Qualification Type: | PhD |
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Location: | Salford |
Funding amount: | £20,780 |
Hours: | Full Time |
Placed On: | 7th October 2025 |
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Closes: | 31st October 2025 |
Studentship partners: University of Salford & The Academic Department of Military Rehabilitation
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Project Description
This PhD complements two ongoing projects funded by the Academic Department of Military Rehabilitation and the University of Salford, focusing on technology-informed rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries in military personnel.
Force plates are widely used for multi-joint assessments, with standardized methods such as the isometric mid-thigh pull and countermovement jump. However, standardized single-joint assessment protocols are lacking, and no direct comparisons of different methods have been made to establish validity, reliability, or the influence of joint angles and cueing on force-time data.
Currently, return-to-sport or duty criteria often emphasize peak force measures. Yet many injuries occur in contexts requiring rapid as well as maximal force production, making assessment of rate of force development critical. This research will address this gap by refining assessment protocols and applying findings to rehabilitation, potentially via randomized controlled trials.
The project will:
Outcomes will inform rehabilitation practices at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) and across UK military regiments, embedding new knowledge into the practice of exercise rehabilitation instructors and physiotherapists.
Aims & Objectives
Candidate Requirements
Essential:
Desirable:
Funding Eligibility
Application Process
Applicants should submit:
Submission: Email to m.watts@salford.ac.uk
Enquiries: Contact Prof Paul Comfort at P.Comfort@salford.ac.uk
Note: The successful candidate will also need to complete the University of Salford’s formal research application process: Applying for research studies.
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