Staffordshire University WISE Conference Guide

Women in Sport and
Exercise Conference

Blood, Sweat and Fears
13 - 14 June 2018
Science Centre, Staffordshire University

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Advert Space

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Jacky Forsyth

I am delighted to welcome all speakers, researchers, delegates, and sponsors to our first ever
Women in Sport and Exercise Conference, 2018, which is supported by our Women in Sport and
Exercise Academic Network (WiSEAN). Recent efforts to engage women in sport and exercise
worldwide has had a positive impact, and general participation trends are on the increase. Yet,
research on the exercising female, and how a woman’s body responds to exercise still falls short
of that carried out on men. It is important, therefore, to keep discussing, studying and researching
about females who exercise, since women need to be considered as a unique population when
conducting research, and when setting training programmes and regimes. Our conference
themes centre around sport, exercise and medical issues that face females, from the elite athlete
to the recreational exerciser, so that females can achieve success in their chosen sport or activity.
Thank you,
Jacky Forsyth

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Thank you for choosing to join us at the Women in Sport and Exercise
Conference 2018.
The aim of the conference is to debate female-specific, health and
medical issues arising from physical activity and sport, and to raise
awareness of the issues and opportunities for women’s exercise
participation.
Conference keynotes come from Annamarie Phelps CBE OLY, Vice
Chair of the British Olympic Association and an advocate for safe
and inclusive sport for all; Angela Smith, who was instrumental in the
formation of the women’s squash professional organisation and circuit;
and Lisa O’Keefe, Insight Director at Sport England, who will be
sharing the story behind their ‘This Girl Can’ campaign.
The conference forms part of our Women in Sport and Exercise
Academic Network, the aim of which is to grow, strengthen and
promote research on women in sport and exercise, with the goal of
optimising women’s athletic success and their participation.

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SCHEDULE DAY ONE

Wednesday 13 June 2018

Time Room

09:00-09:30 Hub Registration and light refreshments

09:30-09:45 R001 Welcome and Introduction: Professor Ieuan Ellis, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Partnerships
and Region, Staffordshire University

09:45-10:00 R001 Dr Jacky Forsyth and Dr Claire-Marie Roberts: Introduction to conference and
the Women in Sport and Exercise Academic Network (WiSEAN). Introductions from
exhibitors.

10:00-11:00 R001 Keynote Speaker: Angela Smith: Former Squash Professional; Chair of Supporters
Council, Stoke City FC ambassador with responsibility for projects in Far East;
International Sports Consultant, Beswicks Sports: The difficulties and frustrations
encountered as a professional sportswoman and overcoming them

11:00-11:30 Hub Break
11:30-12:15 R001
Professor Emma Stevenson, Professor of Sport and Exercise Science, Newcastle
University: The need (or not) for female-specific sports nutrition

12:15-1:00 R001 Expert panel. Open discussion. Hosted by Alison Bambridge and Jo Ellard, Staffordshire
1:00-2:00 Hub University.
Room
Lunch

R001 R002 R101

2:00-2:40 Invited speaker: Dr Jenny Burbage, Principal Donna Duffy, Programme
Dr Kirsty Elliott- Lecturer and Researcher in Director, Center for
Sale, Senior Lecturer, Biomechanics, University of Women’s Health and
Nottingham Trent Portsmouth and Dr Nicola Wellness, and Assistant
University: Coping Brown, Senior Lecturer Professor, Department
with the menstrual and Researcher, St Mary’s of Kinesiology at UNC
cycle and hormonal University: Breast biomechanics: Greensboaro: Concussion
contraceptives. Performance and health and the female athlete
implications

2:45-3:30 R001 Dr Florentina Hettinga, Senior Lecturer, University of Essex: Pacing, fatigue and tactics
3:30-4:00 Hub of winning races: Are there differences between men and women?
Room
Break

R001 R002

4:00-4:30 Kate Nicholson, Head of Insight Lightning talks (3-minute talk, with 2 minutes for
and Innovation at Women in question and answer)
Sport: Exploring the impact of
puberty on girls’ attitudes and
behaviour towards sport

4:30-5:00 Andrea Carter, Assistant Dean, Lightning talks (3-minute talk, with 2 minutes for
University of Toronto: “Throw question and answer)
Like A Girl” Female student
athletes: an exercise in self-
esteem and self-worth

5:15-6:00 R001 Professor Sarah Grogan, Professor of Psychology, Health and Wellbeing, Manchester
Metropolitan University: Body image and exercise: How might appearance concerns
prevent (or promote) exercise in young women?

6:00-8:00 Networking
8:00-12:00
Gala dinner, World of Wedgwood (includes access to the museum, and and
entertainment from U DO IT! Dance Foundation)

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LIGHTNING TALKS: SCHEDULE DAY ONE

Wednesday 13 June 2018. Room R002

Time Name(s) Title
4:00 Mohammad, A., George, K., Oxborough, D., The 12-lead ECG of the elite female football player: the
4:05 and Somauroo, J. impact of different interpretation criteria used in pre-
4:15 participation screening.
4:20
Roldan-Reoyo, O, Pelaez, M, and Barakat, R. Foetal heart rate response to exercise in pregnant women
with BMI >25.

Piasecki, J., Ireland, A., Piasecki, M., Han- The effect of amenorrhoea in elite female endurance
nam, K., Deere, K., Hartley, A., Tobias, J. and runners during youth on bone density and strength in
McPhee, J. S. later life.

Dumbell, L. and De Haan, D. Female participation in the only sex-integrated summer
Olympic sport.

4:30 De Ste Croix, M.B.A., Hughes, J., Datson, N., High Risk, High Reward: The efficacy of injury prevention
and Taylor, L. training is greater in high risk compared to low risk elite
female youth soccer players.

4:35 Sheena Davis, Thomas Bestwick-Stevenson, Risk factors associated with stress fractures in female
and Kimberley L Edwards dancers compared to female non-dancers: an observation
cross-sectional study.

4:40 Lewis, V., Baldwin, K. and Dumbell, L. The prevalence of pain in international female event
riders during competition, in the United Kingdom.

4:50 Dr Katie Dray, Jessica Dunin, Penny Stanton, Using social media to engage with female coaches: a
Louisa Arnold & Caroline Drake small scale action research project.

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SCHEDULE DAY TWO

Thursday 14 June 2018

Time Room Registration and light refreshment
09:00-09:30 Hub
09:30-10:15 R001 Keynote speaker: Annamarie Phelps CBE OLY, Vice Chair, British Olympic Association:
10:15-11:00 R001 A personal potted history of the changing face of the ‘problem of women’s sport’ from
11:00-11:05 R001 school sport through to Chairman of British Rowing
11:05-11:30 Hub
11:30-12:15 R001 Lisa O’Keefe, Insight Director at Sport England: A presentation about the ground-
Room breaking campaign This Girl Can
12:20-1:00
1:00-2:00 Hub Introductions from exhibitors
2:00-2:45 R001
Room Break
2:45-3:30
3:30-4:00 Hub Dr Karen Birch, Head of School, Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds: Female
Room hormones, exercise and cardiovascular health
4:00-4:30
R001 R001 R002 R101
4:30-5:00 R001
Dr Nicola Keay: Female Dr Leanne Norman, Reader, Jenni Jones: Performance
5:15-6:00 sports endocrinology Leeds Beckett University: Psychologist and Doctoral
6:00-7:00 Presenting a programme of Researcher
research towards improving A performance
gender diversity in the UK psychology approach to
coaching profession building confidence

Lunch

Professor Amanda Daley, Professor of Behavioural Medicine, School of Sport, Exercise
and Health Sciences, University of Loughborough: Lifestyle interventions for women’s
health issues

R001 R002 R101

Georgie Bruinvels, Dr Claire-Marie Roberts, Dr Rachael Bullingham,
Research Scientist, St Mary’s Senior Lecturer in Sport & Senior Lecturer in Physical
University: The menstrual Exercise Psychology, University Education, University of
cycle, iron deficiency and of the West of England Worcester: Homophobia
exercise. (Bristol): Motherhood as an in women’s sport
athletic career transition in R101
Break female Olympic athletes
R001 R002

Mr Michael Dooley, Lightning talks (3-minute
Consultant Sports talk, with 2 minutes for
Gynaecologist – The question and answer)
Poundbury Clinic: To bleed
or not to bleed. The benefits
and risks of menstruation
and sport

Dr Ralph Smith, Specialist Lightning talks (3-minute talk, Lightning talks (3-minute
Registrar in Sport and with 2 minutes for question talk, with 2 minutes for
Exercise, Oxford. Physical and answer) question and answer)
Activity and Pregnancy
Study, University of Oxford:
Research & design of the
CMOs infographic. ‘Physical
Activity for Pregnant
Women’

Karen Hind, Senior Research Fellow, Leeds Beckett University/Honorary Visiting Fellow,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Bone health and the female athlete

Close

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LIGHTNING TALKS: SCHEDULE DAY TWO
Thursday 14 June 2018. Room R101

Time Name(s) Title
4:00 Hannah Corne How a blended curriculum engages girls in activity in
4:05 Madeleine France, Áine Brislane, Chris challenging spaces.
Holcome, David Low, and Helen Jones Can exercise training improve the frequency and severity
4:15 of hot flushes in breast cancer patients taking aromatase
4:20 Parry, S, Roldan-Reoyo, O, and Lewis, M. inhibitors?
4:25 Zoe McVinnie, Carolyn Plateau,and Clare Is lack of knowledge a reason to decrease/stop antenatal
4:30 Stevinson exercise? Barriers and facilitators towards antenatal
4:35 Grace Tidmarsh, Florence Kinnafick, and exercise.
4:40 Julie Johnston A qualitative study exploring active charity events as a
4:50 Claire Mulvenna, and Anika Leslie-Walker. catalyst for sustained physical activity behaviour.
Dr Hanya Pielichaty Exploring girls’ engagement in secondary school physical
Charlotte L Scott, Emma Haycraft and education.
Carolyn R Plateau A preliminary investigation of the motivations for
Maddie Sweetman, and Stuart W. Flint participation, held by female performance soccer players.
‘If they’re caked in make-up I just laugh’: Girls’ and
Women’s Football and the Apologetic Turn
Teammate influences on the eating attitudes and
behaviours of female athletes.
The representation of weight, bodies and health in Sport
England’s This Girl Can – a multimethod case study.

