Dr Liba Sheeran

Reader: Physiotherapy

I am Reader and Director of Impact and Innovation at the School of Healthcare Sciences and Population Health research theme Lead at the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences.

I hold honours degree in Physiotherapy, a Master of Science in Sports Physiotherapy and Exercise and a PhD in phenotyping persistent back pain to tailor management. I have led several interdisciplinary projects mostly concerned with developing and evaluation of digital health technology interventions that deliver health and wellbeing support and management tailored to individual needs of people with complex long-term conditions (LTCs) such as back pain and osteoarthritis. I use variety of methodologies including large dataset mining, experimental techniques, co-creation, design thinking, human computer interaction and participatory action research. Through this work I aim to bring multi-disciplinary perspective to phenotyping LTCs to tailor its management, and health and wellbeing support.

Founding member of the Welsh Institute of Physical Activity, Health and Sport. Educator and collaborator on Pain-Ed, international group of academic experts to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice in pain management. NIHR and Versus Arthritis TRC Pain Workstream Digital Technology Expert Committee Member. Steering Committee member for MRC Confidence in Concept Scheme and Ser Cymru funded project: ‘Clinical acceptance of technology for remote rehabilitation’. Contributed to developing national strategy to optimise the appropriate use of digital and health technologies in the design and delivery of physiotherapy services across the UK.

2024

Astek, A., Sparkes, V. and Sheeran, L. 2024. Exploring the use of immersive virtual reality in adults with chronic primary pain: A scoping review. Digital Health 10, pp. 1-19. (10.1177/20552076241254456)
Liu, Z., Hicks, Y. and Sheeran, L. 2024. SpineSighter: an AI-driven approach for automatic classification of spinal function from video. Presented at: 28th International Conference on Knowledge-Based and Intelligent Information & Engineering Systems, Seville, Spain, 11 - 13 September 2024, Vol. 246. Elsevier pp. 3977-3989., (10.1016/j.procs.2024.09.172)
Eleryan, N., Hemming, R., Sparkes, V. and Sheeran, L. 2024. Exploring musicians' perspectives on the management of musculoskeletal disorders and the potential role of digital health interventions: A survey study. Presented at: Chartered Socoety of Physiotherapy (CSP) 2023 Annual Conference, Birmingham, UK, 1 November 2023, Vol. 123. Vol. S1. Elsevier pp. e156-e157., (10.1016/j.physio.2024.04.195)
Eleryan, N., Sparkes, V., Hemming, R. and Sheeran, L. 2024. The effect of self-management Interventions on musculoskeletal disorders in musicians: A scoping review [Abstract]. Presented at: Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) 2023 Annual Conference, Birmingham, UK, 1 November 2023, Vol. 123. Vol. S1. Elsevier pp. e156-e157., (10.1016/j.physio.2024.04.089)
Hartley, T., Hicks, Y., Davies, J. L., Cazzola, D. and Sheeran, L. 2024. BACK-to-MOVE: Machine learning and computer vision model automating clinical classification of non-specific low back pain for personalised management. PLoS ONE 19(5), article number: e0302899. (10.1371/journal.pone.0302899)
Sheeran, L., Al-Amri, M., Sparkes, V. and Davies, J. L. 2024. Assessment of spinal and pelvic kinematics using inertial measurement units in clinical subgroups of persistent non-specific low back pain. Sensors 24(7), article number: 2127. (10.3390/s24072127)
Hemming, R., du Rose, A., Sheeran, L., van Deursen, R. and Sparkes, V. 2024. Relationships between trunk muscle activation and thoraco-lumbar kinematics in non-specific chronic low back pain subgroups during a forward bending task. Gait & Posture 107, pp. 96-103. (10.1016/j.gaitpost.2023.09.018)
Sheeran, L. 2024. Advances in digital and health technologies for management of spine pain. Presented at: Society of Back Pain Research Annual Conference, Aberdeen, U.K, 13-14 June 2024.
Sheeran, L. 2024. Lower back injuries in football players: Epidemiology and prevention. Presented at: Annual Isokinetic Conference, Madrid, Spain, 3-5 May 2024.
Sheeran, L., Liu, Z. and Hicks, Y. 2024. Harnessing AI for classification of the level of spinal function from video and inertial measurement units in people with non-specific low back pain. Presented at: International Conference on Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Paris, France, 13-14 May 2024.

