Movement Science Group (MSG)

Contact: pesser@brookes.ac.uk +44 (0)1865 483833

About us

The Movement Science Group (MSG) focuses on the development and implementation of new methodologies to measure, map and improve mobility of people of all ages with and without neurological conditions in the community.

Our research group is led by an end-user steering group committee which meets several times a year. The committee guides a group of multidisciplinary expert researchers in their work to address real mobility problems.

The group has been involved in numerous studies in the development of new outcome measurements. Examples include: measuring rhythmic stepping for the identification of motor problems in children, identifying mobility patterns in a wide range of neurological conditions via movement and scanning of the brain using functional near infrared spectroscopy or magnetic resonance imaging.

Researcher placing gate sensor on lower back

Part of

Related courses

Physiotherapy (Pre-Registration) (MSc)
Physiotherapy (BSc (Hons))
Sport and Exercise Science (BSc (Hons))
Sport, Coaching and Physical Education (BSc (Hons))

Research impact

MRI scanner ready for in-scanner motion task for children with developmental coordination disorders

Over the past few years, we have developed a smartphone-based device which, given its ultra sensitivity, can potentially aid in the diagnosis of a range of conditions before the manifestations of obvious clinical symptoms. This unique approach is quick, accessible and could have substantial impact on international healthcare systems.

The vast range of exciting projects links us with clinical and academic experts from world renowned institutions in the UK, such as the University of Oxford and University College London, as well as internationally, such as McGill University (Canada) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China).

Leadership

Dr Patrick Esser

Reader in Sport and Rehabilitation Technology

View profile

Membership

Staff

Name	Role	Email
Dr Shelly Coe	Senior Lecturer in Nutrition	scoe@brookes.ac.uk
Dr Johnny Collett	Senior Lecturer in Clinical Exercise and Rehabilitation	jcollett@brookes.ac.uk
Professor Helen Dawes	Honorary Professor	hdawes@brookes.ac.uk
Professor Derick Wade	Professor In Neurorehabilitation	dwade@brookes.ac.uk

Students

Name	Thesis Title	Supervisors	Completed
Sam Burden	Cardiac function of the left ventricle in obese adolescents with the establishment of links to metabolic health and physiological and perceptual exercise responses	Dr Patrick Esser	Active
Ed Daly	Concussion characterisation using current concussion diagnosis and evaluation measures compared to novel objective testing methods	Dr Adam White, Dr Patrick Esser	Active
Daniel Newcombe	The Environment Design Framework: Bridging the gap between the theoretical understanding and the practical application of constraints-led approach	Dr Patrick Esser	Active
Zoe Taylor	Power training for fall rehabilitation and prevention in over 56s and comparisons of recovery mechanisms for loss of balance between fallers and non-fallers	Dr Greg Walsh, Dr Mario Inacio, Dr Patrick Esser	Active

Collaborators

Name	Role	Organisation
Dr Mario Inacio		University of Maia, Portugal

Key Publications

2020

TEKTONIDIS, T. G., COE, S., ESSER, P., MADDOCK, J., BUCHANAN, S., MAVROMMATI, F., SCHOTT, J. M., IZADI, H., RICHARDS, M. & DAWES, H. 2020. Diet quality in late midlife is associated with faster walking speed in later life in women, but not men: findings from a prospective British birth cohort. Br J Nutr, 123, 913-921.

2019

MANSOUBI, M., ESSER, P., MEANEY, A., METZ, R., BEUNDER, K. & DAWES, H. 2019. Evaluating of the Axivity accelerometers algorithm in measurement of physical activity intensity in boys and girls.

2018

VALKANOVA, V., ESSER P, DEMNITZ, N., SEXTON, C., ZSOLDOS, E., MAHMOOD, A., GRIFFANTI, L., KIVIMAKI, M., SINGH-MANOUX, A., DAWES, H. & EBMEIER, K. P. 2018. Association between gait and cognition in an elderly population based sample. Gait and Posture, in press.
AL-YAHYA, E., MAHMOUD, W., MEESTER, D., ESSER, P. & DAWES, H. 2018. Neural Substrates of Cognitive Motor Interference During Walking; Peripheral and Central Mechanisms. Front Hum Neurosci, 12, 536.

2017

CUZZOLIN, F., SAPIENZA, M., ESSER, P., SAHA, S., FRANSSEN, M. M., COLLETT, J. & DAWES, H. 2017. Metric learning for Parkinsonian identification from IMU gait measurements. Gait Posture, 54, 127-132