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Matthew Buckthorpe

Senior Lecturer in Physiology and Strength & Conditioning Science

Matthew Buckthorpe

About Research

Email: matthew.buckthorpe@stmarys.ac.uk

Biography

Matt is a Senior Lecturer in Physiology and Strength and Conditioning Science who has published more than 35 peer-reviewed research papers. Matt joined St Marys in 2020, following his PhD and having spent nearly 10 years working in the industry.

Matt initially graduated with a 1st class BSc in Sports Science from University of Leeds (2008). He then went to Loughborough University, where he attained a distinction MSc in Sports Science (2009) and PhD in Neuromuscular Performance (2014). Here, he was also the MSc and PhD faculty scholarship winner for the most outstanding Sport Scientist.

Following his PhD, Matt joined Isokinetic Medical Group (FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence), initially as an injury rehabilitation and reconditioning specialist and then as an Education, Research and Service Innovation Consultant. Matt also consulted with Southampton FC for a number of years during this position. 


Research

Research profile

Matt's main research focus is applied and translational research, with a focus on industry impact. He has published extensively around optimising rehabilitation and return to sport processes after ACL reconstruction, as well as numerous papers on injury mechanisms, aetiology, and prevention.

  • Armitage M, McErlain-Naylor SA, Devereux G, Beato M and Buckthorpe M (2022) On-field rehabilitation in football: Current knowledge, applications and future directions. Front. Sports Act. Living 4:970152. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2022.970152.
  • Della Villa F, Buckthorpe M, Toserelli F, et al. Video analysis of Achilles tendon rupture in male professional football (soccer) players: injury mechanisms, patterns and biomechanics. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2022; 8 (3): e001419.
  • Gokeler A, Grassi A, Hoogeslag R, et al. Return to sports after ACL injury 5 years from now: 10 things we must do. J Exp Orthop. 2022; 9(1):73.
  • McCall A, Davison M, Massey A, Oester C, Weber A, Buckthorpe M, Duffield R. The exchange of health and performance information when transitioning from club to National football teams: A Delphi survey of National team practitioners. J Sci Med Sport. 2022 Mar 24:S1440-2440(22)00073-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2022.03.011. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35397983.
  • Buckthorpe M, Pisoni D, Toserelli F, et al. Three main mechanisms characterize Medial Collateral Ligament injuries in professional male football (soccer) players: blow to the knee, contact to the leg or foot, and sliding. Video-analysis of 37 consecutive injuries. J Orthop Sports Physical Ther. 2021; 51(12):611-618.
  • Della Villa F, Tosarelli F, Ferrari R, Grassi A, Ciampone L, Nanni G, Zaffagnini S, Buckthorpe M. Systematic Video Analysis of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Professional Male Rugby Players: Pattern, Injury Mechanism, and Biomechanics in 57 Consecutive Cases. Orth J Sports Med. 2021;9(11): 23259671211048182.
  • Buckthorpe M, Della Villa F. Recommendations for plyometric training after ACL reconstruction - a clinical commentary. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2021 Jun 1;16(3):879-895.
  • Lucarno S, Zago M, Buckthorpe M, et al. Systematic video analysis of Anterior Cruciate Ligament injuries in professional female soccer players. Am J Sports Med. 2021 Jun;49(7):1794-1802.
  • Buckthorpe M. Recommendations for movement re-training after ACL reconstruction. Sports Med. 2021;51(8):1601-1618.
  • Buckthorpe M, Danelon F, La Rosa G, et al. Recommendations for hamstring function recovery after ACL reconstruction. Sports Med. 2021;51(4):607-624.
  • Buckthorpe M, Wright S, Virgile A, Gimpel M. Infographic. Recommendations for hamstring injury prevention in elite football: translating research into practice. Br J Sports Med. 2021 Jun;55(12):699-700.
  • Nanni G, Frizziero A, Di Miceli R, Vittadini, F, Finotti P, Gamberini J, Oliva F, Freschi M, Buckthorpe M, Maffulli N. Muscle Injuries: 2020 Update of the I.S.Mu.L.T. Classification. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2020; 4(10): 562-567.
  • Della Villa F, Buckthorpe M, Grassi A, et al. Infographic. Systematic video analysis of ACL injuries in professional male football (soccer): injury mechanisms, situational patterns and biomechanics study on 134 consecutive cases. Br J Sports Med. 2020 Oct 19:bjsports-2020-103241. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-103241. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33077483.
  • Buckthorpe M, Tamisari A, Villa FD. A ten task-based progression in rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction: from post-surgery to return to play - a clinical commentary. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2020;15(4):611-623.
  • Della Villa F, Buckthorpe M, Grassi A, et al. Systematic video analysis of ACL injuries in professional male football (soccer): injury mechanisms, situational patterns and biomechanics study on 134 consecutive cases. Br J Sports Med. 2020;54:1423-1432.
  • Buckthorpe M, Della Villa F. Optimising the 'mid-stage' training and testing process after ACL reconstruction. Sports Med. 2020;50:657-678.
  • Buckthorpe M, Pirotti E, Villa FD. Benefits and use of aquatic therapy during rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction -a clinical commentary. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2019 Dec;14(6):978-993.
  • Buckthorpe M, Stride M, Villa FD. Assessing and treating gluteus maximus weakness - a clinical commentary. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2019 Jul;14(4):655-669.
  • Buckthorpe M, Della Villa F, Della Villa S, Roi GS. On-field rehabilitation part 1: 4 pillars of high-quality on-field rehabilitation are restoring movement quality, physical conditioning, restoring sport-specific skills, and progressively developing chronic training load. J Orthop Sports Physical Ther. 2019;49:565-569.
  • Buckthorpe M, Della Villa F, Della Villa S, Roi GS. On-field rehabilitation – Part 2 A 5-stage programme for the soccer player: linear movements, multidirectional movements, soccer-specific skills, soccer-specific movements, and modified practice. J Orthop Sports Physical Ther. 2019;49:570-575.
  • Buckthorpe M. Optimising the late-stage rehabilitation and return-to-sport training and testing process after ACL reconstruction. Sports Med. 2019;49:1043-1058.
  • Buckthorpe M, La Rosa G, Villa FD. Restoring knee extensor strength after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a clinical commentary. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2019 Feb;14(1):159-172.
  • Buckthorpe M, Wright S, Bruce-Low S, et al. Recommendations for hamstring injury prevention in elite football: translating research into practice. Br J Sports Med. 2019;53:449-456.
  • Buckthorpe M, Frizziero A, Roi GS. Update on functional recovery process for the injured athlete: return to sport continuum redefined. Br J Sports Med. 2019 Mar;53(5):265-267.
  • Buckthorpe M, Gimpel M, Wright S, Sturdy T, Stride M. Hamstring muscle injuries in elite football: translating research into practice. Br J Sports Med. 2018 May;52(10):628-629.
  • Buckthorpe M, Roi GS. The time has come to incorporate a greater focus on rate of force development training in the sports injury rehabilitation process. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2018; 10;7(3):435-441.
  • McCall A, Davison M, Carling C, Buckthorpe M, Coutts A, Dupont G. Can off-field ‘brains’ provide a competitive advantage in professional football? Br J Sports Med. 2016;50:710–712.
  • Buckthorpe M, Erskine RM, Fletcher G, Folland JP. Task-specific neural adaptations to isoinertial resistance training. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2015 Oct;25(5):640-9.
  • Folland JP, Buckthorpe MW, Hannah R. Human capacity for explosive force production: neural and contractile determinants. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2014;24:894-906.
  • Buckthorpe M, Pain MT, Folland JP. Central fatigue contributes to the greater reductions in explosive than maximal strength with high-intensity fatigue. Exp Physiol. 2014 Jul;99(7):964-73.
  • Buckthorpe MW, Pain MT, Folland JP. Bilateral deficit in explosive force production is not caused by changes in agonist neural drive. PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e57549.
  • Hannah R, Minshull C, Buckthorpe MW, Folland JP. Explosive neuromuscular performance of males versus females. Exp Physiol. 2012 May;97(5):618-29.
  • Buckthorpe MW, Hannah R, Pain TG, Folland JP. Reliability of neuromuscular measurements during explosive isometric contractions, with special reference to electromyography normalization techniques. Muscle Nerve. 2012;46(4):566-76.
  • Buckthorpe M, Morris J, Folland JP. Validity of vertical jump measurement devices. J Sports Sci. 2012;30(1):63-9.

