Dr Chris Low, Senior Lecturer

Dr Chris Low

Senior Lecturer

Chris joined the Sports Coaching team in 2014. Previously held positions include Senior Lecturer in Biomechanics and Director of Gymnastics, coaching gymnasts to world-class level. His research takes a multi-disciplinary approach to athlete technique, performance and coaching practice.

Dr Low graduated with a 1st class honours degree from the University of Leeds, where he was awarded the Graham Adamson prize for biomechanics. Chris continued his studies at the University of Leeds, successfully obtaining his PhD in the Biomechanics of Rock Climbing. In 2005 he joined Leeds Beckett University initially lecturing in biomechanics and gymnastics before progressing to the position of Senior Lecturer in Biomechanics.

From 2012 to late 2014, Chris was Director of Gymnastics at Leeds Gymnastics Club. A qualified high performance coach and international brevet judge, he provided leadership in establishing Leeds Gymnastics Club as one of the largest recreational and performance clubs in the UK. Chris has coached at Commonwealth Games, World Championships and World Cup level and continues to be involved with the Men’s Senior National Squad.

In 2014, Chris returned to full-time lecturing at Leeds Beckett University as a Senior Lecturer in Sports Coaching.

Current Teaching

Dr Low currently leads two Sports Coaching undergraduate modules at Level 5 and one postgraduate module. Chris contributes across the undergraduate and postgraduate programs in the areas of skill technique and performance analysis and has supervised three PhD’s to completion. He is currently involved in supervising doctoral students in the areas of drag flick technique in Hockey, evaluation of functional stability within a skill development curriculum and loaded gait at altitude.

Research Interests

Dr Low’s research interests lie in the use of biomechanics to inform skill technique and technique development within the coaching process. As such, Chris is engaged in multi-disciplinary research teams that include sport science, skill acquisition and coaching practice researchers working alongside active coaches. He is passionate about developing practitioner informed research that is impactful in both challenging and developing coaching practice.

Chris is currently involved in projects investigating skill performance in Sprint Canoe and lower limb injury risk in Gymnastics landings.

Dr Chris Low, Senior Lecturer

Selected Outputs

  • Low CJ; North J; Wainwright B (2017) Development of a framework to support coaches to work with their athletes to analyse and diagnose technical difficulties. A case study in Sprint Canoe technique. In: ICCE Global Coach Conference, 31 July 2017 - 2 August 2017, Liverpool.

  • Wainwright B; Low C; Mulloy F; Willmott A (2016) Kinematic variation between athletes and across different intensities in women’s Olympic Canoe Sprint. In: BASES 2016, 29 November 2016 - 30 November 2016, Nottingham.

  • Wainwright B; Low C; Mulloy F; Willmott A (2016) Kinematics of Women’s Sprint Canoeing Technique. In: 34th International Conference on Biomechanics in Sports, 18 July 2016 - 22 July 2016, Tsukuba, Japan.

    http://lasbim.taiiku.tsukuba.ac.jp/ISBS2016-Program/Papers/O1803327_KINEMATICS%20OF%20WOMEN'S%20SPRINT%20CANOEING%20TECHNIQUE.pdf

  • Hudson S; Vanwanseele B; Barwood M; Low C; Cooke C; Lloyd R (2021) The energetic, kinematic and kinetic responses to load carried on the back, on the head and in a doublepack. Ergonomics, pp. 1-14.

    https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2021.1909754

  • Hinde KL; Low C; Lloyd R; Cooke CB (2020) Inspiratory muscle training at sea level improves the strength of inspiratory muscles during load carriage in cold-hypoxia. Ergonomics, pp. 1-15.

    https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2020.1807613

  • Helme M; Emmonds S; Low CJ (2020) Is the rear foot elevated split squat unilateral? An investigation into the kinetic and kinematic demands. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

    https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003727

  • Hudson S; Cooke C; Davies S; West S; Gamieldien R; Low C; Lloyd R (2020) Inter-individual variability in load carriage economy and comparisons between different load conditions. Appl Ergon, 82 pp. 102968.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2019.102968

  • Helme M; Emmonds S; Bishop C; Low C (2019) The Validity and Reliability of the Rear Foot Elevated Split Squat 5RM to Determine Unilateral Leg Strength Symmetry. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 33 (12), pp. 3269-3275.

    https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003378

  • Hinde K; Low CJ; Lloyd R; Cooke CB (2018) Interaction between environmental temperature, hypoxia and load carriage on respiratory muscle fatigue. Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, 89 (11), pp. 952-960.

    https://doi.org/10.3357/AMHP.5108.2018

  • Hudson S; Cooke CB; Davies S; West S; Gamieldien R; Low CJ; Lloyd R (2018) A comparison of economy and sagittal plane trunk movements among back-, back/front- and head-loading. Ergonomics, 61 (9), pp. 1216-1222.

    https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2018.1474267

  • Hinde K; Lloyd R; Low C; Cooke CB (2017) The effect of temperature, gradient and load carriage on oxygen consumption, posture and gait characteristics. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 117 (3),

    https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3531-7

  • Ispoglou T; Low C; Cooke C (2010) Strength & Power Training. In: Cooke C; Bunting D; O’Hara J ed. Mountaineering; Training & Preparation. USA: pp. 149-186.

  • Cooke CB; Low C (2008) Projectiles. In: Kirk D; Cooke CB; Flintoff A; McKenna J ed. Key Concepts in Sport and Exercise Sciences. London: Sage, pp. 22-27.