Human Performance Research Group - University Of Worcester

The Human Performance Research Group (HPRG) is a multi- and interdisciplinary research group focussed on exploring human performance in sport, health, and exercise contexts, in both occupational and leisure time settings. It incorporates the undertaking of impactful basic through to whole systems applied behavioural research and knowledge exchange.

With expertise in diverse approaches to research, we are able to explore the full array of human performance through many professional lenses, in a multitude of sport, health and exercise relevant disciplines, and across the life course.

As a result of this breadth of expertise and our inclusive research environment, our research interrogates human performance using interpretivist and constructivist approaches, employing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, and using methods appropriate to basic, clinical, and applied research settings. As such, we will attempt to further explore the interplay between, and not intended as an exhaustive list, biological, psychological, behavioural, and environmental factors that relate to human performance.

Existing areas of strength in the HPRG include physiological and nutritional determinants of performance, psychological underpinnings of performance, environmental factors impacting upon performance and exploration of multifaceted dimensions of performance in teams in a variety of sport, health & exercise contexts.

Membership

James Bateman
Chris Bonnell
Olivia Brown
Dr Matthew Cook
Dr Darren Cooper
Dr Ben Duncan
Dr Andrea Faull-Brown
Dan Geisler
Dr Christopher Holland
Dr Jennifer Joyce
Dr Jessica Mee
Richard Pepperell
Dr Andy Renfree
Dr Julia West

Current Projects

2023-2027 Heat Mitigation in Females Athletes. Dr Jessica Mee. Funding: UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships

Climate change will continue to increase the heat-related hazards and associated morbidity and mortality, with extreme heat events becoming a more regular feature in summer months worldwide. Whilst mitigating climate change is an essential step, heat related illnesses are largely avoidable with the implementation of appropriate, effective, accessible, and sustainable heat mitigation strategies combined with appropriate education.

Existing heat mitigation guidelines are underpinned by research conducted almost exclusively in men, without consideration of issues associated with the biological and phenotypical sex differences such as the menstrual cycle, and menopause. Making steps to reduce this social exclusion of females is an essential priority for sex equality and this proposed programme of research.

Selected Outputs

2024

Cook, Matthew, Shan, Yusen and Willems, M. (2024) International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. pp. 1-31. ISSN Print: 1526-484X Online: 1543-2742 (In Press)

Cook, Matthew and Willems, M. (2024) In: American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) 2024 Annual Meeting, May 30, 2024, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. (Unpublished)

Holland, Christopher, Cole, M. and Owens, J. (2024) British Journal of Sports Medicine, 58 (13). pp. 691-692. ISSN 0306-3674 (print); 1473-0480 (web)

Cole, M., Owens, J. and Holland, Christopher (2024) British Journal of Sports Medicine, 58 (13). pp. 745-746. ISSN 0306-3674 (print); 1473-0480 (web)

Holland, Christopher and Cole, M. (2024) British Journal of Sports Medicine, Online (First). pp. 1-2. ISSN 0306-3674 (print); 1473-0480 (web)

Holland, Christopher, Hughes, J. and De Ste Croix, M. (2024) In: XXXI Isokinetic Medical Group International Conference: Football Medicine: Bridging Science and Practice, 25th-27th May 2024, Civitas Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid, Spain. (In Press)

Casado, A., Hornillos, A., Foster, C., Ranieri, L., Renfree, Andrew and Dominguez, R. (2024) International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. pp. 1-27. ISSN 1555-0265 (In Press)

Renfree, Gillian and West, Julia (2024) Managing Sport and Leisure, 29 (1). pp. 56-69. ISSN Print: 2375-0472 Online: 2375-0480

2023

Shan, Yusen and Cook, Matthew (2023) International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 33 (5). pp. 282-290. ISSN Print: 1526-484X Online: 1543-2742

Bryant, Joseph, Cooper, Darren, Peters, D.M. and Cook, Matthew (2023) Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 8 (37). ISSN 2411-5142

Weaver, K., Northeast, L., Cole, M., Holland, Christopher and Cassius, T. (2023) British Journal of Sports Medicine, 57 (13). ISSN Print: 0306-3674 Online: 1473-0480

Cole, M., Holland, Christopher and Cassius, T. (2023) British Journal of Sports Medicine. ISSN 0306-3674

Rhoden, Clare and Joyce, Jennifer (2023) Physical Activity and Health, 7 (1). pp. 255-269. ISSN 2515-2270

Pepperell, Richard (2023) Physical Education Matters, 18 (1). pp. 69-74. ISSN 1751-0988

Pepperell, Richard, White, Georgia and Edwards, Christian (2023) In: Higher Education Sport (HESP) Conference, 8th September 2023, Northumbria University. (Unpublished) / 蜜桃直播 Learning and Teaching Conference 2023, 12-13th June 2023, 蜜桃直播. (Unpublished)

