Sports & Exercise Science
Kenji Doma
- Associate Professor
- kenji.doma@jcu.edu.au
Carl Woods
- Adjunct Associate Professor
- carl.woods@jcu.edu.au
Michael Inskip
- Senior Lecturer/AEP Clinical Educator
- michael.inskip@jcu.edu.au
Teneale McGuckin
- Senior Lecturer
- teneale.mcguckin@jcu.edu.au
Wade Sinclair
- Senior Lecturer
- wade.sinclair@jcu.edu.au
Anthony Leicht
- Head, Sport and Exercise Science
- anthony.leicht@jcu.edu.au
Brian Heilbronn
- Senior Lecturer / Clinical Educator / Clinical Placement Coordinator
- brian.heilbronn@jcu.edu.au
Fiona Barnett
- Adjunct Associate Professor
- fiona.barnett@my.jcu.edu.au
Denise Turner
- Lecturer, Sport and Exercise Science
- denise.turner@jcu.edu.au
The identification and development of regional female rugby league players within an elite talent pathway. (Old ID 27917)
Wade Sinclair
31 Jan 2023 - 31 Jul 2026
With the successful emergence of the National Rugby League Women’s (NRLW) elite competition comes a necessity to better understand and prepare young women for the physical requirements needed to achieve this highest level of competition. This project will provide support to a PhD Candidate to undertake research focussing on the pathways available for young girls to progress through the elite rugby league pathway: from local and state-based competitions through to the NRLW. With a focus on the talent development environment and practices, the Candidate will conduct research whilst embedded alongside professional coaches within an elite sporting pathway.
Playgrounds with a purpose: Facilitating free physical activity opportunities at local community parks/playgrounds
This research seeks to determine how instructional videos demonstrating creative use of existing infrastructure available in public parks with playgrounds can increase community user accessibility to physical activity experiences.
Leveraging AI simulations for allied health education: Pilot study for Psychology
This project will test IDA with psychology students to determine its effectiveness before expanding to other healthcare disciplines, ultimately providing students college-wide (and university-wide) dynamic and scalable simulations
Exploration of park playground features and opportunities to advance fundamental movement skills and/or components of fitness for community users
This project aims to audit local community park playgrounds (i.e. playgrounds not on school/day care/kindy/private properties) to ascertain what physical activity opportunities they present community users to work on advancing fundamental movement skills (FMS) and/or components of fitness.
Embedding best practice physical and health assessment and monitoring technology in Exercise Science and Exercise Physiology subjects to enhance learning, teaching and assessment.
Study Aims:
• to increase student exposure to industry-specific software and hardware
• To explore student’s confidence with using API integrated technology to capture, interpret and report data within SP2016, SP3016, SP3020 and SP5206
• To explore student perceptions of the use of such technology in the assessment, prescription and monitoring of exercise interventions
JCU Learning and Teaching Innovation Grant
Digital devices for assessment and digital skill development.
Embedding best practice physical and health assessment and monitoring technology in Exercise Science and Exercise Physiology subjects to enhance learning, teaching and assessment.
Brian Heilbronn
22 Jul 2024 - 31 Dec 2025
The aim of this project is to introduce Application Programming Interface technologies and centralisation of reporting through TeamBuildr software along with increased access to velocity-based training (VBT; i.e. GymAware Flex) devices to increase student exposure to industry technology and related data collection, analysis and reporting processes. Familiarity of this functionality enables easy access to data and the ability for students to generate tangible reports for subject assessments and athlete/client needs, enhancing student employability and industry readiness.
Delivery of the Veterans’ Individualised Physical Education, Rehabilitation, Recovery and Reintegration (VIPER3) program
Brian Heilbronn
22 Jul 2024 - 31 Dec 2025
Study Aims:
• To identify the physical, mental and social benefits of an integrated program of mindfulness, exercise, and wellness in the community;
• To provide ‘proof-of-concept’ for delivery of the VIPER3 program across a larger cohort within the Australian community.