2023

Sheeran, L., James, A. and Hawkins, J. 2023. Co-production of BACK-on-LINETM, a work-based digital self-management of low back pain, for implementation and scaleup the rail industry. Presented at: 11th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Girdle Pain, Melbourne, Australia, 1-4 Nov 2023.
Eleryan, N., Sheeran, L., Hemming, R. and Sparks, V. 2023. The effect of self-management interventions on musculoskeletal disorders in musicians: a scoping review. Presented at: 11th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Girdle Pain, Melbourne, Australia, 1-4 November 2023.
Hartley, T., Hicks, Y., Davies, J., Cazzola, D. and Sheeran, L. 2023. Phenotyping low back pain from video capture using computer vision and machine learning. Presented at: 11th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Girdle Pain, Melbourne, Australia, 1-4 Nov 2023.

2022

Davies, J. L., Al-Amri, M., Sparkes, V. and Sheeran, L. 2022. Assessment of spinal and pelvic kinematics using inertial measurement units in people with persistent low back pain. Presented at: 11th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Girdle Pain, Melbourne, Australia, 1-4 Nov 2023.
Knight, R. L., McNarry, M. A., Runacres, A. W., Shelley, J., Sheeran, L. and Mackintosh, K. A. 2022. Moving forward: understanding correlates of physical activity and sedentary behaviour during COVID-19 in children and adolescents - an integrative review and socioecological approach. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19(3), article number: 1044. (10.3390/ijerph19031044)

2021

Elgueta-Cancino, E., Sheeran, L., Salomoni, S., Hall, L. and Hodges, P. W. 2021. Characterisation of motor cortex organisation in patients with different presentations of persistent low back pain. European Journal of Neuroscience 54(11), pp. 7989-8005. (10.1111/ejn.15511)
Rathnayake, A., Sparkes, V. and Sheeran, L. 2021. What is the effect of low back pain self-management interventions with exercise components added? A systematic review with meta-analysis. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice 56, article number: 102469. (10.1016/j.msksp.2021.102469)
Chen, M., Sparkes, V. and Sheeran, L. 2021. Patient self-assessment tool (BACK-ON-LINE TM) for early targeted self-management of low back pain in a workplace construct and discriminate validation study. Presented at: Back and Neck Pain Forum, Sydney, Australia / Virtual, 11-13 Nov 2021.
Runacres, A., Mackintosh, K. A., Knight, R. L., Sheeran, L., Thatcher, R., Shelley, J. and McNarry, M. A. 2021. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sedentary time and behaviour in children and adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18(21), article number: 11286. (10.3390/ijerph182111286)
Knight, R., McNarry, M., Sheeran, L., Runacres, A., Thatcher, R., Shelley, J. and Mackintosh, K. 2021. Moving forward: understanding correlates of physical activity and sedentary behaviour during COVID-19—an integrative review and socioecological approach. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18(20), article number: 10910. (10.3390/ijerph182010910)
Sheeran, L. 2021. Sporting spine. In Touch Summer(175), pp. 12-19.
Walker, K., Phillips, N. and Sheeran, L. 2021. Recreational runners’ attitudes towards running-related injury prevention, self-management and the use of digital technology to prevent and self-manage injury. Presented at: 2021 IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury & Illness in Sport, Monaco, 25-27 November, 2021.
Sheeran, L. 2021. Lumbale rückenschmerzen und wirbelsäulenverletzungen bei sportlern - ursachen und risikomanagement. Sportphysio 9(1), pp. 32-40. (10.1055/a-1256-2158)
Rathnayake, A., Sparkes, V. and Sheeran, L. 2021. Development of Back-to-Fit: a digital self-management platform to help people with mechanical low back pain to be active and exercise. Physiotherapists' perspectives. Presented at: 11th Britspine Conference and Exhibition 2021, Virtual, 10-12 March 2021.
Rathnayake, A., Sparkes, V. and Sheeran, L. 2021. The effect of low back pain self-management interventions including exercise components and does tailoring exercises to person's needs matter? A systematic review with meta-analysis. Presented at: British Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting (BORS 2020), Virtual, 7-8 September 2020, Vol. 103B. Vol. S2. British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery pp. 74-74., (10.1302/1358-992X.2021.2.074)
Sheeran, L. 2021. Prevention and Self-Management of running-related injuries and how recreational runners incorporate digital technology: a survey study. Presented at: World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) Congress, Online, 9-11 April 2021.
Sheeran, L. 2021. Advances in health technologies for arthritis. Presented at: British Orthopaedics Association Annual Congress 2021, 21-24 September 2021, Aberdeen, Scotland.

