CURRENT research

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EXERCISE AND LIFESTYLE FOR PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC DISEASE

Low Resourced Environments:
Research team: Dr Martin Heine, PhD; MSc students

University and Other Environments:
Research team: Dr Josu Gomez-Ezeiza, PhD; Dr Maaike Eken, PhD; Mrs Susan Crumpton, MBA; Ms Gabriella Florence, MSc Candidate; Mr Jake Popperwell, MSc Candidate

This research thrust focuses to reduce the global burden of disease through the prevention and control of chronic diseases related to lifestyle, especially in low resourced environments. It further aims to investigate the risk factors associated with illness (specifically non-communicable) and injury in the student, staff and sporting population on a university campus and surrounding schools. Furthermore, this thrust aims to address these risk factors in an attempt to prevent injury and illness.

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INJURY AND ILLNESS PREVENTION IN SPORT

Conventional Sport:
Research team: Dr James C Brown, PhD; Dr Lovemore Kunorozva, PhD; Dr Maaike Eken, PhD; Dr Eirik Halvorsen Wik, PhD

Adapted Sport:
Research team: Dr Pheobe Runciman, PhD; Dr Maaike Eken, PhD; Dr Lovemore Kunororzva, PhD; Dr Marelise Badenhorst, PhD

This research thrust focuses on injuries and illness prevention in community sports through accurate monitoring and surveillance, with a particular focus on head injuries including sport-related concussion. This area of research also includes longitudinal injury and illness surveillance in Para athletes, biomechanics and function in amputees, athletes with brain injury (cerebral palsy) and the psychological aspects of participating in physical activity for individuals with impairment. Research in this area also looks into the molecular and cellular basis for sport and exercise medicine.

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