About
Research
Biography
Megan completed both her undergraduate BSc Hons and postgraduate MRes at St Mary’s University in Sports Health and Applied Science.
Her MRes project investigated gait, foot structure and muscle strength in children with obesity. Following her MRes, Megan started her PhD at St Mary’s University continuing researching physical function in children with obesity.
Research
Research profile
PhD Title:
Development of a best-evidence foot and lower limb intervention programme designed to improve musculoskeletal health in obese children.
Carrying excess mass and reduced physical activity in children with obesity reduces musculoskeletal health and physical function.
Exercise interventions that increase strength and motor control improving physical function may help reduce risks to musculoskeletal health and increase physical activity.
This in turn will then help to interrupt the cycle of physical function, low physical activity and increasing obesity, hopefully improving quality of life and health outcomes as children grow.
Supervisors:
- Dr Ryan Mahaffey
- Dr Mark Glaister
- Dr Giuseppe Cimadoro
Publications
- N. Theis, M. Le Warne, S. C. Morrison, W. Drechsler, & R. Mahaffey. (2019). Absolute and allometrically scaled lower-limb strength differences between children with overweight/obesity and typical weight children. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 33(12), 3276–3283.
Oral Presentations
- UK and Ireland Children’s Motor Competence Network Meeting 2020
Effect of an 8-week strength training programme on gait and physical activity in overweight and obese 7-11 year olds.
- SHAS Research Day 2020.
Development of a best-evidence foot and lower limb intervention programme designed to improve musculoskeletal health in obese children.
Poster Presentations
- iFAB 2018
Gait, foot structure, and muscle strength in obese children: Further steps towards evidence informed care.
- World biomechanics congress 2018
Gait, foot structure, and muscle strength in obese children: Further steps towards evidence informed care.