2020

Bacon, Z., Hicks, Y., Al-Amri, M. and Sheeran, L. 2020. Automatic low back pain classification using inertial measurement unit sensors: a preliminary analysis. Procedia Computer Science 176, pp. 2822-2831. (10.1016/j.procs.2020.09.272)
Sheeran, L. 2020. BACK-on-LINE(TM): Individualised digital spine health management system to support people with low back pain in work. Presented at: Health and Wellbeing at Work Conference, Birmingham, England, 10 March 2020.
Astek, A., Sheeran, L. and Sparkes, V. 2020. Development of immersive virtual reality for managing people with chronic low back pain – study protocol. Presented at: BritSpine, Glasgow, Ireland, 1-3 April 2020.

2019

Sheeran, L., Sparks, V., Whatling, G., Biggs, P. and Holt, C. 2019. Identifying non-specific low back pain clinical subgroups from sitting and standing repositioning posture tasks using a novel Cardiff Dempster–Shafer Theory Classifier. Clinical Biomechanics 70, pp. 237-244. (10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2019.10.004)
Alothman, D., Sheeran, L. and Sparkes, V. 2019. Development of a patient self-assessment and self-management online tool (BACKonLINE™): measurement properties. Presented at: Society of Back Pain Research Annual General Meeting (SBPR 2019), Sheffield, England, 5-6 September 2019. British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery, (10.1302/1358-992X.2019.10.005)
Hemming, R., Sheeran, L., van Deursen, R. and Sparkes, V. 2019. Investigating differences in trunk muscle activity in non-specific chronic low back pain subgroups and no-low back pain controls during functional tasks: a case-control study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 20, article number: 459. (10.1186/s12891-019-2843-2)
Kyrou, K., Bobos, P. and Sheeran, L. 2019. A protocol for Exercise-based interventions in multidisciplinary rehabilitation for reducing fear avoidance in non-specific chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PROSPERO. Available at: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42019139947
Vecchia, M. D., Van Deursen, R. and Sheeran, L. 2019. Does perceived ‘threat’ of pain during selected functional tasks influence regional lumbar kinematics of people with chronic low back pain?. Presented at: 10th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Girdle Pain, Antwerp, Belgium, 28-31 October 2019.
Sheeran, L. 2019. Lessons learnt from developing digital health intervention to help people with back pain to remain in work. Presented at: Welsh Health Summit 2019, Llandudno, Wales, 10 October 2019.
Rosser, S., Sparkes, V. and Sheeran, L. 2019. Does standard manual handling advice alter trunk muscle activity during a basic lifting task in healthy individuals?. Presented at: 10th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Girdle Pain, Antwerp, Belgium, 28 -31 October 2019.
Sheeran, L. and Robling, M. 2019. Spinal function classification framework for non-specific low back pain: a delphi survey of academic experts and clinicians. Presented at: 10th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Girdle Pain, Antwerp, Belgium, 28-31 October 2019.
Sheeran, L., Sparkes, V. and Al-Amri, M. 2019. Utility of portable inertial measurment unit (IMU) sensor system for spinal movement assessment in people with and without low back pain.. Presented at: 10th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Girdle Pain, Antwerp, Belgium, 28 -31 October 2019.