Foster, C., Hanley, B., Barroso, R., Boullosa, D., Casado, A., Haugen, T., Hettinga, F., Jones, A., Renfree, Andrew, Skiba, P., St Clair Gibson, A., Thiel, C. and de Koning, J. (2023) International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. ISSN 1555-0265

Desgorces, F, Sedeaud, A, Toussaint, J-F, Renfree, Andrew, Launay, T and Noirez, P (2023) Science and Sports. ISSN Print: 0765-1597 Online: 1778-4131

Boullosa, D, Patrocinio, E, Renfree, Andrew, Casado, A, Hanley, B and Foster, C (2023) Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 8 (2). p. 86. ISSN 2411-5142

Foster, C., De Koning, J., Casado, A. and Renfree, Andrew (2023) In: Endurance Training - Science and Practice (2nd edition). Inigo Mujika, pp. 111-123. ISBN 9788493997045

2022

Cook, Matthew, Dunne, A., Bosworth, M. and Willems, M. (2022) Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 7 (2). p. 44. ISSN 2411-5142

Galis, J. and Cooper, Darren (2022) Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 36 (9). pp. 2454-2460. ISSN 1064-8011

McIntyre, R., Zurawlew, M., Mee, Jessica, Walsh, N. and Oliver, S. (2022) American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 323 (5). R601-R615. ISSN 0363-6119 (print); 1522-1490 (online)

Willmott, A., Mee, Jessica, Roberts, J., Maxwell, N. and Barnes, E. (2022) Ultra Coach.

McIntyre, R.D., Zurawlew, M.J., Oliver, S.J., Cox, A.T., Mee, Jessica A. and Walsh, N.P. (2021) Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 24 (8). pp. 729-734. ISSN Print: 1440-2440

Mee, Jessica (2022) In: Endurance - Practical Guidance for Training and Racing in the Heat, 26th February 2022, England Athletics.

Mee, Jessica (2022) In: Physiological training implications for the female athlete and the Menopause, 29th January 2022, England Athletics. (Unpublished)

Chadwick, Grace and Pepperell, Richard (2022) In: 5th International Conference on Gender and Sexuality, 13th-14th October, Online.

Pepperell, Richard and Edwards, Christian (2022) In: 蜜桃直播 Learning and Teaching Conference 2022, 8-9th June 2022, 蜜桃直播. (Unpublished)

Normand-Gravier, T., Britto, F., Launay, T., Renfree, Andrew, Toussaint, J. F. and Desgorces, F. D. (2022) International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (9). p. 4980. ISSN 1660-4601

Boullosa, D., Patrocinio, E., Renfree, Andrew, Casado, A., Foster, C. and Hanley, B. (2022) Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 54 (9s). p. 610. ISSN 0195-9131

Crivoi do Camo, E., Renfree, Andrew and Barroso, R. (2022) European Journal of Sport Science, 22 (4). pp. 491-498. ISSN Print: 1746-1391 Online: 1536-7290

Renfree, Andrew (2022) In: 2021 European Endurance Conference, 12 Nov 2021 - 14 Nov 2021, Leeds Beckett University.

West, Julia (2022) Her Football Hub.

Otte, F., Dittmer, T. and West, Julia (2022) International Sport Coaching Journal. pp. 1-9. ISSN Print 2328-918X Online 2328-9198

West, Julia (2022) Her Football Hub.

2021

Cook, Matthew, Dunne, A., Bosworth, M. and Willems, M.E.T. (2021) Journal of Dietary Supplements. ISSN Print: 1939-0211 Online: 1939-022X

Willems, M.E.T., Todaka, M., Banic, M., Cook, Matthew and Sekine, Y. (2021) Journal Of Dietary Supplements. ISSN Print: 1939-0211 Online: 1939-022X

Pepperell, Richard and Edwards, Christian (2021) In: 蜜桃直播 Learning and Teaching Conference 2021, 9th and 10th June 2021, 蜜桃直播. (Unpublished)

Gonzalez-Mohino, F., Casado, A., Renfree, Andrew, Gonzales-Rave, J.M. and Hanley, B. (2021) Kinesiology: International Journal of Fundamental and Applied Kinesiology, 53 (2). pp. 280-287. ISSN ISSN 1331-1441 ; ISSN 1848-638X (Online)

Renfree, Gillian and Renfree, Andrew (2021) Sport in Society. ISSN Print:1743-0437 Electronic:1743-0445

Casado, A., Hanley, B., Jiménez-Reyes, P. and Renfree, Andrew (2021) Journal of Sport and Health Science, 10 (5). pp. 537-549. ISSN 20952546

Renfree, Andrew, Casado, A. and Mclaren, S. (2021) Research in Sports Medicine. ISSN Print: 1543-8627 Electronic: 1543-8635

Casado, A., Renfree, Andrew, Jaenes-Sánchez, J. C., Cuadrado-Peñafiel, V. and Jiménez-Reyes, P. (2021) International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (5). p. 2448. ISSN 1660-4601

Renfree, Andrew and Hanley, B. (2021) In: The Science and Practice of Middle and Long Distance Running. Taylor & Francis, London, pp. 176-184. ISBN 9780367423186

Renfree, Andrew (2021) In: European Athletics Endurance Conference, 12-14/11/21, Leeds, Beckett University.

