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Dr Kevin Thomas

Associate Professor

Department: Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation

Kevin graduated from Northumbria University in 2004 with a B.A. Sport Studies degree, completed his M.Sc. in Sport and Exercise Science at Sheffield Hallam University in 2006, and completed his doctorate at Northumbria University in 2013.  Kevin is accredited with the British Association of Sport & Exercise Sciences (BASES), the UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA), and the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA). Kevin contributes to the teaching of exercise physiology, biomechanics, and strength and conditioning on the Department of Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. 

Kevin Thomas

Campus Address

Northumberland Building



Kevin’s research focusses on the neuromuscular responses to exercise interventions across a range of populations, including men and women, athletic and sedentary, young and old, and diseased and healthy. This includes examining how the neuromuscular system responds and adapts to interventions that include fatiguing exercise (single limb, multi-joint, and locomotor exercise), resistance training, and muscle damaging exercise. 

Kevin is also an accredited strength and conditioning coach, and an active football coach, and consequently has particular interest in the application of research to athletic populations (ranging from community sport to elite athletes), with a speciifc focus on association football.

  • Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
  • The Symptoms Experienced by Naturally Menstruating Women and Oral Contraceptive Pill Users and Their Perceived Effects on Exercise Performance and Recovery Time Posttraining, McNulty, K., Ansdell, P., Goodall, S., Thomas, K., Elliott-Sale, K., Howatson, G., Hicks, K. 1 Jan 2024, In: Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal
  • B-Mode Ultrasonography Is a Reliable and Valid Alternative to Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Measuring Patellar Tendon Cross-Sectional Area, Marshall, S., Hicks, K., Howatson, G., Cox, L., Thomas, K. 1 Feb 2023, In: Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology
  • Magnetic stimulation and the control of electromagnetic fields at work act (2016): an update, Goodall, S., Ansdell, P., Thomas, K., Howatson, G. 1 Jul 2023, In: Brain Stimulation
  • The physical determinants of maximal jumping time of flight in elite trampolining, Dyas, N., Green, D., Thomas, K., Matthew, E., Howatson, G. 2 Dec 2023, In: European Journal of Sport Science
  • Does the reticulospinal tract mediate adaptation to resistance training in humans?, Atkinson, E., Skarabot, J., Ansdell, P., Goodall, S., Howatson, G., Thomas, K. 1 Sep 2022, In: Journal of Applied Physiology
  • Etiology and Recovery of Neuromuscular Function Following Academy Soccer Training: Neuromuscular Function in Academy Soccer, Deely, C., Tallent, J., Bennett, R., Woodhead, A., Goodall, S., Thomas, K., Howatson, G. 13 Jun 2022, In: Frontiers in Physiology
  • Greater decrements in neuromuscular function following interval compared to continuous eccentric cycling, Green, D., Thomas, K., Howatson, G. 1 Feb 2022, In: European Journal of Sport Science
  • Neuromuscular responses to fatiguing locomotor exercise, Brownstein, C., Millet, G., Thomas, K. Feb 2021, In: Acta Physiologica
  • Reliability and characterisation of the 20-maximum trampoline jump test, Dyas, N., Green, D., Thomas, K., Howatson, G. 8 Apr 2021, In: Isokinetics and Exercise Science
  • The relationship between neuromuscular function and the W’ in elite cyclists, Kordi, M., Parker-Simpson, L., Thomas, K., Goodall, S., Madden-Wilkinson, T., Menzies, C., Howatson, G. 1 Nov 2021, In: International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

  • Thomas Keeney Optimising preparation, performance, and recovery in elite women’s football Start Date: 01/09/2023
  • Jake Kemp Start Date: 01/10/2017
  • Elliott Atkinson Reticulospinal adaptations to resistance training in humans Start Date: 01/10/2019
  • Steven Marshall Determinants of Exercise-induced Muscle Damage and the Repeated Bout Effect in Men and Women Start Date: 01/08/2016 End Date: 21/01/2021
  • Callum Brownstein Fatigue and recovery of central nervous system function following intermittent-sprint exercise Start Date: 01/10/2015 End Date: 10/04/2019

For a full list of research outputs visit https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=LkwplXWakDQC&hl=en

  • Law LLM June 30 2008
  • Sports Science MSc November 30 2006
  • Sports Science PhD May 06 2002
  • Sports Studies BA (Hons) September 01 2001
  • Educational Development PGDip June 01 1993
  • Business and Administration PhD September 01 1992
  • Chartered Scientist (CSci) Science Council 2014
  • Fellow (FHEA) Higher Education Academy (HEA) 2014
  • Affiliate Member Physiological Society 2014
  • Member European College of Sport Science (ECSS) 2014
  • Accredited Member British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) 2009


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