2018

Poile, V., Youdan, G., Sheeran, L., Quinn, L. and Busse, M. 2018. Wearable technologies for assessment of physical activity in hd: preliminary analysis of movement variability and wear time. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 89(S1), pp. A62., article number: F64. (10.1136/jnnp-2018-EHDN.165)
Al-Amri, M., Nicholas, K., Button, K., Sparkes, V., Sheeran, L. and Davies, J. L. 2018. Inertial measurement units for clinical movement analysis: reliability and concurrent validity. Sensors 18(3), article number: 719. (10.3390/s18030719)
Sheeran, L., Hemming, R., van Deursen, R. and Sparkes, V. 2018. Can different seating aids influence a sitting posture in healthy individuals and does gender matter?. Cogent Engineering 5(1), article number: 1442109. (10.1080/23311916.2018.1442109)
Hemming, R., Sheeran, L., van Deursen, R. and Sparkes, V. 2018. Non-specific chronic low back pain: differences in spinal kinematics in subgroups during functional tasks. European Spine Journal 27(1), pp. 163-170. (10.1007/s00586-017-5217-1)
Sheeran, L. and Robling, M. 2018. Spinal function and exercise performance classification framework.. Presented at: Society of Back Pain Research Annula Conference, Gronningen, Netherlands, 15-16 November 2018.

2017

Ali, A. and Sheeran, L. 2017. Barriers to running revealed. Challenge Cardiff: The Research Magazine for Cardiff University 2017(Summer), pp. 14-16.
Sheeran, L. 2017. Low back pain in young athletes. Presented at: Young Althes Forum Convention, Montreaux, Switzerland, 21 Sep 2017. pp. -.
Alothman, D., Sheeran, L. and Sparkes, V. 2017. Development of a patient self-assessment and self-management online tool (BACKonLINE?): A Delphi Study. Presented at: Society of Back Pain Research Annual Conference, Northampton, U.K., 14-15 Nov 2017. pp. -.

2016

Sheeran, L., Jones, S., Hemming, R., Van Deursen, R. and Sparkes, V. 2016. The effect of classification-based cognitive functional therapy on spinal kinematics and function in subgroups of chronic low back pain. The Spine Journal 16(4), pp. S45-S46. (10.1016/j.spinee.2016.01.027)
Sheeran, L. and Tighe, A. 2016. Cognitive functional therapy management of chronic low back pain. One day clinical workshop. www.pain-ed.com.
Sheeran, L. 2016. Classification based cognitive functional group therapy in non-specific chronic low back pain, pilot RCT. Presented at: BritSpine, Nottingham, 6-8 April 2016. pp. -.
Sheeran, L., Sparkes, V., Van Deursen, R., Jones, S. and Hemming, R. 2016. The effect of classification-based cognitive functional therapy on spinal-pelvic kinematics during functional tasks in subgroups of non-specific chronic low back pain. Presented at: 9th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back & Pelvic Girdle Pain, Singapore, 31 October - 3 November 2016. pp. -.
Sheeran, L. 2016. Physio in the PocketTM development - travelling felloship report. Presented at: BritSpine, Nottingham, U.K., 6-8 April 2016. pp. -.

2015

Sheeran, L., Coales, P. J. and Sparkes, V. 2015. Clinical challenges of classification based targeted therapies for non-specific low back pain: What do physiotherapy practitioners and managers think?. Manual Therapy 20(3), pp. 456-462. (10.1016/j.math.2014.11.008)
Hemming, R., Sheeran, L., Van Deursen, R. W. M. and Sparkes, V. 2015. Regional spinal kinematics during static postures and functional tasks in people with non-specific chronic low back pain [Abstract]. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation 22(Supp 8), pp. S8. (10.12968/ijtr.2015.22.Sup8.S8b)
Hemming, R., Sheeran, L., Van Deursen, R. W. M. and Sparkes, V. 2015. Regional spinal kinematics during static postures: discrimination between subclassified people with non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLPB) and healthy controls. Orthopaedic Proceedings: A Supplement of the Bone & Joint Journal 97-B(S2), pp. 17.

