Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Dr Catherine Tucker
Senior Lecturer
Catherine is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Biomechanics. She began working at Leeds Beckett in 2013 having previously worked at the University of Limerick. She graduated from the Sport and Exercise Sciences programme with First Class Honours at the University of Limerick in 2008. She then completed her PhD at University of Limerick in 2012. Her PhD focused on using computer simulation to ascertain the effect of movement variability on the outcome of the golf swing.
Currently, Catherine is the Course Leader for the MSc Sport and Exercise Biomechanics and MSc Sport and Exercise Science programmes. In addition, she teaches on a range of biomechanics modules across undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She has supervised two PhD students to completion and is currently supervising another student.
Catherine’s main research has focused on the biomechanics of different gait (e.g., running, race walking) and the methodologies employed within. She has also examined areas such as gait variability and symmetry both in lab-based and competition studies of world class performers. As part of the 2017 IAAF World Championships and 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships research projects, she was report editor for all event reports as well as being the Event Director of the horizontal jumps.
Currently, Catherine’s research focuses on running gait mechanics of Premier League footballers, middle distance runners, and on the effect of shoes on gait in populations with knee osteoarthritis. In addition, she is particularly interested in understanding the biomechanics of golf performance and to this end is leading the development of a golf consultancy service at Leeds Beckett University to provide 3D biomechanical analyses to golfers, coaches and other practitioners.
Current Teaching
L4 Biomechanical Principles of Human Movement
L5 Biomechanical Analysis of Sport Performance and Injury
L6 Neuromuscular Aspects of Skilled Performance
L7 Measurement Techniques in Biomechanics
L7 Biomechanics of Human Gait
Research Interests
Currently, Catherine is researching the biomechanics of gait including running, walking and race walking of different populations (e.g., athletes, Premier League footballers, those with pathologies). This particular research is focussed on the methodologies of analysing gait and the effect of wearing shoes on gait of healthy populations and those with osteoarthritis.
Catherine is particularly interested in understanding movement variability within and between athletes / sport performers. With colleagues, she is developing a golf consultancy service in the university to provide a comprehensive biomechanical analysis of golf performance for golfers and practitioners in the area using the impressive biomechanics facilities in the Carnegie School of Sport building. Her interest in golf biomechanics research is centred around understanding movement variability of golfers and what constitutes a “change” in performance. In addition to this, she is also focussed on creating better understanding of the biomechanics of the female golfer for golfers and practitioners.
Catherine has delivered to coaches (PGA of Spain) in the past on her research into movement variability of golfers to understand the theoretical and practical effects of variability. Catherine is open to discussing research projects in any of these areas.
Ask Me About
- Sport
- Sport science
