Following 11 years working as a chartered Physiotherapist, Mark took up a teaching role here at Teesside in 2017. He was originally awarded a 1st class degree in Sport, Health and Exercise at Durham University in 2003, receiving 3 further awards for academic excellence. He then went on to complete both an MSc in Allied Health Professional Studies (Physiotherapy) at Teesside University in 2006, and a post-graduate qualification in Manipulative Therapy in 2010. Following this, he gained qualifications in the practice of acupuncture and peripheral joint and soft tissue injections, and worked in an extended scope role for a numbers of years. He has substantial experience working in a variety of clinical settings, including the NHS, sport and the private sector. Now Mark is a Fellow of the Higher Education Authority (FHEA), course leader in MSc Sports Physiotherapy Studies and a Senior Lecturer in the Allied Health Professions department, Mark is responsible for teaching on a number of therapy related modules across both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, and is an external examiner for MSc Advanced Physiotherapy at the University of Brighton.

Mark’s research and scholarly activity is related to his interest in the prevention and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries, and the use of novel treatments/strategies to help achieve optimal results.  He is also interested in the development and application of teaching pedagogy to improve student satisfaction and success. 

Mark is currently working on a research projects involving:

• The effect of sand rehabilitation on knee loads
• The effect of sand on knee valgus during jumping activities
• The use of sand in professional football
• EMG analysis of lower limb muscles during landing activities on different surfaces
• Students and lecturers perceptions of the value of online learning in Physiotherapy degrees during the COVID-19 pandemic