profile
Dr Sharon Dixon
Associate Professor in Biomechanics
4712
Richards Building RB111
Richard's Building, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK
Office hours: Monday - Thursday
Overview
Dr Sharon Dixon is an Associate Professor in Biomechanics, in Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Exeter, and has been a lecturer here since January 1999. Dr Dixon gained her Ph.D. (Loughborough University) in 1996, investigating the influence of footwear interventions on Achilles tendon loading. In the period 1997-1998, she held postdoctoral research positions in the School of Civil Engineering, University of Nottingham and in the Human Performance Laboratory, University of Calgary. Dr Dixon coordinates the Exeter Biomechanics Research Team (ExBiRT), a group of researchers using biomechanical tools to improve understanding of human movement. She teaches on the undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes in Sport and Health Sciences and is Programme Director for the MSc in Sport and Exercise Medicine. Dr Dixon is the Equality and Diversity Rep for Sport and Health Sciences, and is Chair of the Sport and Health Sciences Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Broad research specialisms:
- Lower extremity overuse injury mechanisms in sports and exercise
- Influence of footwear, insert and surface manipulations on lower limb biomechanics and injury risk.
Qualifications
PhD, BSc (Hons)
Research
Research interests
Dr Dixon's research interests are in the understanding of lower extremity overuse injury mechanisms, and the influence of footwear, shoe insert and surface manipulations on lower extremity biomechanics. She has published in a range of international peer reviewed journals in the fields of sports and exercise related biomechanics, sports medicine and sports engineering. Dr Dixon has performed collaborative projects with industry (e.g. International Tennis Federation, Umbro, RSscan International, MoD) and has managed EPSRC-funded research projects on sports playing surfaces and footwear. Dr Dixon is Chair of the Footwear Biomechanics Group (a technical group of the International Society of Biomechanics), and is a member of the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB) and the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), and is a core member of the SportSURF Network.
Research projects
Footwear for active older adults
UKRI Healthy Ageing Catalyst Fund
Understanding traction for sports shoe surface combinations.
EPSRC Project Grant (EP/G038295/1). Collaboration with Matt Carré, University of Sheffield and the International Tennis Federation.
Player Perceptions of Tennis Surfaces and Relationship with Injury Risk and Performance.
PhD studentship funded by the International Tennis Federation.
Biomechanical variables associated with stress fractures in Royal Marine recruits phase II: Prospective study.
Collaboration with Commando Training Centre, Royal Marines and Institute of Naval Medicine.
Influence of fatigue on risk factors for Royal Marine recruit injury.
PhD studentship supported by the Institute of Naval Medicine.
Biomechanical and physiological factors influencing running economy.
Collaboration with the Women’s Running Network, PhD studentship.
Grants/Funding:
Nov 2009 (30 months)
Understanding traction for sports shoe surface combinations. Principal Investigator.
EPSRC Project Grant (EP/G038295/1): £230,371
Oct 2007 (12 months)
Shoe signature monitoring for advanced running technique. Principal Investigator.
EPSRC Project Grant (EP/F006349/1) £9,897
August 2005 (12 months)
Engineering sustainable sports surfaces. Co-investigator.
PSRC Project Grant (EP/C512243/1) £125,272
(£42,000 to Exeter)
August 2008
Playing performance of soccer boots with focus on comfort
Umbro £10,000
May 2009
Biomechanical variables associated with stress fractures phase II: Prospective study. Contribution to funding of project: purchase of CODA markers and batteries.
Institute of Naval Medicine £4,575
July 2010
Impact of Women’s Running Network Programmes on Participants’ Biomechanical, Physiological and Psychological Status.Funding of PhD Studentship (With Professor Andy Jones).
Women’s Running Network £60,000
July 2010
Player Perceptions of Tennis Surfaces and Relationship with Injury Risk and Performance
International Tennis Federation £16,500
June 2011
Risk factors for Royal Marine recruit injury. Contribution to PhD studentship
Institute of Naval Medicine £4,500
October 2012
Biomechanics of key tennis movements on acrylic and clay surfaces
International Tennis Federation £4,000
Links
Publications
Books
Journal articles
Chapters
Conferences
Sharon_Dixon Details from cache as at 2024-04-19 11:43:16
External Engagement and Impact
Awards/Honorary fellowships
Young Investigator Award BASES Conference 1994
Young Investigator Award European College of Sports Sciences Conference 1997
Sportese Award at BASES Conference for best sports science presentation 2004
BASES Sportese Sport Science Award 2013
Committee/panel activities
Scientific review committee, Footwear Biomechanics Symposium 2011, 2013, www.fbs2013.org
Co-organiser of 1st UK Footwear Science Meeting, 2016.