Thursday 14 June 2018. Room R002

Time Name(s) Title
4:35 Anna Collins and Martha Chinouya The physical activity experiences of female international
Paloma Pinto, Tereza Mateju, Amelia Price students at a university in London, UK
4:40 and Powel Omozogie
B.E.A.T body politics.
4:45 Dr Mark Piekarz
Women into sport coaching leadership positions using
4:50 Aline Rosana Giardin, and Maria Rosa complexity theory and the principals of leverage to
Chitolina generate change.
The phalocentrism hidden in the school environment:
4:55 Emmanuel Mogaji and Abi Badejo differences between lesbian gays students and the form of
treatment with their class colleagues.
Sportswomen as brand ambassadors: The prospects,
challenges and possibilities.

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Day One Speakers

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Angela Smith
Former Squash Professional; Chair of Supporters Council, Stoke City
FC ambassador with responsibility for projects in Far East; International
Sports Consultant, Beswicks Sports.

Angela Smith is a former professional British and World Champion squash player
representing Great Britain and England on many occasions. She was instrumental in the
formation of the women’s professional organisation and circuit. Angela has many years’
experience advising on a variety of sports-related matters including football. She has
worked on football projects in China for several years and her knowledge is of great value
when dealing with clients in numerous overseas markets. She is responsible for managing
and developing projects in China for Stoke City and also advises Beswicks Sports on
International projects

Title: The difficulties and frustrations encountered as a professional
sportswoman and overcoming them

Angela will be discussing her career as a professional squash player, and the difficulties
in starting a professional circuit for women players. She will also be talking about the
advantages that being successful can bring during and after a career in sport and the
twists and turns on that journey. In short, she says: always pack a sledge hammer because
some walls may need to be knocked down in your efforts to achieve your ultimate goal
and be prepared to shed bucketsful of sweat and maybe more along the way!

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Dr Florentina Hettinga
Senior Lecturer, University of Essex

Dr Florentina Hettinga (PHD, SFHEA, FECSS) is senior lecturer at the University of Essex,
where she leads the Sports Performance and Fatigue Research Unit. She is particularly
fascinated by the concept of ‘pacing’: how do athletes/exercisers regulate their exercise
intensities, when and why do they decide to invest their energy, and how do they manage
their fatigue, and how do humans behave and perform in competition? For example, how
do they respond to for example other opponents in the race and can we analyse and
optimise tactical decisions in head-to-head competition?

Title: Pacing, fatigue and tactics of winning races: Are there differences
between men and women?

Many studies have researched how athletes regulate their exercise intensities and how
athletes behave and perform in competition. After an initial focus on the exploration
of pacing strategies in time-trial exercise, more recently tactics and decision-making
processes in head-to head competition have been explored. Though most studies focused
on male athletes only, several recent studies took differences in pacing patterns, fatigue
development and tactics between men and women into account. The present session will
focus on overviewing the sex differences in pacing, fatigue and tactics in middle-distance
and endurance time-trials and head-to-head competitions.

Dr Jenny Burbage
Principal Lecturer and Researcher in Biomechanics, University of
Portsmouth

Jenny joined the Sport & Exercise Department at the University of Portsmouth as a
research assistant and associate lecturer in 2007 and subsequently started a part-time
PhD in the area of breast biomechanics. She had previously graduated from the University
of Portsmouth in July 2006, having completed a BSc (Hons) in Sports Science. She then
went on to complete an MSc in Sport and Exercise Biomechanics at the University of
Chichester (2006-2007). Since 2011 Jenny has been a Lecturer, and then Senior Lecturer, in
biomechanics and she is a fellow of the Higher Education Authority. Jenny completed her
PhD in July 2013, which focused on the breast support implications for female recreational
athletes. She is now a Principal Lecturer in biomechanics and the Recruitment & External
Promotion Lead for the department. Her primary research area is breast biomechanics
and breast health. Jenny’s main research interests are in bra fitting; breast pain; the effect
of breast support on performance and health during every day and sporting activities;
women’s health and functional breast support requirements for occupational and sports-
specific groups. She runs industry-focused workshops on the science behind breasts and
bras and lead research projects in conjunction with apparel companies in the area of
breast health.

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Professor Sarah Grogan
Professor of Psychology, Health & Wellbeing, Manchester Metropolitan
University

Sarah Grogan graduated from Cardiff University with an undergraduate degree in
Psychology and a PhD. Between her degree and PhD she worked at the University of
Illinois as a research assistant. Since then she has held lecturing posts at the University
of Birmingham, Manchester Metropolitan University, Santa Fe Community College in
Gainesville Florida (on a Fulbright exchange), and Staffordshire University. Sarah was
promoted to Professor of Health Psychology at Staffordshire University 2006-2013, and in
2013 took up the post of Professor of Psychology, Health and Wellbeing at Manchester
Metropolitan University.

Sarah is interested in body image and its impact on health-related behaviours
including exercise, smoking, tanning, and anabolic steroid use. Her book Body Image:
Understanding Body Dissatisfaction in Men Women and Children is in its third edition
(published September 2016). Sarah is currently involved in various projects linking body
image to exercise, smoking cessation, and tanning, and is particularly interested in how
technologies such as age-appearance morphing programme and whole-body scanning
can be used to promote healthy behaviours. She is Associate Editor of the British Journal
of Health Psychology, and in 2014 became a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences for
distinguished contribution to social sciences research.

Sarah has more than 100 publications on body image and related areas, and more than
4000 citations of her work.

Title: Body image and exercise: How might appearance concerns prevent
(or promote) exercise in young women

Researchers tend to find more positive body image in women who exercise than those
who do not, and experimental studies show that women randomly allocated to exercise
conditions report more positive body image post-intervention compared to controls.
However, although exercise can improve body image, some women may avoid exercise
because of body concerns. This talk will consider the complex links between exercise
and body image in promoting and preventing women engaging in exercise, drawing on
data showing that appearance concerns may prevent women from engaging in sport and
exercise, and may lead to unhelpful social comparisons and body critique when in
exercise settings.

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Dr Nicola Brown
Senior lecturer and researcher at St Mary’s University

Dr Nicola Brown joined St Mary’s University, Twickenham in 2010 following completion of
her PhD at the University of Portsmouth. In her current roles as Senior Lecturer in Health
and Exercise Science and Programme Director of Research, Dr Brown contributes to
numerous undergraduate and postgraduate modules and manages the growing number
of postgraduate researchers within the School of Sport, Health and Applied Science.
Throughout her research career, Dr Brown’s primary interest has been the exercising
female. This has led to collaboration with the Research Group in Breast Health at the
University of Portsmouth, led by Professor Wakefield-Scurr. This group aims to increase
scientific knowledge of breast health, and to raise awareness of this important aspect
of women’s health. The research group is responsible for more than half of the scientific
publications in the area and regularly presents their work internationally. Projects Dr Brown
has been involved in include the investigation of breast pain and bra fit issues in exercising
females, the relationship between body composition, breast size and breast kinematics,
and the influence of the breast on sports and exercise participation in schoolgirls.
Additionally, Dr Brown established the Female Health and Wellbeing Research Group
at St Mary’s University, with the primary objective of developing effective strategies for
optimising health and performance of female athletes and exercisers. This encompasses
her research in breast health alongside collaborative work with colleagues investigating
iron-deficiency anaemia and menstrual disturbances in female athletes and exercisers.

Title: Breast biomechanics: Performance and health implications.

Independent breast movement occurs during exercise due to limited intrinsic breast
support. This can have a number of negative consequences for both elite sports women
and recreationally active females including; exercise-related breast pain, potential breast
damage, alterations in running mechanics, and embarrassment which can deter females
from participating in exercise. This session will provide an overview of our novel research
findings investigating the effects of breast support on ground reaction forces, gait
kinematics, physiological parameters, muscle activity and perceptions of comfort and pain.
It will also explore the benefits of breast health education in improving knowledge and
awareness of appropriate breast support and bra fit to allow women to exercise safely and
in comfort throughout their lives.

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Donna Duffy
Programme Director, Center for Women’s Health and Wellness, and
Assistant Professor, Department of Kinesiology at UNC Greensboro. Co-
Director of the Female BRAIN Project.

Donna earned her B.S. and Ed.M from Boston University and her Ph.D. from UNC
Greensboro. Currently, Donna is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology
and the Director for the Program for the Advancement of Girls and Women in Sport and
Physical Activity in the Center for Women’s Health and Wellness at UNC Greensboro.
Donna’s professional efforts centre on her area of research, which is steeped in the
behavioural and mechanistic outcomes of head injuries among female athletes. Donna
is the Co-PI on the Female BRAIN Project at UNCG and is the PI on the True Baseline
Project, both of which are focused on girls, women, sport participation and concussive
experiences. Donna also serves on the YWCA World Service Council and is on the Board
of Advisors for the Women’s GridIron Foundation and the National Coalition Against
Violent Athletes, as well as a member of the Professional Advisory Board for PINK
Concussions.

