The Institute’s Faculty of Science and Health will next month host a one-day symposium on exercise science at which an exciting research partnership will be launched.
Understanding Musculoskeletal Health from an Evolutionary Perspective is the title of the symposium, which will be delivered in partnership with minimalist footwear company Vivobarefoot.
Galahad Clark from Vivobarefoot will travel from London to launch the partnership that will fund a full-time PhD student at Institute of Technology Carlow. PhD student Maisie Squibb will provide an overview of the proposed research and a number of IT Carlow academics - Peter Francis, Gary Cahill, Kieran Phelan, Damien Sheehan and Sharon Kinsella - will discuss this area of study.
Additional guest speakers confirmed include Cassie Oddy from Leeds Beckett University, who will discuss the adaptation to barefoot running on grass surface, and James Ledingham from the Irish Defence Forces, who will provide an overview of the burden of lower limb injury in the Irish Military.
“The human body evolved, primarily, to cover large distances in our bare feet while hunting and gathering. Our environment tended to change slowly around us until the advent of agriculture, the industrial revolution and, most recently, the internet. This has led to a rapid change in our environment that our bodies are not equipped for. High sugar diets, modern footwear, concrete, excessive screen time and a lack of exercise contribute to modern illness”, commented organiser Dr. Peter Francis from IT Carlow.
“Our research focuses on differences in foot structure and function between those who have grown up with and without shoes. We seek to understand what the consequences of modern footwear use are for movement skills and injury risk. We also seek to determine what happens when people transition from modern footwear to barefoot or minimalist shoe activities”, added Mr. Francis.
Understanding Musculoskeletal Health from an Evolutionary Perspective takes place in the Haughton Building on 12th March from 10am.