Renfree, Andrew (2021) In: European Athletics High Performance Webinar, 16th July 2021.

Renfree, Andrew (2021) In: England Athletics Academic Research Webinar (8th May 2021), 8th May 2021, Online. (Unpublished)

West, Julia (2021) Her Football Hub.

West, Julia (2021) Women's Soccer Coaching, 009. p. 15.

West, Julia (2021) In: Football, She Wrote: An Anthology of Women’s Writing on the Game. Floodlit Dreams Ltd, Herts, UK, pp. 139-145. ISBN 9781838030025

2020

Thomas, Gavin, Cook, Matthew, Duncan, Benedict, Bevins, Joe, Corbett, Mark and Warren, M. (2020) The Sport and Exercise Scientist (63). pp. 20-21. ISSN 1754-3444

Cook, Matthew, Sandhu, A. and Joyce, Jennifer (2020) Journal of Nutrition in Gerontology and Geriatrics, 39 (2). pp. 99-113. ISSN Print: 2155-1197 Online: 2155-1200

Wei, C., Yu, L., Duncan, Benedict and Renfree, Andrew (2020) Frontiers in Physiology, 11. Article no. 197. ISSN 1664-042X

Holland, Christopher, Hughes, J. and De Ste Croix, M.B.A (2020) Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 8 (6). Article no. 2325967120927371. ISSN 2325-9671

Holland, Christopher and Godwin, M.S. (2020) The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 59 (12). pp. 1963-1967. ISSN Print: 0022-4707 Online: 1827-1928

Renfree, Andrew, Casado, A., Pellejero, G. and Hanley, B. (2020) International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 15 (10). pp. 1369-1376. ISSN 1555-0265

Renfree, Andrew (2020) The Sport and Exercise Scientist (66). pp. 20-21. ISSN 1754-3444

Casado, A., Renfree, Andrew, Maroto-Sánchez, B. and Hanley, B. (2020) European Journal of Human Movement, 44. pp. 146-161. ISSN 2386-4095 (eISSN)

do Carmo, Everton, Renfree, Andrew, Silva, Natalia, Gil, Saulo and Tricoli, Valmor (2020) International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 15 (6). pp. 903-906. ISSN 1555-0265

Veen, Jort, Corbett, Mark and Renfree, Andrew (2020) Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 15 (2). pp. 319-329. ISSN Online: 1988-5202

Wei, C., Yu, L., Duncan, Benedict and Renfree, Andrew (2020) Frontiers in Physiology, 11. Article no. 197. ISSN 1664-042X

Gonzales-Mohino, F., Santos del Cerro, J., Renfree, Andrew, Yustres, I. and González-Ravé, J.M. (2020) Journal of Human Kinetics, 71 (1). pp. 299-305. ISSN Print: 1640-5544 Online: 1899-7562

Renfree, Andrew (2020) In: England Athletics Academic Research Webinar, 23 November 2020, Online. (Unpublished)

Renfree, Andrew (2020) In: England Athletics Academic Research Webinar, 16 November 2020, Online. (Unpublished)

Renfree, Andrew (2020) In: England Athletics Academic Research Webinar, 9th November 2020, Online. (Unpublished)

2019

Gibson, O.R., James, C.A., Mee, Jessica A., Willmott, A.G.B., Turner, G., Hayes, M. and Maxwell, N.S. (2019) Temperature, 7 (1). pp. 3-36. ISSN Print: 2332-8940, Online: 2332-8959

Zurawlew, M.J., Mee, Jessica A. and Walsh, N.P. (2019) Frontiers in Physiology, 10 (1080). ISSN Online: 1664-042X

Current Opportunities

PhD Research

Self-funded PhD projects within HPRG will be advertised here, but also on .

Approaches from self-supporting PhD students are accepted all year round.

Please contact: a.renfree@worc.ac.uk and matthew.cook@worc.ac.uk to express an interest along with an outline of your research ideas.

Get in touch

For more information on our research or opportunities please get in touch with Dr Any Renfree at:
a.renfree@worc.ac.uk