Title: Concussion and the female athlete

The rate of concussions for female athletes per athletic exposure is often equal to and
sometimes exceeds male athletes, depending on the sport (Zuckerman et al., 2015).
However, the majority of concussion research to date has only included male athletes or
a combined male/female athlete population. Although female concussion rates meet or
exceed those of males, there is not a critical mass of research focusing on female athletes.
This is a clear disparity in research and a gap that needs to be addressed because head
trauma does not lead to a homogeneous outcome between the sexes (Covassin, Swanik,
& Sachs, 2003; Dick, 2009). Therefore, we cannot simply use what we have learned from
male athletes and apply it to female athletes in all cases (Covassin, Elbin, Crutcher, &
Burkhart, 2013) in terms of rehabilitation and recovery. This presentation will focus on the
research efforts and possible clinical implications of the Female BRAIN Project at UNC
Greensboro, in Greensbor, N.C., USA

Kate Nicholson

Head of Insight and Innovation, Women in Sport

Kate joined Women in Sport in August 2017 as Head of Insight and Innovation, bringing
over 25 years of experience in research, behaviour change and strategy development
to the charity. Prior to that, Kate held senior roles at Unilever, Kimberly-Clark and latterly
Twinings, where she headed up the insight and strategy function for their international
markets. An enthusiastic netball player and coach, sport has always been a passion for
Kate and this role at Women in Sport fulfils her ambition to enrich the lives of women and
girls through sport.

Title: Exploring the impact of puberty on girls’ attitudes and behaviour
towards sport

We know from previous research that during puberty there is a significant drop off for girls
in physical activity levels and positive attitudes towards sport, and that this is markedly
different from boys of the same age. Women in Sport’s qualitative research was designed
to explore the impact of puberty and the onset of periods on girls’ attitudes and behaviour
towards sport and physical activity, and to discover how to help girls establish healthy
exercise habits and prevent them from dropping out.

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Professor Emma Stevenson

Professor of Sport and Exercise Science, Newcastle University

Emma Stevenson is Professor of Sport and Exercise Science in the Institute of Cellular
Medicine in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University. Emma’s research
focuses on nutritional interventions to maximise recovery following exercise and the
effects of exercise and nutritional interventions on appetite regulation and postprandial
metabolism. Emma has worked as a consultant Sports Nutritionist with several
international sports squads. Emma is an Academic Associate of the Sport and Exercise
Nutrition Register (SENr) and a member of The Physiological Society, The Nutrition Society
and British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences.

Title: The need (or not) for female-specific sports nutrition

The sports nutrition industry is growing on an annual rate and although still limited,
there has been an increase in female-specific sports nutrition products appear on
the market. There is still a debate in the academic literature whether the metabolic
responses to exercise significantly differ between males and females however; females
are still significantly underrepresented in sport and exercise science research. Recent
data suggests that less than 40% of participants in the available literature female.
This presentation will review the current literature investigating exercise and recovery
metabolism in females and will discuss the areas where female-specific sports nutrition
strategies and recommendations may be required.

Dr Kirsty Elliott-Sale

Senior Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University

Dr Elliott-Sale completed her undergraduate degree in Coaching Science and PhD in
Exercise (in particular female) Physiology at Liverpool John Moore’s University. She worked
as a Lecturer at Brunel University and the University of Brighton before undertaking a four-
year Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at Kings College London on a research-funded
project into ageing. Dr. Elliott-Sale joined Nottingham Trent University (NTU) in September
2009 as a Senior Lecturer on a part-time basis. Her research interests are the female
athlete and maternal obesity. She is the Head of the Musculoskeletal Physiology Research
Group at NTU.

Title: Coping with the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives

Female reproductive hormones change throughout the menstrual cycle and as a result
of hormonal contraceptive use. There is large inter and intra-individual variation in
endogenous oestrogen and progesterone concentrations both within and between
menstrual cycles. Due to the variety of brands, types and delivery methods of hormonal
contraceptives available, there are large differences in the chemical constitution of
hormonal contraceptives and concomitant physiological effects. The metabolic and
performance-based effects of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives are poorly
understood. This presentation will discuss the proposed effects of the menstrual cycle and
hormonal contraceptive use on athletic performance and female health.

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Andrea Carter
Assistant Dean Student Wellness, Support & Success in the Office of the
Dean of Students at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

The University of Toronto Mississauga is home to 15,000 undergraduate and graduate
students. It employs over 10,000 staff and faculty. As assistant dean student wellness,
support & success, Andrea oversees UTM’s Health and Counselling Centre, Accessibility
Resource Centre (academic accommodations) and the Recreation Athletic Wellness Centre
(including Varsity athletics and intermurals). She is also responsible for student behavioural
issues under the Code of Student Conduct. Andrea has worked in various roles at the
University over the last 11 years, including Director of High Risk managing Crisis and
Critical Incidents across all three campuses, Manager of the Community Safety Office and
as an Equity Officer. Andrea holds a Masters of Counselling Psychology from the University
of Western Ontario, and is currently pursuing her PhD. at the University of Toronto with
a research focus on implementation of controversial policy in higher education. She is a
proud alumna of UTM, having completed her undergraduate degree here. Andrea was
recognised as an Emerging Leader, in 2016, having been awarded with the Chancellor’s
Award for Emerging Leaders. Andrea is a respected figure on issues of crisis management
and student wellness, and a frequently-sought speaker by a variety of institutions,
including the University of Oxford.

Title: “Throw Like A Girl” Female student athletes: an exercise in self es-
teem and self worth

The University of Toronto Mississauga Campus has developed programming to assist
students in developing resiliency in the face of challenge. The premise and understanding
that one is expected to have failure while at university, it is what you do with the failure
that matters. Several programmes and initiatives build on this theme. In this session,
Assistant Dean, Andrea Carter will discuss programming specifically targeted to female
student athletes. She will demonstrate how, through creative engagement, an awareness
of self worth and self esteem is built in these students who then act as role models for
others. The Office developed a Health, Resiliency & Well-being Cluster which is dedicated
to resiliency work. The aim and mandate of the Health, Resiliency & Well-Being Cluster
is to focus across disciplines (health, disability, sport and recreation) to determine ways
to better support students. As students engage in the academic environments at the
University of Toronto Mississauga they constantly readjust to meet and balance academia
and life challenges. Undergraduate and graduate students will experience a variety of life
events while at University including physiological changes that impact health. The Health,
Resiliency & Well-being cluster focuses on ensuring that our students build their skill set
and understanding of resiliency development. Opportunities for student engagement
exists as they experience a variety of interpersonal relationships, social emotional
development, mental health needs, personality development, and physical health needs in
the context of the university campus.

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Day Two Speakers

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Annamarie Phelps CBE OLY

Vice Chair, British Olympic Association

Annamarie Phelps CBE OLY is Vice Chair of the British Olympic Association and an
advocate for safe and inclusive sport for all. Former Chairman of British Rowing and
Vice Chair of the British Paralympic Association, she helped steer both organisations
through considerable change in structure and governance. She is a member of the
European Rowing Board of Management and acts as Commonwealth Liaison for FISA, the
international federation for rowing.

Annamarie chaired the Cycling Independent Review Panel into the culture and climate
of British Cycling’s high-performance programmes and supported the DCMS ‘Duty
of Care Report’. As Deputy Chairman at British Rowing 2002-2013, she implemented
safeguarding, anti-doping, governance and equality policies. She currently serves as
Safeguarding Governor at Latymer Upper School, Hammersmith.

A former World Champion in Women’s Lightweight Coxless Fours and indoor rowing, she
represented Great Britain in the women’s eight at the Atlanta Olympic Games, 1996.

Title: A personal potted history of the changing face of the ‘problem of
women’s sport’ from school sport through to Chairman of British Rowing

How perceptions of women’s place in the sports landscape have shifted from being a
problem that needed fixing to recognition that the system is the problem that needs to
change for both men and women to truly excel.

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Lisa O’Keefe
Insight Director at Sport England

Former Scottish rugby international Lisa O’Keefe joined Sport England’s south east office
in 2000, having started her career in the Financial Sector. During her time at Sport England
she held a variety of roles including Head of Sports Development, Head of Delivery, and
Interim Regional Director before moving to Sport England’s national office in 2007 as
Head of National Sport. In July 2008, she was appointed Director of Sport responsible for
the design and implementation of the National Governing Body of Sport investment.
Following the creation of a new Directorate, Lisa was appointed Director of Insight in
2013.
During her playing career, Lisa won 45 Scotland international rugby caps between 1994
and 2006 and competed in two World Cups, one European championship and numerous
Six Nations, and enjoyed great success domestically, winning league and cup titles with
Richmond Rugby Club for whom she was Club Captain.

Title: A presentation about the ground-breaking campaign This Girl Can

Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign successfully balanced rigorous research and bold
creative interpretation to create an exciting campaign that genuinely resonates with the
target audience. This presentation will:
• Introduce the problem we were trying to fix;
• Show you the cutting-edge insight behind the campaign;
• Illustrate how our insight shaped the campaign creative and execution at every step
of the way;
• Demonstrate how successful the campaign has been; and
• Share what we are learning about activating the This Girl Can experience through
our This Girl Can Swim pilot which has transformed the swimming pool experience
for its target audience.

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Dr Karen Birch

Head of School, Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds

Dr Birch is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and both Reader in
Exercise Science and Head of the School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds. Her
research concentrates specifically on the interaction between exercise, female hormones
and cardiovascular health across the lifespan. This has incorporated aspects of how
fluctuations in oestrogen and progesterone across the menstrual cycle impact endothelial,
vascular and cardiac performance and how the loss of these hormones early in adult life,
or following the menopause impact cardiovascular performance and health. Her work has
thus been presented to athletic groups such as the Football Association, to mainstream
scientific organisations such as the American College of Sports Medicine and European
Society of Cardiology and to health organisations such as the Northern Fertility Nurses.
Her work has been published in journals such as Medicine and Science in Sports and
Exercise, the British Medical Journal and PLOS One.

