Rate Responses of Professional Fast-Medium Bowlers in One-Day and Multi-Day Cricket. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 16, 311-317.
• Thain, P.K., Hughes, G., Mitchell, A.C.S. (2016). The effect of repetitive ankle perturbations on muscle reaction time and muscle activity. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 30, 184-190.
• Richardson, K. A., Mitchell, A.C.S., Hughes, G. (2016). The effect of dimple error on the horizontal launch angle and side spin of the golf ball during putting. Journal of Sports Sciences, 16, 1-7.
• Wells, J.E.T., Mitchell, A.C.S., Charalambous, L.H., Fletcher, I.M. (2016). Relationships between vertical ground reaction forces and clubhead speed in highly skilled golfers. International Journal of Golf Science, 5(Suppl.), S74.
• Thain, P.K., Bleakley, C. M., Mitchell, A.C.S. (2015). Muscle Reaction Time During a Simulated Lateral Ankle Sprain After Wet-Ice Application or Cold-Water Immersion. Journal of Athletic Training, 50, 697-703.
• Richardson, K. A., Mitchell, A.C.S., Hughes, G. (2015). Reliability of an experimental method to analyse the impact point on a golf ball during putting. Sports Biomechanics, 14, 206-215.
• Mitchell, A.C.S., Brooks-Lynch, K. (2015). Centre of pressure excursion in footballers’ support limb when maximal instep shooting. Journal of Sports Sciences, 33(Suppl), 82-83.
• Gautrey, C.N. Watson, T., Mitchell, A.C.S. (2014). The effect of localised and globalised fatigue on muscle latency in healthy and functionally unstable participants following a simulated ankle sprain. British Journal of Sports Medicine 48(7), 599.
• Gautrey, C.N. Watson, T., Mitchell, A. C. S. (2014). The effect of localised and globalised fatigue on centre of pressure excursions in healthy and functionally unstable participants following a single leg drop jump landing; analysing a subconscious time period. British Journal of Sports Medicine 48(7), 598-599.
• Gautrey, C.N. Watson, T., Mitchell, A. C. S. (2014). Test-retest reliability of three setup positions during isokinetic ankle inversion-eversion exercise. British Journal of Sports Medicine 48(7), 598.
• Johnstone, J.A., Mitchell, A.C.S., Hughes, G., Watson, T., Ford, P.A., Garrett, A.T. (2014). The athletic profile of fast bowling in cricket: A review. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28, 1465-1473.
• Gautrey, C.N. Watson, T., Mitchell, A.C.S. (2014). Muscle latencies in healthy and functionally unstable participants following a simulated ankle sprain. British Journal of Sports Medicine 48(7), 598.
• Gautrey, C.N. Watson, T., Mitchell, A.C.S. (2014). Centre of pressure excursions in healthy and functionally unstable participants following a single leg drop jump landing; analysing a subconscious time period. British Journal of Sports Medicine 48(7), 597-598.
• Denyer, J., Hewitt, N., Mitchell, A.C.S. (2013). Foot structure and muscular reaction time to a simulated ankle sprain. Journal of Athletic Training, 48, 326-330.
• Gautrey, C.N. Watson, T., Mitchell, A.C.S. (2013). The effect of isokinetic testing speed on the reliability of muscle fatigue indicators during a hip abductor-adductor fatigue protocol. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 34(7), 646-653.
• Gautrey, C.N. Watson, T., Mitchell, A.C.S. (2013). Effect of velocity on load range during isokinetic hip abduction and adduction exercise. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 34(7), 623-630.
• Johnstone, J.A., Hughes, G., Ford, P.A., Watson, T., Mitchell, A.C.S., Garrett, A.T. (2012). Field based reliability and validity of the Bioharness Multivariable monitoring device. Journal of Sport Science and Medicine, 11, 643-652.
• Richardson, K.A., Hughes, G., Mitchell, A.C.S. (2012). Centre of pressure excursion during the golf putting stroke in low, mid and high handicap golfers. International Journal of Golf Science, 1, 127-139
• Mitchell, A., Dyson, R., Hale, T., Abraham, A. (2008). Biomechanics of ankle instability. Part 1: Reaction time to simulated ankle sprain. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 40(8), 1515–1521.
• Mitchell, A., Dyson, R., Hale, T., Abraham, A. (2008). Biomechanics of ankle instability. Part 2: Postural sway-reaction time Relationship. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 40(8), 1522–1528.

Other References

• Twitter: @ACS_Mitchell
• ResearchGate: Andrew_Mitchell19

Contact Details

T: +44 (0)1234 793363
E: andrew.mitchell@beds.ac.uk