Dr Claire Fitzsimons

Lecturer in Physical Activity for Health

Biography

Background

I have a degree in Physiology (2001) and a PhD in Exercise Physiology in Older Adults (2006) from the University of Edinburgh. Upon completion of my PhD I was appointed as the Project Co-ordinator of SPARColl (Scottish Physical Activity Research Collaboration) at the University of Strathclyde (2006-2009) and following this as a Lecturer in Human Movement Sciences (2009-2011).

In 2012 I was appointed as a Chancellor's Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh (2012-2018). My research fellowship was focused on sedentary behaviour in older adults. Time spent sedentary has been linked to diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers. My fellowship explored how older people perceive sedentary behaviours, the health risks and testing out possible interventions.

I am currently a Lecturer in Physical Activity for Health in the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre (PAHRC) at the University of Edinburgh. I am currently working on a number of research projects to encourage breaking up sedentary behaviour in hybrid/working at home desk-based workers and in people  who have had a stroke. I am also developing new research areas around physical activity during the menopause life stage and the measurement of muscle strength and balance in adults/older adults.

Undergraduate teaching

I teach on the Exercise Prescription for Rehabilitation  on the Applied Sports Science programme

Postgraduate teaching

I  teach on the MSc Physical Activity for Health.

Physical Activity for Health (MSc/PgDip/PgCert)

Areas of interest for supervision

I supervise student projects with a particular focus on sedentary behaviour, muscle strength and balance, or physical activity during the menopause life stage

Current PhD students supervised

Christina Gorbacheva: SGSSS Studentship, Moving More for Mental Well-being in menopause: development of workplace intervention strategies, Year 1

Jian Lei: Temporary urban environmental modifications and physical activity, Year 1

 

 

Past PhD students supervised

Divya Sivaramakrishnan: Evaluating the health benefits of incorporating yoga into the physical activity plan of older adults, graduated July 2019

Tessa Strain: Adherence to the current physical activity guidelines in Scotland, graduated July 18

Research summary

My research is focused around:

- supporting adults to reduce and break up their sedentary time. I am currently working on a number of research projects which align with this research topic with desk based workers who are working at home/hybrid working, and with people who have had a stroke.

- physical activity during the menopause life stage

-  measurement of and development of interventions to support meeting the muscle and balance components of the physical activity guidelines.

 

 

Current research interests

I am currently working on a number of research projects which around the above research interests: 1. Are we working (too) comfortably? A smartphone application (app) to reduce occupational sedentary behaviour while working at home. University Awarded project funding, 01.09.23-31.08.24, Co-investigator 2. SGSSS Open Collaborative Studentship in partnership with SAMH, Co-supervisor with Professor Ailsa Niven: Moving more for mental wellbeing in menopause: development of workplace intervention strategies 3. Development and evaluation of strategies to reduce sedentary behaviour in patients after stroke and improve outcomes. Funder: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Programme Grant for Applied Research. £3 Million. October 2017 – September 2024. Co-investigator, co-work package lead. Lead Institution: University of Leeds.

Past research interests

Menopause, physical activity and mental well-being. 01.06.22-31.01.23, Consultancy project with SAMH, Co-investigator iTPA Award - Are you working too comfortably? Prototyping a digital intervention reduce occupational sedentary behaviour while working at home. 01.03.22-31.08.22, Co-investigator Are we sitting (too) comfortably?: Developing health-enhancing intervention strategies to reduce time spent sitting whilst working at home, £178K, 01.08.21-31.07.22, MRC Phind Award, Co-I Improving sedentary behaviour and physical activity in community-dwelling older adults: development feasibility testing of a novel technology-supported intervention. Sit Less and Move More: funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government (£299k, Nov17-Feb20), Co-investigator Too much sitting in extended bouts in stroke survivors: A qualitative study to inform novel interventions. Funder: Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government. £225k. July 2015 – January 2019 (study paused Dec17-Aug18 ). Principal Investigator Seniors USP: Seniors - Understanding Sedentary Patterns. Funder: MRC Lifelong Health and Wellbeing Initiative. £992k. January 2014 – October 2017. Co-investigator, co-work package lead, member of the Dissemination Advisory Group. Lead Institution: Glasgow Caledonian University.

Knowledge exchange

1. Intervening on sedentary behaviour in older adults: from results to practice. Funder: University of Glasgow Impact Acceleration Account. £20k. October 2016 – June 2017. Co-investigator. Lead Institution: University of Glasgow.

Affiliated research centres

Current project grants

1. Are we working (too) comfortably? A smartphone application (app) to reduce occupational sedentary behaviour while working at home. University Awarded project funding, 01.09.23-31.08.24, Co-investigator

2. SGSSS Open Collaborative Studentship in partnership with SAMH, Co-supervisor with Professor Ailsa Niven: Moving more for mental wellbeing in menopause: development of workplace intervention strategies

3. Development and evaluation of strategies to reduce sedentary behaviour in patients after stroke and improve outcomes. Funder: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Programme Grant for Applied Research. £3 Million. October 2017 – September 2024. Co-investigator, co-work package lead. Lead Institution: University of Leeds.

Past project grants

Menopause, physical activity and mental well-being. 01.06.22-31.01.23, Consultancy project with SAMH, Co-investigator

iTPA Award - Are you working too comfortably? Prototyping a digital intervention reduce occupational sedentary behaviour while working at home. 01.03.22-31.08.22, Co-investigator

Are we sitting (too) comfortably?: Developing health-enhancing intervention strategies to reduce time spent sitting whilst working at home, £178K, 01.08.21-31.07.22, MRC Phind Award, Co-I

Improving sedentary behaviour and physical activity in community-dwelling older adults: development feasibility testing of a novel technology-supported intervention. Sit Less and Move More: funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government (£299k, Nov17-Feb20), Co-investigator

Too much sitting in extended bouts in stroke survivors: A qualitative study to inform novel interventions. Funder: Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government. £225k. July 2015 – January 2019 (study paused Dec17-Aug18 ). Principal Investigator

Seniors USP: Seniors - Understanding Sedentary Patterns. Funder: MRC Lifelong Health and Wellbeing Initiative. £992k. January 2014 – October 2017. Co-investigator, co-work package lead, member of the Dissemination Advisory Group. Lead Institution: Glasgow Caledonian University.

This article was published on