Title: Female hormones, exercise and cardiovascular health

Oestrogen exerts protective effects upon the cardiovascular system in pre-menopausal
women, resulting in lower rates of CVD in females versus males. Cardio-protective effects
of oestrogen are mediated by oestrogen receptors present throughout vascular and
cardiac tissue. At the menopause, oestrogen and its protective effects are lost resulting in
a steeper decline in cardiovascular health than in age-matched males. Indeed, traditional
CVD risk factors appear to have a more profound effect in post-menopausal women. Loss
of oestrogen directly affects the structure and function of the vasculature and the heart.
This talk will assess the interaction between oestrogen, cardiovascular health and exercise.

Dr Amanda Daley

Professor of Behavioural Medicine, School of Sport, Exercise and Health
Sciences, University of Loughborough

Amanda Daley is a professor in behavioural medicine in the School of Sport, Exercise and
Health Sciences at Loughborough University. Prior to this Amanda led the behavioural
medicine team in primary care at the University of Birmingham. Her work is focused on
investigating the effects of lifestyle interventions on health outcomes, particularly around
women’s health such as pregnancy and menstrual disorders. She is the chief investigator
on several on-going trials that are examining the effectiveness of physical activity and
weight control interventions in primary care and community settings. She has published
extensively in the field of physical activity and health. Amanda is most interested in
conducting randomised controlled trial but she also has a strong interest in conducting
systematic reviews and interrogating large datasets. Amanda is a panel member for
several national and international research funding boards.

Title: Lifestyle interventions for women’s health issues

This lecture will provide a life course perspective on the effects of lifestyle behaviours
on outcomes relevant to women’s health. The lecture will focus particularly on mental
health outcomes around the time periods before, during and after pregnancy. The lecture
will also include some discussion of the potential benefits of exercise for premenstrual
syndrome and dysmenorrhea. The lecture aims to draw together findings from systematic
reviews of randomised controlled trials to provide an up to date evidence synthesis of
what is currently known. Suggestions for future research will also be presented.

20

Dr Karen Hind PhD, CCD
Senior Research Fellow in the Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett
University and Honorary Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Cellular
Medicine, University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Dr Hind was awarded her PhD from the School of Medicine, University of Leeds in
2005 where she was the first to demonstrate a similar risk for low bone density in men
and women long distance runners. Her post-doctoral work was also conducted at the
University of Leeds before moving to Leeds Beckett University in 2007 where she led the
set up of their dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) research unit. Dr Hind established
and leads the Bone and Body Composition Research Group at Leeds Beckett and is
Radiation Protection Supervisor.

She has built an international reputation for DXA best practice, is a member of the
International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) and was recently appointed to the
European panel. With over 100 peer reviewed publications and conference presentations,
she has published on the female athlete triad including the trajectory of recovery of
menses and bone density. Her research has focused on factors affecting bone health
across the lifespan, particularly exercise. Her work has informed NICE guidelines, ISCD
position statement, IOC consensus statement-beyond the female athlete triad and clinical
guidelines on paediatric bone assessment, bone health in cystic fibrosis and the female
athlete triad. She is currently leading several major studies including a 10-year follow-up
study on bone health in distance runners, on the health of retired athletes, and on exercise
interventions to prevent bone loss and osteoporosis.

Dr Hind currently supervises five PhD students and provides guest lectures and workshops
on bone and body composition for level 6 and 7 students. She is regularly invited to
speak at nationals and international conferences, is academic editor for PLOS One and
peer reviews for a number of funding bodies and scientific journals. She has worked with
athletes from various sports, providing consultancy on bone and body composition and
advises on lifestyle interventions for bone health.

Title: Bone health and the female athlete

The risk for diminished bone strength in female athletes with absent or irregular
menses has been recognised for over 30 years. The aim of this talk will be to explore
advancements in our understanding of bone health and the female athlete over the last 3
decades - from the identification of the Female Athlete Triad and the negative effects of
relative energy deficit, to what that means for injury risk and long-term health, and to our
current knowledge base on management and treatment. The approach will be scientific,
and some insights from my own experience as an international endurance athlete will be
incorporated.

21

Dr Leanne Norman

Reader, Leeds Beckett University

Leanne is an internationally recognised researcher for her research and writing within
the area of gender equality and issues of diversity related to sports coaching, sports
leadership, and organisations. Her work is driven towards improving the participation,
performance, and leadership pathways for diverse social groups, principally, different
groups of women. Leanne has written for academic and practitioner textbooks, written
educational resources for coaches, and has published widely in academic journals related
to sport and social issues. She has led national and international research projects as
well as acted as academic expert and consultant for research funded by sport councils,
governing bodies, and charities. Leanne utilises such research as the evidence for
impactful outreach activities including leading the delivery of programmes towards
supporting women to enhance their experience of sports coaching as a credible and
valuable profession, as well as working with organisations to support them towards
creating a diverse leadership and coaching workforce.

Title: Presenting a programme of research towards improving gender
diversity in the UK coaching profession

Sport and gender literature includes numerous examples of studies and writing around
the issue of women’s underrepresentation as coaches. The consensus is that, globally,
the coaching profession has long been and continues to be, a white male dominated
occupation. The issue of an imbalanced profession continues to persist despite an
improvement in wider social attitudes and legislation towards equality and diversity within
Western societies as well as the actions of sporting organisations and national governing
bodies. Existing research has provided us with burgeoning knowledge of this subject area.
Therefore, this talk will explore, with delegates, new ideas and directions for research and
action to recruit and nurture a more gender balanced coaching profession through an
organisational cultural lens.

Dr Nicola Keay BA, MA (Cantab), MB, BChir, MRCP

After studying medicine at Cambridge, I was motivated to apply this understanding
to sport & dance. My clinical attachments include sports medicine clinics in Australia
(Sydney, Olympic Medical Centre Melbourne, AIS) and University of Geneva. After passing
MRCP I trained in Endocrinology gaining extensive clinical and research experience. As
a Research Fellow at St Thomas’ Hospital I was part of the international medical team
developing a test for GH doping in athletes. With sport medicine grants, I also researched
training effects on the Endocrine system which resulted in research publications in Sports
Endocrinology.

Title: Female sports endocrinology

Interactive signalling pathways in the Endocrine system are key in determining health and
athletic performance in female athletes of all ages. Any disruption to these pathways can
lead to suboptimal health and athletic performance both in the short term and the longer
term. Disruption in hormonal network feedback loops could be due to an Endocrine
condition per se, or failure to optimally integrate the periodisation of exercise, nutrition
and recovery. What are the mechanisms behind how imbalances of these factors impact
the female athlete Endocrine system? How to detect these and what practical measures
can be taken to support female athletes?

22

Jenni Jones, MSc MBPsS
Performance Psychologist and Doctoral Researcher

Jenni is currently based at Staffordshire University where she is mid-way through her PhD
research. Jenni’s specific research interest centre on the use of effective psychological
interventions that promote psychological wellbeing and an effective management of stress
while performing. Aside from her PhD work Jenni is also a private consultant to a range
of individuals and teams and has worked within the police force, with elite athletes and
performing artists. Jenni also enjoys assisting on the University’s MSc in sport and
exercise psychology.

Title: A performance psychology approach to building confidence

This introductory workshop gives an overview of the key aspects that sport and
performance psychologists use to help people develop confidence. I teach how to attend
to the very small detailed thoughts, feelings and behaviours that, we believe, maintain
top-level psychological performance. My work is evidence-based and my methods draw
from peer-reviewed research, which focuses on the psychology of performance.
Excellent performers in any domain are exposed to high-pressure demanding
conditions. A broad performance psychology perspective promotes both performing
to one’s potential and enhancing one’s wellbeing. Without a strong sense of wellbeing,
performance is undermined.
While my work is based on research and practice within elite performance (predominantly
sport), it can be tailored to building unique personal confidence for anyone. The
challenges faced by females in sport and exercise careers are both highly demanding,
complex and unique to everyone.
As a result of this workshop you will be able to:
• Begin to understand confidence from a range of perspectives.
• Begin to understand your sources of confidence.
• Evaluate your sense of personal confidence and understand how you can develop it
so that it is a constant strength in times of need.

23

Georgie Bruinvels

Research Scientist

After completing her undergraduate degree from Bristol University in Physiological
Science Georgie worked for UK Anti-Doping for three years before returning to academia
to study for a PhD at University College London. Georgie’s primary research interest is
around the female athlete and the effects that the menstrual cycle can have on exercise
performance. Through her PhD she specifically evaluated the prevalence and impact of
heavy menstrual bleeding and iron deficiency in exercising women. She is now a Research
Scientist for Orreco, working with a whole range of elite athletes to help improve recovery
rates, optimise training response and protect against excessive fatigue and overtraining.
She is also undertaking further research specifically with female athletes with a focus on
exercise performance and the menstrual cycle.

Title: The menstrual cycle, iron deficiency and exercise

More than half of women cite their menstrual cycle affects their training and performance.
As discussion around the menstrual cycle is increasingly becoming normalised, the reasons
for this need to be elucidated. Those who exercise have an increased susceptibility to
menstrual dysfunction. However, the primary dysfunctions researched are amenorrhea and
oligomenorrhoea. We have recently identified that more than 1 in 3 exercising women
have experienced heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). The increased blood loss, coupled to
enhanced iron losses through regular exercise suggest that susceptibility in this group to
iron deficiency will be increased. Yet diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency remains
unsure. This session will discuss our recent findings, determining an association between
HMB, iron deficiency and performance, while also discussing current knowledge and our
findings surrounding assessment, diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency.