Chair of International Society of Biomechanics, Footwear Biomechanics Group (2019-2021)
Editorial responsibilities
Associate Editor for journal Footwear Science
Editorial board member for Journal of Sport Sciences.
Invited lectures
British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine (BASEM) Easter Meeting 2008
BASEM Conference 2008
European College of Sports Science 2008 South West Podiatry Conference 2008
Staffordshire Conference on Clinical Biomechanics 2010 and 2011
Sport and Exercise Medicine South West (SEMSW) 2010 and 2011
UKSEM (Sport and Exercise Medicine) 2011
World Congress of Biomechanics 2014
Invited Keynote speaker International Society of Biomechanics Congress 2015
Significant Impact
Royal Marines - Injury
The Exeter Biomechanics Research Team, led by Dr Sharon Dixon of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, has performed studies which have led to interventions that have reduced the incidence of overuse injury in Royal Marine recruits. Published studies on the efficacy of using cushioning insoles within military footwear led to the development of a bespoke insole design for standard issue to recruits, significantly reducing injury during training. A training review has identified aspects of training associated with a heightened risk of injury. Biomechanical data have informed prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of injury in this population.
Sports Surfaces
By simulating sports movements in a laboratory environment, typical forces applied to surfaces during play have been quantified. The data have been used to develop a mechanical apparatus to allow the investigation of the influence of shoe-surface properties on friction behaviour. This device provides a simple and safe method of testing these surfaces under the large forces applied in sports, when players are at most risk of injury. The apparatus developed is being used within a current PhD project at Sheffield, supported by the International Tennis Federation, to investigate the friction behaviour of different shoe-surface combinations, informing standards which can be applied internationally to competition surfaces to help reduce player injuries.
Workshops/Conferences organised
Core committee member of Sportsurf (Sports Surfaces Research Forum), a network set up and initially funded through EPSRC network funding and now self-sustaining. We run regular workshops, and the Network has organised two international conferences. http://sportsurf.lboro.ac.uk/.
Scientific review committee, Footwear Biomechanics Symposium 2013, www.fbs2013.org.
Teaching
Undergraduate:
- ESS2004 Biomechanics and Kinesiology Level 2
- ESS3805 Biomechanical Analysis of Human Movement Level 3
Postgraduate:
- SHSM005 Biomechanical Aspects of Lower Limb Injury
Modules
2023/24
- ESS3805 - Biomechanical Analysis of Human Movement
- SHSM005 - Biomechanical Aspects of Lower Limb Injury
- SHSM037 - Sport and Exercise Medicine Placement
Supervision / Group
Postgraduate researchers
- Joshua Alculumbre
- Jonathon Birch
- Jamie Fulton
- Erwan Izri
- Isabel Moore Factors affecting running economy, PhD submission due 2013
- Michael Nunns Prospective risk factors for lower limb stress fractures in Royal Marines, PhD submission due September 2013
- Hannah Rice Prospective risk factors for injury in Royal Marine recruits, PhD submission due 2014
- Andrew Roberts Biomechanical effects of gait modification and anterior compartment fasciotomy on Exercise-Induced Lower Leg Pain (P/T). PhD submission due 2018.
- Chelsea Starbuck Biomechanical aspects and perception of tennis surfaces, PhD submission due 2013
Alumni
- Mark Creaby (PhD) Biomechanical risk factors for lower limb stress fractures in Royal Marines
- Dr Loic Damm (2009-2012) 30-month postdoctoral position funded through EPSRC (EP/G038295/1).
- Kim Lilley (PhD) Running gait of mature female runners
- Daniel Low (PhD) Biomechanics of shoe-surface interaction in football
- Victoria Stiles (PhD) Biomechanics of shoe-surface interaction in tennis
- Dr Vicky Stiles (2005-2006) One-year postdoctoral position funded through EPSRC (EP/C512243/1).
- Louise Wood (PhD) Strength development in children