Dr Sarah Allison
About
Biography
Sarah is a Lecturer in Sport & Exercise Science researching in musculoskeletal exercise science and health. She completed her postgraduate degrees in Exercise Physiology (MSc) and Human Biology (PhD) at Loughborough University. As part of her PhD work, Sarah conducted a randomised controlled trial of a high impact exercise intervention on bone strength and neuromuscular function in older men that was funded by a MRC Interdisciplinary Bridging Award and Loughborough University Scholarship. She then worked as a National Osteoporosis Society sponsored research associate on a project with the University of Cambridge that used 3D imaging techniques to delineate exercise effects on bone structure and shape, before working as research fellow investigating skeletal characteristics of elite athletes and evaluating exercise strategies to benefit patients experiencing musculoskeletal toxicity from cancer treatments.
Research interests
Sarah's research focuses on the role of lifestyle interventions, most notably exercise, in musculoskeletal health and disease. Her current research applies metabolic and imaging biomarkers to understand musculoskeletal responses and adaptations to novel exercise approaches, with the overall aim of optimising exercise prescriptions for prevention and management of osteoporosis and fragility fractures.
Teaching
Supervision of BSc and MSc student projects within the Department of Nutritional SciencesBSc (Hons) Sport & Exercise Science
Departmental duties
Senior Professional Training Year tutor for Sport & Exercise SciencePersonal Tutor for undergraduate and postgraduate students within the School of Biosciences and Medicine
Affiliations
National Osteoporosis SocietyBone Research SocietyPhysiological SocietyAmerican Society for Bone and Mineral ResearchAmerican College of Sports Medicine
Invited Lectures and Public Talks
Invited Lectures
Potential of Exercise for Fracture Prevention in Older People, Exercise, Dementia and Fragility Conference, University College London 2015
Exercise Benefit for Bone Health, Sex Hormone Deprivation and PSC, Sex Hormone Group, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London 2015
Exercise for Prevention of Fracture in PCS undergoing ADT, Urology Seminar, Imperial College London 2014
Public Talks
Exercise and Bone Health, Science Uncovered Event, National History Museum, London 2013
Exercise and Osteoporosis: Results from the HipHop Study, Loughborough 2013
Osteoporosis: Hopping to Prevent Fractures, Loughborough Lions Rotary Club 2012
Awards
Young Investigator Award 2014, ASBMRNew Investigator Award 2013, BRSYoung Investigator Award 2012, NOSPoster Award 2012, School of Health and Life Sciences, Loughborough University
Publications
Allison SJ, Poole KES, Treece GM, Gee HA, Tonkin C, Rennie WJ, Folland JP, Summers GD, Brooke-Wavell K. The influence of high impact exercise on cortical and trabecular bone mineral content and 3D distribution across the proximal femur in older men: a randomised controlled unilateral intervention. J Bone Miner Res 2015;30:1709-1716
Allison SJ, Folland JP, Rennie WJ, Summers GD, Brooke-Wavell K. High impact exercise increased femoral neck bone mineral density in older men: a randomised unilateral intervention. Bone 2013;53:321-328
Allison SJ, Brooke-Wavell K, Folland JP. Multiple joint muscle function: the force-velocity and power-velocity relationships in young and older men. Aging Clin Exp Res 2013;25:159-166
Stevenson E, Hayes PR, Allison SJ. The effect of an isotonic carbohydrate sports drink containing caffeine on performance during a laboratory-based simulated golf round. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2009;34:681-688
Allison SJ, Bailey D, Folland JP. Prolonged static stretching does not influence running economy despite changes in neuromuscular function. J Sports Sci 2008;24:1489-1495
Conference Proceedings
Allison SJ, Abel R, McGregor A, Price P, Abel P. Exercise prescription to prevent hip fracture in PCS, December 2014, Royal College of Surgeons, UK
Allison SJ, Folland JP, Rennie WJ, Summers GD, Brooke-Wavell K. High impact exercise increased cortex thickness in older men, despite modest changes in area bone mineral density. Bone Research Society/Bone Orthopaedic Research Society Joint Meeting, September 2013, Oxford, UK
Allison SJ, Folland JP, Rennie WJ, Summers GD, Brooke-Wavell K. High impact unilateral exercise improved femoral neck bone mineral density and hip structural parameters in older men: a randomised unilateral intervention. The National Osteoporosis Society Osteoporosis and Bone Conference, July 2012, Manchester, UK
Allison SJ, Folland JP, Rennie W, Summers GD, Brooke-Wavell K. High impact unilateral exercise increased femoral neck bone mineral density in older men. American College of Sports Medicine 59th Annual Meeting and 3rd World Congress on Exercise is Medicine, May-June 2012, San Francisco, California, USA
Allison SJ, Brooke-Wavell K, Folland JP. Multiple joint muscle function: The force-velocity and power-velocity relationships in young and older men. The 16th Annual Congress of The European College of Sport Science, July 2011, Liverpool, UK
Allison SJ and Brooke-Wavell K. Evaluation of commercial activity monitors for assessing high impact and low impact exercise. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, June-July 2009, Surrey, UK