Dr Rachael Bullingham

Senior Lecturer in Physical Education, University of Worcester

Rachael is a Senior Lecturer in Physical Education and Course Leader of Physical Education
and Outdoor Education at the University of Worcester. She previously taught Physical
Education in a secondary school, as well as performing various pastoral roles. In addition
to teaching she has been involved in research and has recently published on the topic of
homophobia in sport. Rachael’s PhD analysed the experiences of openly lesbian athletes
participating in team sports. She has recently published ‘Out in Sport’ which offers an
up-to-date examination of homophobia in sport. She is currently working on projects
with colleagues within education examining the experiences of gay and lesbian teachers.
Additionally, she is part of the Sport Collision Collective which is focused on making rugby
within educational settings safer for children. As part of this collective she is currently
interviewing teachers’ experiences within playing, coaching, teaching and refereeing
rugby.

Title: Homophobia in women’s sport

Research on homophobia in women’s sport is predominately dated as it occurred in the
1980s and 1990s a time Anderson (2009) describes as homohysteric. Since the 1980s there
has been a steady decline in cultural homophobia according to survey data (Anderson,
2009; Anderson et al. 2016). This cultural shift in inclusivity has been examined within
women’s sport (Anderson and Bullingham, 2013; Fink et al., 2012) and men’s sport (Adams
and Anderson 2011; Anderson, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2009 2011); there is need to reconsider
the relationship between homophobia and sport.

24

Dr Claire-Marie Roberts
Co-Programme Leader MSc Sport & Exercise Psychology, Senior Lecturer
in Sport & Exercise Psychology, University of the West of England (Bristol)

Claire-Marie is the Co-Programme Leader for the MSc Sport & Exercise Psychology and
a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology. In addition to her academic role,
she works with national governing bodies of sport, professional sports teams, individual
athletes, their parents, coaches and sport scientists. She has helped prepare a number
of athletes and teams for international competitions including the Olympic, Paralympic
and Commonwealth Games. Her role as a British Olympic Association Psychologist at the
London 2012 Olympics was to date, her career highlight.

Her experiences of working with athletes reflect her research interests that include athlete
development and career transitions in elite sport. She specialises in working with elite
adolescent athletes and their parents, and is one of the U.K.’s first sport psychology
specialists in supporting athletes with vocal cord dysfunction (VCD). Claire-Marie is
currently a non-executive board director of UK Anti-Doping, founder of the Women in
Sport Academic Network (WISEAN), a member of the Women in Sport Research Action
Group, External Examiner for the Premier League’s Elite Coach Accreditation Scheme
(ECAS), a TASS Registered Psychologist and STEM Ambassador.

Title: Motherhood as an athletic career transition in female Olympic
athletes with contribution from Dr Göran Kenttä

Historically, the concept of motherhood was deemed incompatible with an athletic career,
and women were often encouraged to end their involvement in competitive sport to have
children. As a result, pregnancy and motherhood were often cited as reasons for athletic
career termination or indeed as an excuse for women failing to reach their full potential
in sport. However, there are a growing number of examples of women who achieve both
personal and high-performance sport goals. Our research focuses on three of these
individuals – successful Olympians who have balanced motherhood with the highest
level of training and performance. This qualitative investigation labels motherhood as an
athletic career transition and covers topics such as a return to competition after the birth
of their first child, role conflict between motherhood and a career as an elite athlete, the
change in athletic career satisfaction after becoming a mother, dealing with prolonged
periods of separation during training and competition and changes in relationships with
team members, fellow athletes and coaching staff as a result of becoming a mother.

25

Dr Ralph Smith
Specialist Registrar in Sport and Exercise, Oxford. Physical Activity and
Pregnancy Study, University of Oxford.

Ralph Smith is a final year specialist registrar in Sport and Exercise Medicine at the Nuffield
Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford. He obtained a Master of Science in Sport Medicine, Exercise
and Health from University College London in 2011 and went onto complete his General
Practice training in Reading. In 2014, he entered the specialist training programme. He
has a range of experience in musculoskeletal medicine, elite sport, population health
and exercise medicine. He has been extensively involved in the formation of the UK’s
Chief Medical Officer’s commissioned infographic entitled ‘Physical Activity for Pregnant
Women’, from the initial scoping reviews to the final design. The infographic aims to
provide clarity and consistency to equip Health Professionals to deliver evidence-based
recommendations to enhance antenatal care, thus allowing women the confidence to
experience the benefits of being active throughout their pregnancy.

Title: Research & design of the CMOs infographic. ‘Physical Activity for
Pregnant Women’

The 2011 UK Chief Medical Officers’(CMO) Physical Activity (PA) recommendations
led to the development of a series of simple evidence-based infographics designed
to empower Health care professionals to promote PA behaviour change across the life
course. Remarkably, pregnant women were the only group of the population omitted from
the CMOs’ 2011 PA recommendations. To address this, an Expert Committee were tasked
provide evidence-based recommendations in the form of an infographic.
This talk explores the process behind the creation of the latest UKs CMOs commissioned
infographic entitled ‘Physical Activity for Pregnant Women’ from the initial scoping reviews
to the final design. The infographic aims to provide clarity and consistency to equip Health
Professionals to deliver evidence-based recommendations to enhance antenatal care.

26

Mr Michael Dooley, MMS, FRCOG
Consultant Sports Gynaecologist – The Poundbury Clinic

Mr Michael Dooley is a Consultant Gynaecologist with a specialist interest in Sports
Gynaecology. He has attended two Olympic Games as a Team Doctor and was Lead
Gynaecologist for London 2012. His primary research was monitoring hormone levels in
recreation and elite athletes in different disciplines and at different ages. He then was part
of a research team investigating the effect of hormones and pre-menstrual syndrome as
well as the positive effect oestrogen has on bones. He has recently co-authored a paper
on whether ovarian reserve, measured by antimullerian hormone, and fertility is changed
in elite athletes. He was a member of the International Olympic Committee Expert Group
Meeting that has published guidelines on exercise and pregnancy in recreational and elite
athletes. He is Medical Director of the Poundbury Clinic, based in London and in Dorset,
and at this Clinic he regularly sees athletes, both recreational and elite, with different
gynaecological and hormonal issues. He really believes in an integrated approach and
works closely with many governing body medical officers and other health professionals.

Title: To bleed or not to bleed: the benefits and risks of menstruation
and sport

Regular menstruation is generally a symptom of good health. Lack of regular menstruation
can be associated with pathology, including RED-S, premature menopause, thyroid
abnormalities and hyperprolactinemia.
Premenstrual syndrome can be associated with performance variation for many women
and can cause concern for the athlete.
This talk will cover the topic of menstruation and health. Whether menstruation itself has
a negative or positive effect on performance will be discussed or whether it is the cyclical
hormonal variation that is occurring that is the cause. Delaying menstruation is now
very topical – the risks, benefits and legal issues will be discussed and a protocol will be
proposed.

27

EXPERT PANEL/ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION
Wednesday 13 June 2018, 12:15-1:00

28

Name Institute/University/Company Suggested themes (TBC)

Dr Nicky Keay BA, MA (Cantab), MB, BChir,
MRCP
What advice should be given on the use of hormonal
Dr Kirsty Elliott-Sale Senior Lecturer, Nottingham contraception in sport/exercise? Are medical professionals/
Trent University exercise professionals in a position to give this advice?
Can hormonal contraceptive use/hormone fluctuation be
Dr Karen Birch Head of School, University of used to maximise performance? What are the perceptions
Leeds of the athletes?
Is a lack of a normal menstrual cycle in a female athlete a
manifestation of adaptation or a health concern?

Kate Nicholson Is it better to have a normal menstrual cycle for optimal
Head of Insight and Innovation, exercise and sports performance?
Women in Sport

Name Institute/University/Company Suggested themes
Dr Florentina Senior Lecturer, University of
Hettinga Essex

Donna Duffy Programme Director/Assistant How far does the female athlete have to ‘push’ themselves
Dr Jenny Burbage Professor, UNC Greensboro. before medical intervention? At what stage should/does
Principal Lecturer and medical intervention occur? Are females better/worse (than
Dr Nicola Brown Researcher in Biomechanics, men) at self-regulating probability of personal injury/illness?
Dr Karen Hind University of Portsmouth What coping strategies can be used to prevent ‘damage’/
Senior lecturer and researcher, injury/ill health as a result of fatigue/overtraining among
St Mary’s University females? Are strategies particularly pertinent for women?

Senior Research Fellow, Leeds
Beckett University

Name Institute/University/Company Suggested themes
Dr Leanne Norman Reader, Leeds Beckett
Dr Rachael University
Bullingham
Annamarie Phelps Senior Lecturer in Physical Should compulsory policies be put in place to balance the
CBE OLY Education, University genders/gender orientation in sports coaching/sport? Are
Professor Sarah Vice Chair, British Olympic current policies working?
Grogan Association Are single role models of successful women enough
Professor of Psychology, Health to bring about change in gender stereotypes in sport/
Dr Claire-Marie & Wellbeing, Manchester exercise?
Roberts Metropolitan University Do females already in positions of power in sport
Jenni Jones MSc Senior Lecturer in Sport & perpetuate gender stereotypes, by having to ‘behave like
MBPsS Exercise Psychology, University men’?
of the West of England (Bristol) Are females themselves to blame for lack of female repre-
sentation in sport/exercise?

Performance Psychologist and
Doctoral Researcher

29

ABSTRACTS FOR LIGHTNING TALKS
Wednesday 13 June 2018. Room R002
4:00-4:30 pm

30

The 12-lead ECG of the elite female football player: the impact of
different interpretation criteria used in pre-participation screening.