Current PhD students:

  • Mark Armitage: 'On-field rehabilitation design and monitoring in elite football' - Supervisor.
  • Filippo Picinini: 'Load management during on-field rehabilitation in long-term lower limb injuries in football players' - Supervisor.
  • Lincoln Blanford: 'Towards the MiVari-Ability software application; beyond hamstring muscle injury'- Supervisor.
  • Alessandro Compagnin 'Neuromuscular performance profiling post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction'- Supervisor.
  • George Morris: 'The potential ergogenic effects of caffeine on skill.' Supervisor.

Selected conference presentations

  • Positively disrupting the last phases of RTP. Football Medicine Strategies, London, 2022.
  • Hamstring injuries mechanisms and patterns. Football Medicine Strategies, London, 2022.
  • MCL injuries in elite football players. Football Science Institute, FC Real Betis, 2021.
  • The ‘prepare to train stage’ after long-term injury in elite football players. Football Medicine Strategies, London (Wembley stadium), 2019.
  • Late-stage rehabilitation for ACL injuries. Football Medicine Strategies, Lyon, 2019.
  • Loading and load monitoring in on-field rehabilitation. Football Medicine Strategies, Barcelona (Nou Camp), 2018.
  • Re-integrating a player back into training after long term injury. Football Medicine Strategies, Barcelona (Nou Camp), 2017.
  • Neural Training – Implications for Rehabilitation, Injury Prevention and Return to Sport. Sports Injuries and Sports Orthopaedics, Royal Society of Medicine, London, 2017.
  • The importance of training explosive muscle strength in the rehabilitation process. Sports Injuries and Sports Orthopaedics, Royal Society of Medicine, London, 2016.
  • Testing and Training Footballers. Football Medicine Strategies, London. 2016.
  • Rehabilitation of lower limb overuse injuries. Sports Injuries and Sports Orthopaedics, Royal Society of Medicine, London, 2014.

Media enquiries

For media enquiries, please contact our Press Office Team by emailing press.office@stmarys.ac.uk.