2014

Sheeran, L. 2014. Motor control exercise specificity to influence spinal-pelvic mechanics in elite track and field athletes. Presented at: Association of Chratered Physiotherapists in Sports and Exercise Medicine, Bristol, U.K., March 2014. pp. -.
Sheeran, L., Sparkes, V., Whatling, G. and Holt, C. 2014. The Cardiff classifier: Objective classification method to subgroup and predict recovery of chronic low back pain. Presented at: Physiotherapy Research Society Conference, Norwich, U.K., April 2014. pp. -.
Hemming, R., Sheeran, L. and Sparkes, V. 2014. Intra and inter-rater reliability of spinal pelvic kinematics during functional tasks. Presented at: CITER Annual Meeting, Llanelli, Wales, U.K., Sep 2014. pp. -.
Hemming, R., Sheeran, L. and Sparkes, V. 2014. Regional spinal kinematics during static postures,. Presented at: Society of Back Pain Research Annual Conference, Dublin, Ireland, Nov 2014. pp. -.
Sheeran, L. 2014. Advances in physiotherapy monitoring. Presented at: Anglian Pain Society Autumn Meeting, Cambridge, Nov 2014. pp. -.

2013

Sheeran, L., Hemming, R., Van Deursen, R. W. M. and Sparkes, V. 2013. Classification-based cognitive functional group intervention in subgroups of non-specific chronic low back pain: Preliminary results. Presented at: 8th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back & Pelvic Pain, Dubai, United Arabic Emirates, 27-31 October 2013.
Sheeran, L., Coales, P. J. and Sparkes, V. 2013. Clinical challenges of adopting classification guided management for non-specific chronic low back pain: what do the clinicians and managers think?. Presented at: 8th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back & Pelvic Pain, Dubai, United Arabic Emirates, 27-31 October 2013.
Sheeran, L., Van Deursen, R. W. M., Caterson, B. and Sparkes, V. 2013. Classification-guided versus generalized postural intervention in subgroups of nonspecific chronic low back pain: a pragmatic randomized controlled study. Spine 38(19), pp. 1613-1625. (10.1097/BRS.0b013e31829e049b)
Sheeran, L., Whatling, G. M., Holt, C. A., Beynon, M. J., Van Deursen, R. W. M. and Sparkes, V. 2013. Discriminating non-specific chronic low back pain clinical subgroups and monitoring recovery using objective classification method. Presented at: 8th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back & Pelvic Pain, Dubai, 27-31 October 2013.
Hemming, R., Sheeran, L., Roos, P. E., Van Deursen, R. W. M. and Sparkes, V. 2013. Within- and between-day reliability of functional movements in healthy subjects using 3D motion analysis: A preliminary study. Presented at: 8th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back & Pelvic Pain, Dubai, United Arabic Emirates, 27-31 October 2013.

2012

Sheeran, L., Sparkes, V., Caterson, B., Busse, M. and Van Deursen, R. W. M. 2012. Spinal position sense and trunk muscle activity during sitting and standing in non-specific chronic low back pain: classification analysis. Spine 37(8), pp. E486-E495. (10.1097/BRS.0b013e31823b00ce)
Feldwieser, F. M., Sheeran, L., Meana-Esteban, A. and Sparkes, V. 2012. Electromyographic analysis of trunk-muscle activity during stable, unstable and unilateral bridging exercises in healthy individuals. European Spine Journal 21(S2), pp. 171-186. (10.1007/s00586-012-2254-7)

2010

Sheeran, L., Sparkes, V., Busse-Morris, M. and Van Deursen, R. 2010. Preliminary study: reliability of the spinal wheel. A novel device to measure spinal postures applied to sitting and standing. European Spine Journal 19(6), pp. 995-1003. (10.1007/s00586-009-1241-0)
Sheeran, L., Sparkes, V., Busse, M. and Van Deursen, R. W. M. 2010. Preliminary study: reliability of the spinal wheel. A novel device to measure spinal postures applied to sitting and standing. European Spine Journal 19(6), pp. 995-1003. (10.1007/s00586-009-1241-0)
Sheeran, L. 2010. Motor control in non-specific chronic low back pain: A view to classification. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.

2007

Sparkes, V., Batsite, E., Powell, C. and Sheeran, L. 2007. The effect of unsupported sitting on lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis. Presented at: Society of Back Pain Research Meeting, Helsinki, Finland, 28-29 June 2007.