Mohammad, A., George, K., Oxborough, D., and Somauroo, J.
Liverpool John Moores University

Introduction: The ECG of athletes can present with distinct characteristics that are different from healthy controls and
constitute part of the phenotype of the AH. Different criteria exist for athlete ECG interpretation as likely “training
related” (physiological) or “training un-related” (pathological) adaptations. Early criteria from the European Society
of Cardiology had a high prevalence of false-positive outcomes. Newer, “Seattle” and “Refined” ECG criteria have
resulted in lower false-positive rates in male athletes whilst maintaining pathological disease detection. These criteria
have never been compared in elite female athletes.
Aims: This study compared the European Society of Cardiology, Seattle and Refined criteria interpretation of the 12-
lead ECG in elite female footballers.
Methods: 81 elite female footballers (mean±SD age: 21±4 years) underwent pre-participation screening. All athletes
had resting blood pressure assessed, a resting 12-lead ECG and a resting echocardiogram performed. Standard ECG
parameters were measured, and the European Society of Cardiology, Seattle and Refined criteria were applied to all
ECGs. Percent false-positive rates were presented for each ECG criteria after completion of screening in all athletes.
Results: Based on ECG, echocardiography and/or follow-up investigations, all athletes were considered healthy
with no evidence of underlying cardiac disease. According to the European Society of Cardiology criteria, 20 of the
athletes presented with likely training unrelated (abnormal) ECGs that would require athletes to undertake further
diagnostic tests. This represented a false positive rate of 24.7%. The false-positive rate was reduced to 0% following
application of both the Seattle and Refined criteria to the interpretation of the same ECG. This was because of
changes in the cut-offs for short and long QT syndrome and intraventricular conduction delay duration as well as the
removal of RVH as a lone abnormal finding in the Seattle and Refined criteria.
Conclusion: Compared to the European Society of Cardiology ECG interpretation, the use of the Seattle or
Refined Criteria reduced the number of athletes from 24 to 0% who would have been classified as abnormal and
recommended to undergo further follow-up tests. The integration of the Seattle or Refined criteria into elite female
footballer pre-participation screening could lessen the additional time and cost burden of follow-up tests as well as
reducing athlete anxiety. Confirmatory analysis is important, as is further research with different groups of female
players (sport, level and ethnicity).

31

Foetal heart rate response to exercise in pregnant women with BMI>25

Roldan-Reoyo, O.1, Pelaez, M.2, and Barakat, R.3
1Swansea University; 2University of the Atlantic; 3Technical University of Madrid

Background: being overweight or obese during pregnancy can trigger pregnancy-related diseases that affect
the women and/or the foetus during pregnancy and later in life (ACOG, 2015).Previous research has shown an
enhancement in foetal cardiovascular response in exercise mothers (May, Glaros, Yeh, Clapp, & Gustafson, 2010).
However, little is known about foetal heart rate (FHR) response in foetuses from overweight/obese pregnant women
and the effect of exercise.
Aim: to investigate FHR response to exercise in foetuses form overweight/obese pregnant women.
Method: pregnant women participated in the study and were divided into two groups an Exercise Group (EG) or a
Control Group (CG). EG participated in a 24-weeks supervised exercise programme. CG followed standard health
care. All participants carried out a FHR testing protocol between 34-36 weeks of gestation consisted in 3min walking
at 60% reserve HR. Maternal HR (MHR) and FHR at rest, FHR after exercise, and MHR and FHR recovery time were
measured.
Results: 81 pregnant women participated in the study, only 52 were overweight/obese (EG=26, CG=26). There
were no significant differences between groups in the following variables (p>0.05): MHR=89.3EG vs 88.5CG;
FHR=143.5EG vs 142.5CG; FHR after exercise=144.7EG vs 149.7CG; difference between resting FHR and FHR after
exercise in EG: 143.5 vs 144.7; MHR recovery= 11,8minEG vs 13,3min CG. Significant differences were found in the
following analysis (p<0.05): FHR recovery=4minEG vs 8,5minCG; and difference between resting FHR and FHR after
exercise in CG=142,5 vs 149,6.
Conclusion: exercise during pregnancy might have an enhancement effect in FHR response in overweight/obese
women due to a faster foetal recovery after exercise and a no significant difference between resting FHR and FHR
after exercise in EG-foetuses. However, more research is needed in this field to reach consensus.

ACOG. (2015). Committee Opinion. Physical Activity and Exercise During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 126(6),
e135–e142.
May, L. E., Glaros, A., Yeh, H.-W., Clapp, J. F., & Gustafson, K. M. (2010). Aerobic exercise during pregnancy influences fetal cardiac autonomic
control of heart rate and heart rate variability. Early Human Development, 86(4), 213–217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2010.03.002

32

The effect of amenorrhea in elite female endurance runners during
youth on bone density and strength in later life.

Piasecki, J.1, Ireland, A.2, Piasecki, M.2, Hannam, K.3, Deere, K.3, Hartley, A.3, Tobias, J.3 and
McPhee, J. S.2
1Musculoskeletal Physiology Research Group, Sport, Health and Performance Enhancement
Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, UK.; 2School
of Healthcare Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK; 3Musculoskeletal Research Unit,
School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol

Background: The physiological stresses associated with intense exercise alongside a low energy availability can
disrupt normal homeostatic processes, altering menstrual cycles and impacting on bone health. It remains unknown if
a period of amenorrhoea during youth can alter bone health later in life.
Aims: The aim of the study was to determine whether amenorrhoea during youth is associated with lower bone
strength in old age.
Methods: The study received ethical approval and participants provided written, informed consent. Bone mineral
density, measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), was compared between three groups: Older amenorrhoeic
athletes (OAA, n=5 age 66.6±3.38), reporting an average duration of amenorrhea for 3 years during their youth;
Older eumenorrheic athletes (OEA, n=34, age 70.3±6.61), no amenorrhoea in their youth and Controls (C, n=30, age
73.1±4.45) non-athletic women with no amenorrhoea during their youth. All athletes were endurance based and had
achieved a competition race time within 20% of the world record for their age within the previous 2 years, at the time
of recruitment.
Results: Univariate analysis was carried out with adjustment for age. The bone mineral density (BMD, g/cm2) in the
legs, spine, pelvis and hip was not different between any of the groups. Total body BMD was greater in OEA than
OAA (p=0.032). Further hip structural analysis revealed that OEA had a significantly greater strength index at the
femur (p=0.02) than controls. There was no difference between athlete groups or OAA and controls. Cortical neck
width, cross section moment of inertia and cross-sectional area were similar between all groups.
Conclusion: It is clear from hip structural analysis that the OEA have an increased bone strength, at the hip, than
OAA. This demonstrates that a short duration of amenorrhoea during youth can have an impact on bone health later
in life, despite regaining menstruation.

33

Female participation in the only sex-integrated summer Olympic sport

Dumbell, L.1 and De Haan, D.2
1Equestrian Performance Research and Knowledge Exchange Arena, University Centre Hartpury,
Hartpury, Gloucester, GL19 3BE; 2Assistant Professor, Utrecht University, Faculty of Law,
Economics and Governance. The Netherlands

Background: For the first time every participating nation sent at least one female athlete to the 2012 Olympic Games
in London. At the Rio Olympics in 2016, 47% of the medal opportunities were open to women; in total 45% of all
athletes were female and some nations, such as the USA, sent more female than male athletes. The policy changes
implemented by the IOC are examples of a liberal feminist approach, requiring sports to offer females opportunities
to compete.
Aims: To consider whether a sex-integrated sport can support women to compete as equals.
Results: Equestrian sport at the Olympics has a long history and since 1964 has been sex-integrated within all
disciplines. Within a sex-integrated sport, athletes do not have to fulfil any sex-related quota, so in theory if all the
best athletes were men then only men would be participating. Overall at Rio 2016, 45% of athletes were female, and
within equestrianism 38% were female, a similar figure. Interestingly, the four most dominant Olympic equestrian
nations in the 21st century had more female representation than the average.
Conclusion: Discussions on sport and gender are often focused on the physicality or the performance aspect which
highlights the differences between the sexes based on the biological and socially constructed gender order in
society. As Dashper (2012, p. 215) explains, in the context of equestrian sport, there are no sex-based biological
advantages for either males or females, ‘within the equestrian partnership the horse will always be the stronger
partner’. Equestrian sport does offer a lens to investigate a different approach to promoting female participation in
sport.

Dashper, K. (2012). Together, yet still not equal? Sex integration in equestrian sport. Asia-Pacific Journal of Health, Sport and Physical Education, 3,
213-225. https://doi.org/10.1080/18377122.2012.721727

34

35

ABSTRACTS FOR LIGHTNING TALKS
Wednesday 13 June 2018. Room R002
4:30-5:00 pm

36

High Risk, High Reward: The efficacy of injury prevention training is
greater in high risk compared to low risk elite female youth soccer
players

De Ste Croix, M. B. A.1, Hughes, J.1, Datson, N.2, and Taylor, L.3,4
1School of Sport and Exercise, University of Gloucestershire; 2University of Chichester;
3The Football Association, 4Oxford Brookes University

Background: Female youth athletes are classified as a high injury risk group, and injury prevention is important
for athlete welfare. The efficacy of robustness training on high versus low risk individuals within high risk groups is
currently unknown.
Aims: The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of robustness training on injury risk factors in female
youth soccer players and examine if high risk individuals are greater responders to such training.
Methods: 125 elite youth female footballers on the English FA talent pathway were randomly selected into a training
(n=71) or control group (n=54). Relative leg stiffness, 2D knee valgus and knee flexion range of motion (ROM) from
a single leg countermovement jump and knee abduction moment (pKAM) risk were all determined before and after
a 16-week robustness training programme. For further analysis participants in the training group were split into high
(pKAM >0.80; n=33) and low risk (pKAM <0.55; n=33) groups. Magnitude based inferences were used to explore
differences between the control and intervention and the high and low risk groups.
Results: Beneficial effects in the training group were observed for knee valgus, pKAM and leg stiffness compared
with the control group. The control group demonstrated more beneficial changes in knee flexion ROM than the
intervention group. The high risk group demonstrated greater beneficial effects of the training compared to the low
risk group for all parameters.
Conclusion: Our findings show an increase in knee valgus risk through normal growth and maturation, reinforcing
the need to intervention programmes in female youth athletes. Robustness training induces significant beneficial
improvements in injury risk factors in female youth soccer players. The beneficial effects of this multi-dimensional
programme are greater in those individuals who are classified as high risk.

