Clinical, Health and Rehabilitation Team (CHaRT)

Established in 2017, the Clinical, Health and Rehabilitation Team (CHaRT) is dedicated to advancing applied research and consultancy aimed at supporting individuals of all ages in leading healthy and active lives. Our research, conducted with partners in the healthcare, community and commercial/industrial sectors, also aims to support the development of enhanced professional practice and policy.

Our Research and Impact

CHaRT undertakes world-leading interdisciplinary research to advance knowledge and understanding of the effects of sport, exercise, physical activity and nutrition in health and disease. The group comprises a multidisciplinary team with expertise across qualitative and quantitative methods of enquiry, in the disciplines of physiology, biomechanics, psychology, strength and conditioning and nutrition. We are developing novel interventions to improve health outcomes in people with long-term conditions in community-based and primary healthcare settings as well as the general population.

The team is supported by a state-of the-art laboratory infrastructure, equipped for basic and applied studies that are internationally excellent and world-leading.

The aims of the Clinical, Health and Rehabilitation Team (CHaRT) are to undertake research and knowledge exchange activity to promote a multidisciplinary approach to:

investigate mechanisms and factors (environmental and contextual) that underpin human health across the lifespan
investigate the role of physical activity, exercise and nutrition in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease, and in the promotion of psychological well-being
the biomechanical, medical and psychological factors that contribute to sports performance and the management, prognosis and rehabilitation of sports injuries

The population groups that we conduct research with include (but are not limited to) the following:

People living with long-term physical and mental health conditions
Older adults (including those with frailty and sarcopenia)
Children and young people
Athletes from community to Olympic / Paralympic and professional sport
Healthcare professionals

Our key areas of research

Photo of children swimming at Ravelin Sport Centre - Ravelin Activities

Physical activity and exercise strategies to support health and wellbeing

Research within this group primarily investigates the integration and optimisation of exercise and physical activity into routine health care and daily life in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease. Examples include research that supports ways of supporting people with long-term conditions (e.g. cystic fibrosis, cancer, kidney, diabetes) to engage in safe and appropriate physical activity. Particular expertise in the group also focuses on rehabilitation and prehabilitation for surgery and understanding and improving intraoperative outcomes. Physical activity focused research is also using co-creation to bring communities closer together and support, for example, refugees and asylum seekers.

Assistive and digital health technologies

We are investigating the use of assistive technologies, such as using robotics to support rehabilitation, and novel prosthetic and orthotic interventions for foot drop and amputees. We are also working in the development and evaluation of digital health applications and websites to enhance physical activity and support virtual consultations and home monitoring in people with long-term conditions.

Hot Tub Therapy Research
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Mechanisms of Disease and Therapeutics

Our research group employs innovative techniques to gain a comprehensive understanding of disease pathophysiology, including environment-related disorders (EDS, heat illness, malignant hyperthermia, NFCI). We examine drug mechanisms of action, as well as the impact of nutrition and ergogenic aids on health and performance. We also explore nature-based alternatives to pharmacological interventions. Our multifaceted approach aims to reshape disease understanding and therapeutic strategies, paving the way for enhanced patient care.

Athlete health and welfare

Multidisciplinary researchers are investigating athlete mental and physical health and injuries in sport, including female-specific considerations. We apply epidemiology, biomechanics, physiology and psychology to the study of sports injuries to understand injury risk, as well as develop ways to reduce this. Current research spans all levels of sport, including Paralympic athletes. Research is also seeking to understand and improve lifelong health in athletes following retirement, including improving rehabilitation within the orthopaedic surgery setting and welfare and care pathways. Our research positively impacts the safety and welfare of athletes across all levels of sport and the globe.

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Professional practice of health and care professionals

Work within this group has developed professional standards focused on the implementation of exercise practices and professionals (such as ) into healthcare. Other work has developed guidelines for allied health professionals working with people living with long-term conditions and athletes, surgeons, and psychologists. The team has particular expertise in the implementation of physical activity outcomes, exercise testing and exercise training within healthcare.

Hear about our research

Explore our work as part of Life Solved, our weekly University research podcast.

Recent projects

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Partnerships and Collaborations

CHaRT collaborates extensively with healthcare, cultural, governmental, and physical activity organisations. We work closely with charities, industry partners, the military, and the NHS. We have established a world-wide reputation and our research is published by leading academic publishers, high-quality peer-reviewed journals, and informs policy and guidelines nationally and internationally. Our recent research activity has been funded from a number of sources including the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR), local NHS Trusts, and a wide range of medically-oriented charity funders (e.g. GUTS UK, the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, the British Lung Foundation, Kidney Research UK) and a range of other international partners and agencies. In addition, we continue to attract industry-funded research support. There is ongoing media interest in our research, and we engage widely in dissemination of our findings with local, national and international partners.

Work with us

A special focus of the Clinical, Health and Rehabilitation Team (CHaRT) is to develop partnerships with local communities and healthcare services and organisations (incl. NGO, businesses and industries) to facilitate high-quality translational research that offers benefits to patients and the wider society. We are committed to the development of strategic partnerships to address our research priorities and have established links with NHS Trusts, charities, community organisations and leading national and international academic research centres. These partnerships work to inform policies and practice.

Postgraduate study

CHaRT offers postgraduate research supervision expertise across our areas of expertise. We welcome applications from individuals with interests in research that focuses on health, nutritional status and quality of life of people, the professional practice of health and care professionals, and the development of health and care policy. A key driver of our postgraduate research training is the use of collaborative partnerships to facilitate applied research programmes of high relevance to our key stakeholder communities (e.g. consumers, patients, industry, NHS).

We have extensive experience of the supervision of postgraduate research and we offer research training via our MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology, MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-Registration), and PhD routes. Initial enquiries can be made to Associate Professor Zoe Saynor (CHaRT Lead) or to individual members of the team who are engaged in the relevant area of research.