Military and some civil services (i.e. emergency and first responders), often expose personnel to traumatic experiences and injuries, increasing the risk of physical and mental health disorders (Australia Productivity Commission, 2019, Kyron et al., 2022). High levels of psychological distress are a significant issue for first responders in Australia (Beyond Blue, 2020; Kyron et al., 2022), with recent research indicating that first responders experience mental health problems at over twice the rate observed in the general population (Kyron et al., 2022; Muir et al., 2022). While transitioning to civilian life, veterans of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) face difficulties reconnecting with family, relating to people who do not understand military experiences, reintegrating into society and the workforce, and adjusting to a non-military way of life. In 2019, the Australian Government Productivity Commission noted that ‘[W]hile most ADF members successfully transition and re-establish civilian lives, many struggle to address the challenges they experience when they leave the military’ (Australia Productivity Commission, 2019). A key recommendation was to ‘prepare members for other aspects of civilian life, including the social/psychological aspects of transition’. Despite this, evidence-based programs targeting physical/mental health and reintegration are limited or minimally successful, as identified in our consultations with local veterans and military support organisations source?. Complex interactions between social and psychological wellbeing, and physical health has been confirmed in our prior work (Kerr et al., 2008) with veterans with holistic and sustainable programs needed to support veterans’ integration with the community. To address these shortcomings, a novel program of exercise and a peer or “battle-buddy” system (VIPER3 program), based upon a prior program in the US (Burgess et al., 2020), will be piloted. Further, mindfulness-based interventions were reported to significantly reduce depressive and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms, reduce perceived stress levels, improve relationships with families and workmates, and enhance emotion regulation and anger management (Burgess et al., 2020). Our VIPER3 project will integrate mindfulness with a “battle-buddy” exercise and wellness initiative to foster peer support among participants, aiding veterans’ physical/mental health and integration into the community.
The acute effect of occlusion exercise on muscle performance in patients with severe osteoarthritis
Kenji Doma
01 Nov 2024 - 02 Nov 2026
Osteoarthritis is the most common arthritis worldwide, causing pain, limited mobility, and reduced quality of life. Strengthening exercises are commonly used to manage osteoarthritis, but their inappropriate application may exacerbate symptoms. Emerging evidence suggests that blood flow restriction (BFR) exercises offer optimal training benefits with minimal symptom aggravation. However, research on acute BFR exercise responses in patients living with osteoarthritis is limited. Understanding acute BFR responses can guide exercise selection for osteoarthritis management and research direction. This study aims to investigate the impact of BFR exercises on muscle function and blood metabolites in knee osteoarthritis, contributing to better management approaches.
Preparing 'Healthcare Scientists' for placement: Developing a -pre-placement training workshop to enhance graduate readiness in science-based allied health disciplines
Kenji Doma
01 Jul 2025 - 01 Jul 2026
This project aims to improve the readiness of healthcare science degree students, specifically in psychology and sport & exercise science, for placement and post-degree careers through a pre-placement training workshop. Based on interviews with students and placement supervisors, the workshop will address identified skill gaps (e.g., career awareness, communication, cultural responsiveness) currently missing in our academic curriculum. Information from these focus groups with students and placement supervisors will be incorporated into the pre-placement training workshop, and evaluated for its efficacy preparing students for placement. If successful, we will look to adapt the workshop for other healthcare or science-based disciplines.
Exercise Physiology: Australia/New Zealand
- 2014
- McGraw-Hill Education
- Researchers:Anthony Leicht
Influence of exercise intensity on systemic oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity
- 2014
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Researchers:Teneale McGuckinAnthony Leicht
Reliability of heart rate measures during walking before and after running maximal efforts
- 2014
- Georg Thieme Verlag
- Researchers:Anthony Leicht
Nutritional adequacy of vegetarian and omnivore dietary intakes
- 2014
- Annex Publishers
- Researchers:Denise Turner
Title:
Sports Medicine Australia
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01 Jan 2000
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01 Jan 2000
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01 Jan 2018
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01 Jan 2018
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01 Jan 2014
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01 Jan 2013
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01 Jan 2022
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01 Jan 2008
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01 Jan 2023
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01 Jan 2004