My research aims to translate fundamental science and apply it to the real world to improve health, wellbeing, and quality of life of people with complex long-term conditions (LTCs) mainly involving musculoskeletal apparatus such as back pain and osteoarthritis. My work is multi-disciplinary, crossing healthcare science, population health, medicine, engineering, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and other disciplines and typically involves practitioners and industry. My projects have a clear impact pathway, be it through commercialisation, informing practice, policy, or further work such as implementation studies.

Research funding

I have been involved in submitting research bids exceeding £6.5 million in value, successfully capturing grant income of £2.7 million. Funding has been secured through variety of sources including UKRI (ESRC, MRC), UK Government, Health and Care Research Wales, European Union Social Fund, Research Wales Innovation Fund, Wellcome Trust, Global Collaboration Research Fund, charity (Versus Arthritis, Society of Occupational Medicine) and industry partners (IBM Visual Insights and Meridian IT).

Current

‘BACK-on-LINE^TMa work-based digital self-management intervention for back pain scale up into the GB rail sector’; funded by Research Wales Innovation Fund, Innovation for All Impact Catalyst Award (with Rail Safety and Standards Board [RSSB], Network Rail, Siemens, Transport for London, Transport for Wales)

‘BACK-on-LINE^TM adaptation into manufacturing and transport sector in Sri Lanka’; funded by Society of Occupational Medicine Golden Jubilee Fellowship Prize (with Centre of Occupational Health and Safety, Sri Lanka)

‘Automatic classification of spinal movement impairments to personalise exercises for people with persistent back pain’; funded by Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Population Health Award (with IBM Visual Insights and Meridian IT)

Versus Arthritis Biomechanics and Bioengineering Research Centre Versus Arthritis, Cardiff University (with NHS Wales)

Recently Completed

2018-2020 Principal Investigator ‘BACK-on-LINE^TM: technology to improve low back pain management in workplace’ UK Gov Dept of Work and Pensions and Dept of Health and Social Care, Health Challenge Fund (16/11/2018): £168,696 (with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Transport for London)

2019-2020 Principal Investigator ‘Thoracic movements and respiratory function following breathing exercises used in contemporary dance routines: pilot study’ Global Collaboration Research fund (GCRF) Project fund (01/03/2019): £20,455 (with Unicamp, Brazil)

2018-2021 Principal Investigator ‘Run Healthy, Run Strong: The development of a digital running-related injury prevention and self-management intervention’ European Union Social Fund (ESF) PhD Studentship (01/07/2018): £62,020 (with Run Wales and Welsh Athletics)

2016-2019 Principal Investigator ‘Physio-in-the-Pocket: sensor technologies for personalised rehabilitation of back pain’ Health and Care Research Wales RCBC Postdoctoral Fellowship (01/01/2016): £112.778 (with Xsens, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia)

I teach, assess and supervise students on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in areas of public health, musculoskeletal condition management, anatomy, exercise, physical activity and nutrition for health. I lecture in sports and exercise physiotherapy including the diagnosis and management of sport related injuries. I teach extensively current models of management of back pain across range of populations (children, adults, athletes and general population, occupational sector). I also teach on Master and Doctoral research methods programmes.

I am a regularly invited speaker nationally and internationally on prevention, management and diagnosis of complex pain conditions in sport and athletic populations and run expert workshops. This includes delivery of workshops nationally and internationally to healthcare practitioners on prevention and management of long term musculoskeletal pain conditions through invites from the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports and Exercise Medicine (ACPSEM). I also delivered workshops and keynote lectures at Swiss Physiotherapy Society Young Athletes Forum Symposium in Switzerland (2017) and 6th Salzburg Physiotherapy Sports Symposium in Austria (2019).

I am a visiting Lecturer at University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), Switzerland. I belong to the Pain-Ed international expert group consortium promoting evidence-based practice in complex pain management and delivering lectures nationally and internationally.

