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Sport and exercise research
Research expertise
Exercise prescription
Exercise prescription focuses on understanding and developing a specific plan of fitness related activities for individuals with chronic long-term conditions and/or mobility problems. Our researchers examine the role, effects, and types of exercise and physical activity to minimise symptomology and/or disease progression in cardiovascular, metabolic, musculoskeletal, neuromuscular pathologies, and enhance quality of life.
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High performance sport
We are investigating and have expertise in a number of topics within high performance sport environments in New Zealand, including coaching and pedagogy, human physiology, biomechanics, nutrition, psychology and sociology, management and more. Our research is contributing to a greater understanding of matters relevant to both athlete performance and wellbeing.
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Human muscle physiology
The maintenance of muscle function is a key determinant of fitness and overall health, particularly as we age. The increased muscle mass, changes in fuel metabolism and enhanced insulin sensitivity brought about by exercise, helps to protect us against diabetes, obesity and other diseases. By studying muscle cell physiology and biochemistry, we aim to understand the molecular mechanisms operating in contracting muscle that underlie these health benefits.
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Nutrition and physical activity
We focus on the nutritional requirements of physical activity and sport training. We evaluate the effects of diet modification or supplementation strategies on the performance of the physically active recreational athlete and the elite athlete. Our researchers also explore the relationship between diet, physical activity, the living environment, metabolic health and rehabilitation outcomes in diseases such as type-2 diabetes and vitamin deficiency.
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Physical education
A citizenship model of physical education requires provision for young people to acquire procedural skills associated with movement competency and to develop a critical socio-ecological perspective of sport, games and recreation in society. We research pedagogies in physical education that promote social and cultural integration in society through movement experiences.
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Sport and exercise practicum
Sport and exercise practicums provide students with multi-disciplinary work-integrated learning experiences in the areas of sport management, sport development, physical education and exercise prescription. Our research explores how to make the most of these experiences from the perspectives of students, industry clients, and work and academic supervisors.
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Sport biomechanics
Biomechanics is the science that studies the forces acting on the body and how those forces affect our movement. We focus on how biomechanics can be used to improve health quality, including evaluating exercise modalities that will lead to reductions in injuries while increasing activity levels. Our research also develops new technology for commercial applications.
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Sport coaching
Our staff have extensive coaching skills and training experiences in athletics, cricket, football, hockey, tennis and triathlon. We have undertaken a range of research projects focused on examining management, leadership and pedagogical perspectives and providing a holistic and flexible approach to sport coaching.
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Sport management
Our research expertise within the sport management discipline amalgamates aspects of sport governance, marketing, sponsorship, event and facility management, and sociological perspectives on sport. We have engaged in a wide range of research projects that span from grass roots to elite sport and branch across local, regional, national and international sport organisations.
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Tourism and sports economics
We have research expertise in analysing the economic concepts and applications in the context of tourism and sport.
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Research projects
Effects of genetics on physical, mental and perceptual responses to caffeine supplementation
Caffeine has for several decades been shown to provide an ergogenic effect on exercise performance when taken in the correct dosage. However, the effect of caffeine on performance varies between individuals. The purpose of this study, by PhD candidate Kyle Southward, is to investigate the effects of caffeine intake and genotype on exercise performance, metabolism, immune function, mood and sleep in male recreational runners.
Event success stimulates sport development
Professor Andy Martin from the School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, examined the long-term participation and engagement of children taking part in triathlon. His research findings highlighted that the main participation factors are fun and enjoyment involving friends, competition, challenge and fitness, as well as tangible outcomes such as spot prizes, goodies and medals. His study was published in the Annals of Leisure Research journal.
Keeping pre-school kids moving
Obesity rates in children world-wide are burgeoning, and those attending childcare are more at risk. Massey University student, Jeanette Rapson, hopes to discover information that may help design interventions offering simple, practical and relevant tips for early childhood education (ECE) teachers about nutrition and physical activity for pre-schoolers. The research is being supervised by Dr Ajmol Ali from the School of Sport and Exercise and Associate Professor Cathryn Conlon from the School of Food and Nutrition.
Nasal high flow therapy for respiratory support
Respiratory disease is the third leading cause of death in New Zealand, affecting one in six Kiwis at an annual cost of approximately $6 billion. Research from Massey University’s College of Health has shed light on how nasal high flow therapy for respiratory support works. This could benefit patients with obstructive sleep apnoea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and others that require acute or long-term respiratory support.
Taurine supplements may improve performance recovery
A recent Massey University study looked at post-exercise taurine supplementation in humans, its effect on muscle damage markers, and subsequent performance recovery. The Effect of Taurine on the Recovery from Eccentric Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage in Males was co-authored by Yanita McLeay, Professor Steve Stannard and Dr Matthew Barnes from Massey’s School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition.
