Principal Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Biomechanics

I am currently the Undergraduate Portfolio Lead for SSPA and Course Leader for our BSc Strength and Conditioning degree. I am an active researcher in sport and exercise biomechanics, having supervised several postgraduate research students to completion, and continuing to supervise ISPAR students and staff.

My current roles at the University of Bedfordshire also include Community Exercise Clinic academic lead and Academic Lead for Recruitment (School Visits).

I graduated with BSc (2007) and MSc (2009) degrees in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC). Subsequently, I undertook a funded PhD in Sports Biomechanics (2009-2012) at Cardiff Metropolitan University (formerly UWIC).

My PhD research developed methods of providing integrated kinematic and kinetic feedback for sprinters and evaluated the effectiveness of different feedback interventions.

Following this, I completed a one-year Post Doc with the International Rugby Board and Cardiff Metropolitan University, investigating the use of artificial pitches and their effects on surface and player mechanics. I joined the University of Bedfordshire as a Biomechanics Lecturer in September 2013. I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2015).

Qualifications

• PhD Sports Biomechanics - Cardiff Metropolitan University
• MSc Sport and Exercise Sciences - UWIC
• BSc Sport and Exercise Sciences - UWIC
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy - University of Bedfordshire

Teaching Expertise

• Biomechanics
• Human Anatomy
• Research Methods

Research profiles

• ResearchGate

Research supervision

PhD Students

• Diana Soares - "Effects of shoe midsole thickness and hardness on postural stability in older adults"
• Jordanne Hine - "The Effects of Auditory and Visual Stimulus on Lower Limb Static Postural Control"
• Jacob Wymer - "An Analysis of the Factors Related to Barbell Velocity in Elite Powerlifters Deadlift Performance"
• Morgan Ferris - "Identifying the Best Practice for use of Post-Activation Potentiation for Increasing Human Performance"
• Tarryn Mutch – "Effects of Exercise on Functional Capacity, Risk of Falls and Quality of Life in Stroke Survivors"

Completed PhD Students

• Chris Long (September 2022). "Kinetic Variables Influencing Stability in Rugby Union"
• Jack Wells (November 2020). "The correlation and training of specific kinetic variables to golf drive performance"

Masters by Research Students

• Darren Harrison "The acute effects of back squat & counter movement jump on subsequent sprint running performance"
• Oliver Lilly "The Effects of Ankle Bracing and Footwear on the Dynamic Defence Mechanism following a Futsal Simulation."
• Michael Harrison "The effects of a 12-day intensified training period on the exercise-induced salivary hormone and mucosal immune responses."
• George Maddams "Kinematic and muscle activation differences between a range of posterior and hip dominant resistance exercises"
• Jacob Murphy "Dynamic postural stability in boxers and differences between levels of performer"
• Lauren Howard "The relationship between functional performance test results and frontal plane knee movement in cyclists"
• Ross Endersby "Analysis of Kinetic, kinematic and muscle activity variables within a rugby tackle simulation"
• Joe Powers "The Time Effects of Different Post Activation Potentiation Interventions on Performance in High Level Athletes"
• Nathan Allwork "An Analysis of Kinetics in a Change of Direction Manoeuvre in Professional Rugby Players"
• Yasmin Payne "Differences in Team Sport Players' Repeated Sprint Performance, Physiology and Biomechanics between Temperate and Hot Environments"

External Roles

• Academic reviewer: Journal of Sports Sciences, Sports Biomechanics, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, Journal of Biomechanics, International Society of Biomechanics in Sport.

