Dr Emma Sargeant

(she/her)

DClinRes MSc MCSP MMACP

Research

Research with BSc students

• EMG activity of Scapula stabilisers.
• Activity of VMO/VL post fatigue.
• The effects of knee/ankle supports on stability around the joint using force platform.
• The effect of cervical lateral glide on pressure pain threshold and neurodynamics of the upper limb.
• The effects of lumbar mobilisation on lumbar spine range of movement and lower limb neurodynamics.
• A comparison of the effects of a course of lumbar mobilisation, neural slider mobilisation and hamstring stretches, on the sit and reach test.

My research

• The neurophysiological effects of manual therapy to the cervical spine on asymptomatic subjects.
• The role of education on fear avoidance beliefs and pain levels in chronic low back pain patients.
• The effects of one and two-week intensive rehabilitation programmes on the short and long term outcome measures of ankylosing Spondylitis patients.
• Factors which influence physical activity participation in the adult population.
• Childhood experience of physical activity and participation as an adult.

Teaching

BSc

• Level 4    Anatomy, physiotherapy assessment and treatment skills, mobility, strength, exercise.
• Level 5    Musculoskeletal - pathology, assessment and treatment techniques / manual skills, clinical reasoning.
• Level 6    Progression of all level 2, health promotion and illness prevention and dissertation supervision.

MSc

• Neuromusculoskeletal physiotherapy - thoracic and cervical spine.
• Exercise participation - barriers and enablers. 
• The effects of childhood experience of physical activity and physical activity levels in adulthood. 

Biography

I obtained a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy in 1997. I started my clinical career in Cardiff and Vale university health board, where I completed a full junior rotation including respiratory/ITU, care of the elderly, spinal rehabilitation, trauma and orthopaedics and outpatients. At that point I chose to direct my career towards musculoskeletal physiotherapy and got a senior II post in adult trauma and orthopaedics. Although I enjoyed this role I made the decision to move to the paediatric team and continued to work with trauma and orthopaedics, primarily based on the adolescent unit.

I took a break from my clinical practice and took a year off in 2001 to go on a round-the-world trip, which was an amazing experience, however on my return I was very disappointed to find that someone else had settled in my original position on the paediatric team and I returned to a locum post initially and then a full time post in adult out patients. This was initially meant to be a temporary measure while I waited to return to paediatrics, however I it became my permanent role.

During my time as a locum I started an MSc in neuromusculoskeletal physiotherapy and this led to my decision to try and move into academia and in November 2003 I applied for a part-time post as a lecturer at Cardiff University. I was lucky enough to be offered the position and for the next 15 years I worked part time in the NHS and part-time at the University. In 2017 I stopped my clinical role to focus on progressing my academic career and in January 2025 I completed my biggest challenge to date, a Doctorate in Clinical Research.    

My clinical and research interests are:

• Neuromusculoskeletal Physiotherapy
• Spinal pain and management.
• Rehabilitation of rheumatological conditions
• Weight management
• Physical activity and public health
• Physical activity behaviour of children and adolescents