The determinants of gait transitions in normal weight and obese children
Due to the rising prevalence of childhood obesity, effort must be made to encourage children to participate in physical activity more regularly. However, obese children are less likely to participate in regular physical activity, which may be influenced by difficulties running or transitioning between walking and running. The purpose of this study, by PhD candidate Stacey Kung, is to investigate biomechanical (joint movements and muscle activity), physiological (energy expenditure) and perceptual differences during the walk-to-run transition between obese, overweight and non-obese children.
The effects of nitrate supplementation on performance, metabolism and cardiovascular function in older adults
With increasing rates of disease and age-related dysfunction, there is a growing interest in the use of food-based supplements and bioactive compounds to help improve or maintain one’s health and body functions. This has led to the interest in beetroot juice (which contains nitrate) as a health food, which has the potential to improve cognition, mood and cardiovascular function. However, further research is required to support this. The aim of this study, by PhD candidate Luke Stanaway, is to examine the effects of acute nitrate supplementation, from beetroot juice taken with breakfast, on cognition, mood and cardiovascular responses in older adults.
The impact of ingesting multiple carbohydrates during long-distance triathlon performance
Triathletes must rely on ingesting carbohydrates while exercising to maintain the carbohydrate-energy required for intense efforts. Choosing the correct blend and form (liquid or solid) of carbohydrate for their bodies can be the difference between minutes or seconds off their times.
Student research
Dr Lana McCarthy’s thesis provides a historical insight into New Zealand’s national netball team, the Silver Ferns from 1960-2015, and investigates ways in which captains and coaches have constructed the evolving culture and leadership of the team.
Dr Lana McCarthy
Doctor of Philosophy
Wendy O’Brien's PhD research examined the physical activity profiles of Māori, Pacific and European women to understand ethnic differences in physical activity, and the implications of ethnic differences on body composition and metabolic health.
Dr Wendy O’Brien
Doctor of Philosophy
Kyle Southward's PhD research is investigating the effects of key genes on how individuals respond to caffeine during exercise. His research aims to better understand individual responses to caffeine so that tailor-made supplementation programmes can be made for individual athletes rather than simply using generic guidelines. His PhD is supervised by Associate Professor Ajmol Ali, Dr Kay Rutherfurd-Markiwick and Dr Claire Badenhorst.
Kyle Southward
Doctor of Philosophy
Dr Matt Miller invented the Brake Power Meter, which automatically measures braking power and time spent braking while you ride. For his PhD, Dr Miller and his supervisor Dr Phil Fink spent more than four years researching the importance of braking on mountain bike race performance and rider fatigue.
Matt Miller
Doctor of Philosophy
Facilities
BodPod
The BodPod is an advanced piece of equipment that accurately, easily and reliably measures body composition and then body fat using an air displacement method. Massey University has the only two BodPods in New Zealand. We also have a PeaPod for infants.
DXA machine
The DXA (Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) uses two low-dose x-rays that read bone mass and soft tissue simultaneously. It is connected to specialised computer software that is able to reconstruct an image of underlying tissues, bone, fat and fat free body mass.
This technology is the gold standard for assessment of body composition as well as bone density.
Sport and exercise laboratories
Our sport and exercise laboratories have the facilities to evaluate performance for a wide range of sports and occupational activities.
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Human Performance Laboratory, Palmerston North
Location: Practical Teaching Complex, Manawatū campus, Palmerston North -
Sport Science and Research Lab, Wellington
Location: Block 3C, Wallace Street, Wellington campus. -
Sport and Exercise Science Research Laboratory, Auckland
Location: Auckland campus off the Old Albany Highway through Gate 5.
Awards and recognition
Associate Professor David Rowlands from the School of Sport and Exercise was honoured as the winner of the 2017 Gatorade Sport Science Institute (GSSI) - American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Sport Nutrition Award for his study entitled, Multiple-Transportable Carbohydrate Effect on Long-Distance Triathlon Performance.
Associate Professor David Rowlands
2017
Sport Nutrition Award
Dr Dennis Slade has been given the extremely rare and prestigious endorsement of his research in physical education and sport, through a special supplement publication of his research. This is the first time in the 65-year history of the New Zealand Physical Educator journal that a special supplement has been published, with all the articles written by the same first author.
Dr Dennis Slade
2018
Sport education researcher honoured in special journal
Research centres
Centre for Metabolic Health Research
The Centre for Metabolic Health Research facilitates interdisciplinary research in metabolic health, with key aspects being the prevention of metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and the maintenance of mobility and functionality throughout the lifecycle.
Participate in research studies
Effect of coronavirus restrictions on physical activity and wellbeing
Seeking participants living in New Zealand who are 18 or older
The purpose of this study is to understand the population effect of COVID-19 on people’s physical activity and wellbeing at different alert levels and stages of the New Zealand Government’s strategy to counteract this pandemic.
The Caffeine Study
Seeking healthy males, 18 to 55 years old, non-smokers, who consume caffeine at least once a week and can complete a 40km cycle-based time trial in less than 90mins.
While we know caffeine generally has a performance enhancing effect, it is usually different for most people. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate how key genes affect responses to caffeine ingestion and how it impacts on endurance performance.