Publications

• Wells, J., Mitchell, A., Charalambous, L. and Fletcher, I. (2022). Relationships between highly skilled golfers’ clubhead velocity and kinetic variables during a countermovement jump. Sports Biomechanics. 28:1-13. Doi: 10.1080/14763141.2022.2041709
• Charalambous, L. H., Champion, R. B., Smith, L. R., Mitchell, A. C., & Bailey, D. P. (2019). Effects of interrupting sitting with use of a treadmill desk versus prolonged sitting on postural stability. International journal of sports medicine, 40(13), 871-875.
• Wells, J., Mitchell, A., Charalambous, L. and Fletcher, I. (2019). Relationships between highly-skilled golfers’ clubhead velocity and vertical ground reaction force asymmetry during vertical jumps and an isometric mid-thigh pull. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research,10.1519/JSC.0000000000003191. Advance online publication. doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003191
• Wells, J., Charalambous, L., Mitchell, A., Coughlan, D., Brearley, S.L., Hawkes, R., Murray, A., Hillman, R. and Fletcher, I. (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. doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1559972
• Wells, J., Mitchell, A., Charalambous, L. and Fletcher, I. (2018). Relationships between highly skilled golfers' clubhead velocity and force producing capabilities during vertical jumps and an isometric mid-thigh pull. Journal of sports sciences, 36(16), 1847–1851. doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1423611
• Charalambous, L. and Fletcher, I.M. (2017). Biomechanics of Running. In Brewer, J. Running Science, Ivy Press, UK.
• Charalambous, L., Lieres und Wilkau, H.C., Potthast, W. and Irwin, G. (2015). The effects of artificial surface temperature on mechanical properties and player kinematics during landing and acceleration. Journal of Sport and Health Sciences.
• Charalambous, L., Irwin, G., Kerwin, D.G. and Bezodis, I.N. (2012). Joint Kinetics and joint stiffness in the sprint start push-off. Journal of Sports Sciences. 30:1.

Recent Conference Publications

• Soares, D., Fletcher, I., Mitchell, A. and Charalambous, L. (2024). The Effect of Thin Midsole Thickness Footwear on Postural Stability during Stair Descent in Healthy Older Adults. British Geriatrics Society 25th International Conference on Falls and Postural Stability, Nottingham, UK.
• Soares, D., Fletcher, I., Mitchell, A. and Charalambous, L. (2022). The effect of footwear midsole thickness on postural stability in older adults aged 65 to 79. BASES conference, King Power Stadium, Leicester, UK. Doi: 10.1080/02640414.2022.2125766.
• Soares, D., Fletcher, I., Mitchell, A. and Charalambous, L. (2021). Intra and Intersession Reliability of Centre of Pressure Measures in Older Adults during Bipedal Static Postural Tests. XXVIII Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB), July 2021.
• Wymer, J. and Charalambous, L. (2019). An Analysis of Sticking Region Muscle Activity within the Conventional Deadlift. 5th United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association National Conference, Milton Keynes, UK.
• Long, C.S., Fletcher, I.M., Mitchell, A.C.S. and Charalambous, L. (2019). Stabilisation of elite male rugby union players during a single leg landing task. In The BASES Biomechanics Interest Group Easter Meeting, Programme and Abstracts, University of Huddersfield, April 10.
• Charalambous, L., Gedny, A., Alici, G., Charlett, O., Morari, V., Mitchell, A., Smith, L. and Bailey, D. (2018). The effects of prolonged sitting versus use of a body weight resistance exercise on postural stability. Proceedings of the 36th International Society of Biomechanics in Sport Conference, Auckland, NZ. Vol. 36: 1, article 114.
• Soares, D., Charalambous, L., Rodrigues, P. and Mitchell, A. (2018). Effects of midsole thickness on single leg drop landing ground reaction force and dynamic stability. Proceedings of the 36th International Society of Biomechanics in Sport Conference, Auckland, NZ. Vol. 36: 1, article 122.
• Soares, D., Charalambous, L., Rodrigues, P. and Mitchell, A. (2018). Effects of midsole thickness on single leg drop landing ground reaction force and dynamic stability. BASES Biomechanics Interest Group Easter Meeting, University of Salford, April 04.
• Long, C.S., Dagget, L., Fletcher, I.M., Mitchell, A.C.S. and Charalambous, L. (2018). Effects of inter-positional anthropometric factors on balance and stability in elite male rugby union players. Proceedings of the 2018 British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Conference. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36 (S1), p. 77-78.
• Charalambous, L., Champion, R., Smith, L., McGirl, C. and Bailey, D. (2017). The effects of prolonged sitting versus use of a treadmill desk on postural stability. Proceedings of the 35th International Society of Biomechanics in Sport Conference, Cologne, Germany.

Contact Details

T: +44 (0)1234 493646
E: laura.charalambous@beds.ac.uk