1. University of Wolverhampton
  2. Research
  3. Research Centres
  4. SPARC
  5. Physical Activity and Health

Physical Activity and Health

Led by Dr Ian Lahart

This research theme investigates the role of physical activity in the prevention and treatment of disease and promotion of health. We have examined:

  • physical activity as a therapeutic modality in the treatment and prevention of non-communicable diseases. Our research helped develop a MacMillan funded exercise-based cancer and cardiac rehabilitation service, which is still in operation today.
  • physical activity in the promotion of health. Our research has been disseminated through the BBC programme ‘Trust me I’m a Doctor’.
  • the management of medical problems experienced by exercising individuals at all ages and levels of participation. We work with practitioners via our work with involvement in the UK Active Scientific Advisory Board where we are interested in examining whether exercise can be an effective health regulation strategy and importantly, why it is. Our work has been controversial challenging existing methods and question whether exercise is medicine in our paper ‘death by effectiveness’.

Supported by our state of the art Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanner, in working with older adults and athletic populations, our research looks at understanding the relationship between bone health, specific physical activities, genetic implications, adolescence, and fall risk.