37

Risk factors associated with stress fractures in female dancers compared
to female non-dancers: an observation cross-sectional study.

Davis, S., Bestwick-Stevenson, T., and Edwards, K. L.
University of Nottingham

Background: The prevalence of stress fractures for dancers varies between 6% and 63% dependent on dance genre,
ballet (63%) and tap (6%). Diet and dance exposure are risk factors for stress fractures. Whilst diet has been shown to
have a wider impact on bone health in other athletic populations, there is relatively little research in this area.
Aim: To determine if there is any difference in the risk of stress fractures in dancers versus non-dancers and
investigate association between diet, dance exposure and stress fractures.
Methods: This was an observational study. Female dancers were recruited from dance groups and non-dancers were
recruited from Nottingham. The questionnaire included a short food frequency questionnaire for typical weekly diet,
dance exposure (hours/week and years dancing), stress fracture history and demographic data. A K-means cluster
analysis was used to group participants into categories of dietary pattern according to the food frequency data.
Results: There were 63 dancers and 46 non-dancers recruited, with 6 stress fractures in 4 dancers (6%) and 1 stress
fracture in 1 non-dancer (2%). Dancers’ relative risk of stress fractures was 2.9x higher than non-dancers, but the
difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05), 95% CI (6.6-7.4). The K-means cluster analysis formed 4 dietary
patterns labelled: 1) unhealthy, 2) high wholemeal, cheese and fish, 3) balanced and 4) high fibre, fruit/vegetables
and low meat. The model was a good fit and statistically valid (p<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression modelling
showed no statistically significant differences between dancers with/without stress fractures for dancer status, years of
dance (95% CI 26.5-33.9), dance genre, age, dietary cluster, alcohol units and ethnicity (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Dietary pattern amongst other risk factors was not shown to change the risk of stress fractures in dancers.
These results should be interpreted with caution as this was a small study with a low number of stress fractures.

38

The prevalence of pain in international female event riders during
competition, in the United Kingdom

Lewis, V., Baldwin, K., and Dumbell, L.
Equestrian Performance Research and Knowledge Exchange Arena, University Centre Hartpury,
Hartpury, Gloucester, GL19 3BE

Background: Eventing is one of three Olympic disciplines of equestrian sport, the only sex-integrated summer
Olympic sport. At Rio 2016, 34% of Eventing competitors were female and within Team GB the odds ratio of a
representative being female (compared to male) was 3.33, the highest of all the disciplines.
Aim: To compare the prevalence of event riders at the international level competing with pain between the sexes.
Methods: Thirty-one four stage questionnaires were completed by international event riders (FEI CCI *, CCI **, CIC
***) at the Hartpury International Horse Trials, UK. Participants included 18 female riders and 13 male riders, with an
age range of 18-55 years.
Results: Ninety-six percent of international event riders competed while experiencing pain. All female riders reported
pain, giving a significant association between gender and pain (X= -0.479, p=0.006). Fifty-five percent of riders
felt their pain affected their riding performance. Pain was perceived to influence performance by affecting fatigue,
their concentration, and anxiety levels. Ninety-six percent of riders reporting pain used medication to elevate their
symptoms.
Conclusion: This high incidence of international event riders who compete with pain could potentially increase the
risk of a serious or fatal fall in the cross-country phase. One in five equestrian athletes is seriously injured during their
riding career (Ball, Ball, Mulloy, Datta, & Kirkpatrick, 2009) with Eventing widely considered the most dangerous
Olympic equestrian discipline. This research self-reports riders’ perceptions, which may affect the data.

Ball, J., Ball, C., Mulloy, R., Datta, I., & Kirkpatrick, A. (2009). Ten years of major equestrian injury: are we addressing functional outcomes? Journal
of Trauma Management and Outcomes, 3, 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-2897-3-2

39

Using social media to engage with female coaches: a small-scale action
research project

Dray, K.1, Dunin, J. 1, Stanton, P. 1, Arnold, L.2 and Drake, C.2
1Canterbury Christ Church University; 2Project 500 (More Women, Better Coaching)

Background: Women in coaching represent the minority. Government statistics suggest they comprise only 30% of
the coaching workforce, and only 17% of qualified coaches, despite recent research suggesting that having female
role models should be a goal for programmes designed to get girls more physically active (Young et al., 2015).
Providing support for female coaches is increasingly recognised as integral to policy and practice.
Aims: To explore how coaches engage with, and implement new ideas from, the Project 500 (More Women; Better
Coaching) social media channels.
Methods: An online survey was conducted with 32 female coaches of various qualification status, averaging 12.6
years of coaching experience, coaching (on average) 11.4 hours a week, recruited through the social media (Twitter
and Facebook) channels of the project. Preliminary findings are presented here.
Results: Social media channels were reported to be most useful for developing practice ideas and information
on upcoming events, and were used mostly because they are deemed free, relevant and trustworthy. Further
analysis suggested that those who reported rarely implementing ideas from the sites, reported less knowledge and
opportunities to do so, compared to those who used ideas more frequently (p<0.05). In addition, when comparing
coaches across qualification levels, those with lower qualifications, reported relatively lower levels of knowledge,
confidence, skills, opportunities, and motivations to implement new ideas (p<0.05).
Conclusion: This small-scale action research study explores some of the barriers female coaches face in implementing
new ideas from dedicated coaching social media resources. Opportunities exist to develop these resources to help
alleviate some of these barriers, particularly in less qualified coaches.

Young, J. A., Symons, C. M., Pain, M. D., Harvey, J. T., Eime, R. M., Craike, M. J., & Payne, W. R. (2015). Role models of Australian female
adolescents: A longitudinal study to inform programmes designed to increase physical activity and sport participation. European Physical
Education Review, 21(4), 451-466.

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41

ABSTRACTS FOR LIGHTNING TALKS
Thursday 14 June 2018. Room R101
4:00-4:30 pm

42

How a blended curriculum engages girls in activity in challenging spaces

Corne, H.
Mini Mermaid UK

Mini Mermaid UK (est. 2015) aims to increase physical activity in girls whilst enhancing their confidence and self-
belief. The programme uses an innovative blend of journal work via a curriculum alongside physical activity.
Recent qualitative research using thematic analysis demonstrated five key benefits which emerged for girls as a result
of engaging in the Mini Mermaid programme:
• Getting to know their inner self
• Developing resilience
• Managing peer relations
• Physical self-awareness
• Disrupting normal (a unique experience)
There was also a marked difference observed in girls’ physical endurance and physical self-efficacy.
The programme gives girls a platform to be heard and from this, a core theme emerging from research is the way the
programme gives girls ‘tools’ to get to know themselves better.
There was an apparent shift in girls’ self-belief, particularly around the ability to understand what it meant to set a
goal, work for it, and then achieve it.
This presentation unpacks successful elements of Mini Mermaid Running Club (MMRC) UK, specifically the way the
unique curriculum which prioritises understanding the self, enhances girls’ physical self-efficacy. This presentation
shows the impact of a relevant curriculum to engage girls effectively with their physical selves. Importantly, MMRC UK
works in areas of economic disadvantage, tackling and challenging inequalities and working to raise expectations of
young girls through the bespoke curriculum.

43

Can exercise training improve the frequency and severity of hot flushes
in breast cancer patients taking aromatase inhibitors?

France, M.1, Brislane, A.1, Holcome, C.2, Low, D.1, Jones, H.1
1Liverpool John Moores University; 2Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital

Background: Hot flushes are experienced by approximately 70% of breast cancer patients (Antoine et al, 2008), due
to endocrine treatment compromising ovary function. Exercise training improves hot flush frequency and severity in
postmenopausal women through enhancing cardiorespiratory fitness and improving thermoregulatory and vascular
control (Bailey et al, 2016a; Bailey et al, 2016b), yet it is unknown whether exercise training can have a similar impact
on women undergoing endocrine treatment to suppress oestrogen production. Aim: The aim of the current study,
therefore, was to determine whether improving thermoregulatory and vascular control mechanisms with exercise
training could alleviate hot flushes and their associated quality of life symptoms in breast cancer patients.
Methods: Eight breast cancer patients, having completed treatment (age, 53±8; BMI, 29±6) completed a 16-
week exercise intervention consisting of 30-60 min moderate intensity supervised exercise training 3-5 times per
week. Self-reported hot flush frequency and severity were recorded before and after the intervention. Physiological
hot flushes were recorded through measurement of skin blood flow and sweat rate, from which thresholds for
vasodilation and sweating could be established.
Results: Following training, no significant changes in cardiorespiratory fitness occurred (0.58 ml.kg.-1min-1 [95%
confidence interval -6.47, 7.62 ml.kg.-1min-1], p = .81). Exercise training mediated reductions in self-reported
frequency by 18 (-38, 75) hot flushes per week and severity of hot flushes by 4 (-26, 34) arbitrary units per week (p >
.05) yet this did not reach statistical significance. During a physiologically measured hot flush, skin blood flow and
sweat rate were 0.34 AU mmHg and 0.02 mg/min/cm2 lower after exercise training, respectively. Conclusion: The
data accumulated so far suggest that exercise training may be beneficial for breast cancer patients on endocrine
therapy.

