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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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Cycling-specific isometric resistance training improves peak power output in elite sprint cyclists: Isometric training improves PPO in elite cyclists, Kordi, M., Folland, J., Goodall, S., Menzies, C., Patel, T., Evans, M., Thomas, K., Howatson, G. 1 Sep 2020, In: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports
  • Four weeks of augmented eccentric loading using a novel leg press device improved leg strength in well-trained athletes and professional sprint track cyclists, Harden, M., Wolf, A., Evans, M., Hicks, K., Thomas, K., Howatson, G. 29 Jul 2020, In: PLoS One
  • Physiological sex differences affect the integrative response to exercise: Acute and chronic implications, Ansdell, P., Thomas, K., Hicks, K., Hunter, S., Howatson, G., Goodall, S. 1 Dec 2020, In: Experimental Physiology

  • 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
  • Elliott Atkinson The effect of resistance training on reticulospinal tract function in humans Start Date: 01/10/2019
  • Jake Kemp Start Date: 01/10/2017

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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