Masters level teaching:

Clinical Kinaesiology and Tissue Pathology (HCT 226)
Musculoskeletal Diagnosis and Treatment (HCT 139)
Assessment and Treatment of Sports Injury (HCT 022)
MSc Research methods and data analysis (HCT 206)
MSc dissertation module (HCT117)

Doctoral level teaching:

Applied Quantitative Methods in Healthcare Research (NRT 108)

I was awarded with Bachelor (Hons) in Physiotherapy from University of the West of England, Bristol, U.K in July 1999. After graduation I worked as a clinician in the NHS before transiting to occupational health and university sport sectors at Bristol University and University of Bath. I completed MSc in Sports Physiotherapy and Exercise in April 2006 and progressing to PhD in Motor control in chronic low back pain (January 2011) both from Cardiff University, U.K. I gained Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in 2014 and became a fellow of Higher Education Academy. I currently hold full time academic role as a Reader in Physiotherapy at Cardiff University.

Throughout my career I continued to be clinically active chartered physiotherapist with clinical expertise mainly focussed in elite sports performance sector and occupational health. My clinical posts included working as a Lead Performance Physiotherapist for British Orienteering Federation (2006-2009), Sport Wales Institute (2007-2009), UK Athletics physiotherapy lead for Wales (2009-2010) and Welsh athletics (2010-present). I have clinical experience working at world class multi-sport events including World University Archery Championships (2005), World University Games in Turin (2006), Commonwealth Games in 2010 Delhi, 2014 Glasgow and 2018 Gold Coast, London 2012 Olympic Games, 1st European Games (2015) and Islamic Games (2017) in Baku and several European and World Touch Championships supporting Team Wales. I currently work part-time as a consultant physiotherapist with Welsh Athletics.

Honours and awards

Work and Health Challenge Fund Award recipient (2018)
Wellcome Trust & Cardiff University International Seedcorn Travelling Fellowship recipient (2016)
Society of Back Pain Research Travelling Fellowship recipient (2016)
Health and Care Research Wales RCBC Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Award (2015)

Professional memberships

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) (since 1999)
Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) (since 1999)
Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports and Exercise Medicine (ACPSEM) (since 1999)
Higher Education Academy (HEA) Fellow (since 2014)
British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES) (since 2017)
British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine (BASEM) (since 2018)

Committees and reviewing

Committees

Arthritis Research UK Biomechanics and Bioengineering Centre research Committee member (2010-present)
Cardiff Women in Science (CWIS) committee member (2016-17)
Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering Research (CITER) research committee member (2014-2016)
Physiotherapy Research Society committee member (2012-14)

Journal reviewer

Applied Ergonomics
Spine
Musculoskeletal Science and Practice
British Journal of Sports Medicine
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy Practice
International Jpournal of Therapy and Rehabilitation

Grant Reviewer

Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering Research (CITER)
Physiotherapy Research Society

Conference/Congress abstract reviewer

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy UK Conference (2012)
World Congress in Physical Therapy (2015)
Physiotherapy Research Society (2012-2014)

I supervise PhD students in research and development of digital health technologies including virtual reality, sensors, video motion tracking; deploying artificial intelligence and machine learning tools.

I am interested in supervising students in the following areas:

Use of technologies (wearables, IMU sensors, video tracking) for e-rehab
Improved self-management of musculoskeletal and neurodegenerative disorders
Digital platforms for sport injury prevention and management
Data mining for individualised rehabilitation

Selected PhD projects:

Run Healthy - Run Strong: Digital platform for sports injury prevention and self-management (PhD: Kathleen Walker)
Wearable technologies for tracking physical activity of people with Huntington Diseases (PhD: Vincent Poile)
Back-to-Fit: e-rehab for back pain (PhD: Akushla Senarath Rathnayake)
Feasibility and acceptability of virtual reality interventions in people with back pain (PhD: Anfal Astek)
Feasiblity and acceptibility of BACK-on-LINETM in range of work sectors (PhD: Minghao Chen)
Physical activity levels in adults with congenital heart disease and its effect on exercise capacity and quality of life (Professional Doctorate: Lynda Shaughnessy)

Contact Details

SheeranL@cardiff.ac.uk
+44 29206 87757

Physiotherapy alumni and staff play key role in elite sport