Antoine, C., Vandromme, J., Fastrez, M., Carly, B., Liebens, F., & Rozenberg, S. (2008). A survey among breast cancer survivors: treatment of the
climacteric after breast cancer. Climacteric, 11(4), 322-328.
Bailey, T. G., Cable, N. T., Aziz, N., Atkinson, G., Cuthbertson, D. J., Low, D. A., & Jones, H. (2016a). Exercise training reduces the acute
physiological severity of post-menopausal hot flushes. Journal of Physiology, 594(3), 657-667.
Bailey, T. G., Cable, N. T., Aziz, N., Dobson, R., Sprung, V. S., Low, D. A., & Jones, H. (2016b). Exercise training reduces the frequency of
menopausal hot flushes by improving thermoregulatory control. Menopause, 23(7), 708-718.

44

Is lack of knowledge a reason to decrease/stop antenatal exercise?

Parry, S., Roldan-Reoyo, O., and Lewis, M.
Swansea University

Background: 60-80% of pregnant women do not meet antenatal exercise (AE) recommendations (Harrison, Taylor,
Shields, & Frawley, 2018). AE is highly recommended since it can help prevent pregnancy-related-diseases and health
problems later in life for women and their babies (ACOG, 2015). Lack of knowledge and professional guidance is one
of the main reasons that women decrease/stop exercising in pregnancy. In Wales 45% of women fail to meet physical
activity guidelines (Townsend, Bhatnagar, Wilkins, Wickramasinghe, & Rayner, 2015) and this figure is likely much
higher during pregnancy. If women were more aware of the benefits of AE it would be easier to encourage them to
enrol in AE.

Aim: use a bespoke questionnaire to determine whether women in Wales are aware of the benefits of AE.
Methods: We designed an online questionnaire with two sections: 1-Likert scale responses and 2-requiring multiple-
choice answers. Approval was obtained from Swansea University Ethics Committee and women aged +18 years were
recruited using email and posters.

Results: 127 women answered the questionnaire and were classed as: Never Pregnant (39), Pregnant (18), Previously
Pregnant (70). Analysis of the Likert-response section is presented here. There were no significant differences in
responses between groups for any of the questions, so the group-wide responses are presented:
Question’s evaluation: Strongly disagree/Disagree (D), Neutral (N), Agree/Strongly agree (A).
Do you think that exercising during pregnancy would:

• Improve your health? N=3.1%, A=96.9%.
• Improve your baby’s health? D=0.8%, N=17.3%, A=81.9%.
• Might affect your labour? D=2.4%, N=10.2%, A=87.4%.
• Help you avoid gaining too much weight? D=1.6%, N=10.2%, A=88.2%.
• Help you to have a faster recovery during postpartum? D=4.1%, N=4.1%, A=91.8%.
• Would you be keen to enrol in AE? D=6.3%, N=18.1%, A=75.6%.

Conclusions: Lack of knowledge does not seem to be a reason for reducing/stopping AE. This suggests that other
reasons for low AE engagement should be explored.

ACOG. (2015). Committee Opinion. Physical Activity and Exercise During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 126(6),
e135–e142.
Harrison, A. L., Taylor, N. F., Shields, N., & Frawley, H. C. (2018). Attitudes, barriers and enablers to physical activity in pregnant women: a
systematic review. Journal of Physiotherapy, 64(1), 24–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphys.2017.11.012
Townsend, N., Bhatnagar, P., Wilkins, E., Wickramasinghe, K., & Rayner, M. (2015). Cardiovascular Disease Statistics 2015. British Heart Foundation:
London. https://doi.org/CVDSTATS15

45

Barriers and facilitators towards antenatal exercise

Roldan-Reoyo, O., Parry, S., and Lewis, M..
Swansea University

Background: a research project based in an Antenatal Exercise Programme (AEP) has been developed to be
understand the effect of exercise in maternal/foetal cardiovascular adaptations. Nevertheless, before running
the project it is important to know what enables/stops women from AE. Specially in Wales, 54% of women are
overweight/obese and do not meet exercise recommendations (Townsend, Bhatnagar, Wilkins, Wickramasinghe,
& Rayner, 2015). This figure is likely much higher during pregnancy and could increase the risk of developing
pregnancy-related diseases(Nucci et al., 2018).
Aim: to understand the barriers and facilitators towards AE.
Methods: We designed an online questionnaire with two sections: 1-Likert scale responses and 2-requiring multiple-
choice answers. Approval was obtained from Swansea University Ethics Committee and women aged +18 years were
recruited using email and posters.
Results: 127 women in Wales answered the questionnaire: Never Pregnant (39), Pregnant (18), Previously Pregnant
(70). There were no significant differences between groups. Only the most relevant responses from multiple-
choice questions are presented. What would motivate you to start/continue exercising? Maintain health and fitness
level=88.2%; do the best for the baby=72.4%. What exercise will you be happy to perform? Walking=97.6%;
swimming=82.7%; yoga=75.6%; stretching=72.4%; pelvic floor=70.1; aquafitness=65.4%. What would be the
reasons you might stop exercising? Nausea=65.4%; back pain=61.4%; harming my baby=53.5%. What would be
your expectations if you enrol in an AEP? Feel better=88.2%; improve health=75.6%; control weight gain=63.8%;
perform light AE=59.8%.
Conclusions: These results help us to understand what women expect from an AEP, which kind of activities appeal
more to them and what would stop them to exercise. With these results we can design an AEP which match women
expectations. In addition, we could find better strategies to encourage pregnant women to start or continue exercise
during pregnancy.

Nucci, D., Chiavarini, M., Duca, E., Pieroni, L., Salmasi, L., & Minelli, L. (2018). Pre-pregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain and
adverse birth outcomes: Some evidence from Italy. Annali Di Igiene, 30(2), 140–152. https://doi.org/10.7416/ai.2018.2205
Townsend, N., Bhatnagar, P., Wilkins, E., Wickramasinghe, K., & Rayner, M. (2015). Cardiovascular Disease Statistics 2015. British Heart Foundation:
London. https://doi.org/CVDSTATS15

46

A qualitative study exploring active charity events as a catalyst for
sustained physical activity behaviour

McVinnie, Z., Plateau, C., and Stevinson, C.
Loughborough University

Background: Active charity events have been identified as having untapped potential for public health by
encouraging physical activity (PA) through charitable and social motives. However, there is limited research on how to
convert event participation into sustained PA behaviour.
Aim: This study aimed to understand the role of active charity events in the initiation of PA, and to explore strategies
that facilitate sustained PA behaviour following an event. Results will help inform the development of an intervention
to assist future participants.
Methods: Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with adult women (n=15) 3-4 months after
completing a Cancer Research UK women-only Race for Life 5-km event. Transcripts were analysed using thematic
analysis.
Results: Through exploring event experiences, two key themes emerged: feeling connected (emotional connection
to cause, atmosphere at event, camaraderie with people) and sense of achievement (milestones reached, confidence
boost from event completion). Similarly, two themes emerged relating to PA experiences: goals (desire to retain
fitness, continue training routine) and reinforcements (receiving social support from others, feeling of wellbeing from
being active). Particularly for those that trained to run their event, the sense of achievement generated a desire to
continue PA in the following months and led to the development of additional goals.
Conclusion: These results suggest elements to include in interventions for supporting continued PA post-event.
Fostering the feelings of connection and sense of achievement from event completion, and encouraging new goal
formation with opportunities for social support, may help event participants with physical activity maintenance.

47

Exploring girls’ engagement in secondary school physical education

Tidmarsh, G.1, Kinnafick, F.2, and Johnston, J.3
1University of Birmingham; 2Loughborough University; 3Nottingham Trent University

Background: Girls are participating in physical activity less than the daily recommendations of 60 minutes moderate
to vigorous activity (WHO, 2015); only 15% of girls aged 11-15 years meet recommended levels (WHO, 2011) and
only 8% of girls aged 13-15 years in 2012 (Townsend et al., 2015).
Aims: Two separate but related studies, qualitatively explored girls’ engagement in secondary school PE. Study one
explored girls’ perceptions of participation in PE. Informed by study one, study two explored boys’ perceptions of
girls’ participation in PE.
Methods: Both studies utilised a qualitative design; participants were recruited using purposive sampling. Study
one participants (female n=30, mean age = 13.4±1.6 years) took part in one of five focus groups according to their
year group (years 7-11). Study two participants (male n=43, mean age year 7 = 12.3±0.53 years, yr 10 = 15.2±0.49
years) took part in one of eight focus groups according to their school (n=4) and year group (years 7 and 10). Focus
groups were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed in accordance with Braun and Clarke (2006). Rigour was
established via all authors acting as critical friends and reviewing themes on multiple occasions.
Results: Six key themes emerged; study one included enjoyment, motivational climate and perceived competence.
Participants discussed the importance of variety and choice, the effects of observation, peer groups, gender
stereotypes and increased confidence around people of similar ability, all of which influenced enjoyment and effort
levels. Study two themes were perceived self-efficacy of girls, awareness of and conformity to gender stereotypes,
and structure of the PE environment. Participants discussed the possibility of restructuring PE from gender split to
mixed gender sets organised by ability.
Conclusion: We propose that PE lessons could be grouped by ability which includes an education programme
focused on task involvement aimed at overcoming gender stereotypes, increasing enjoyment and improving the
motivational climate.

Townsend, N., Wickramasinghe, K., & Williams, J. (2015). Physical activity statistics 2015 [online]. London: British Heart Foundation.
Retrieved from, https://www.bhf.org.uk/-/media/files/.../bhf_physical-activity-statistics-2015feb.pdf
WHO (2011). New physical activity guidance can help reduce risk of breast, colon cancers [online].
Retrieved from, http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2011/world_cancer_day_20110204/en/
WHO (2015). Physical activity [online]. Retrieved from, http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs385/en/

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49

ABSTRACTS FOR LIGHTNING TALKS
Thursday 14 June 2018. Room R101
4:30-5:00 pm

50