Dr Stelios Psycharakis
Senior Lecturer in Biomechanics

- Moray House School of Education & Sport, ISPEHS
- University of Edinburgh
Contact details
- Tel: +44 (0) 131 651 6587
- Email: stelios.psycharakis@ed.ac.uk
Address
- Street
-
Moray House School of Education and Sport, SL 4.09
- City
- University of Edinburgh (Holyrood Campus)
- Post code
- EH8 8AQ
Background
Stelios' interest in sport and exercise science originated from his sporting background. He was a competitive swimmer, won medals at home and abroad, and represented Greece for several years as a member of the national team. Stelios completed a BSc (Hons) in Sport Science & Physical Education in Greece, before moving to the UK to undertake an MSc in Sport & Exercise Science and a PhD in Biomechanics. He held lecturing posts at the University of Hull (2007) and Edinburgh Napier University (2007-2014), before joining the University of Edinburgh in September 2014. Stelios has been providing scientific support in the areas of biomechanics and performance analysis and has worked with elite athletes such as members of GB Swimming and of the Scottish Institute of Sport.
Qualifications
- PhD in Biomechanics (University of Edinburgh)
- MSc in Sport & Exercise Science (Leeds Metropolitan University)
- BSc (Hons) Sport Science & Physical Education (University of Athens)
- Qualified Physical Education Teacher
- Qualified Swimming Coach
Undergraduate teaching
Course organiser for:
- Sports Biomechanics 4 (BSc Applied Sport Science/ BMed Sports Medicine)
- Sport Science 2C: Information Skills & Biomechanics (BSc Applied Sport Science)
- Sport Science 1B: Biomechanics and Sport Psychology (BSc Applied Sport Science/ MA Physical Education)
Also contributing to teaching for:
-
Sport Science: Research Attachment 4 (BSc Applied Sport Science/ BMed Sports Medicine)
- Exercise Prescription for Rehabilitation (BSc Applied Sport Science/ BMed Sports Medicine)
- Dissertation (BSc Applied Sport Science/ BMed Sports Medicine)
Postgraduate teaching
MSc Dissertation supervision (MSc Strength & Conditioning)
Open to PhD supervision enquiries?
Yes
Areas of interest for supervision
Stelios is keen to supervise PhD projects in clinical biomechanics for health and rehabilitation, as well as in biomechanics for human performance enhancement. He is particularly interested in projects with a focus on aquatics. Examples include: aquatic exercise therapy for people with chronic low back pain or other MSDs, aquatic exercise for older adults, injury prevention in swimming, optimisation of swimming performance. If you are interested in pursuing a PhD in any of the above areas, then feel free to contact Stelios directly to discuss your ideas.
Current PhD students supervised
- Nimra Arshad: Effectiveness of aquatic exercise therapy for people with chronic low back pain.
- Craig Riddle: A new coordination test for para sport classification: reliability, validity, and association with frame running performance.
- Guy Stern: Exercise modalities for improving and maintaining functional capacity in recreationally active, healthy older adults.
- Jamie Hongyu: Effects of HIIT on healthy inactive adults.
Past PhD students supervised
- Margarida Dias: Three-dimensional kinematics in backstroke swimming: Reliability, Isokinetic Strength, and Asymmetries at Sub-maximal and Maximal Paces.
- Alex Rawcliffe: A Biomechanical Analysis of British Army Foot-Drill: Implications of Lower-Extremity Musculoskeletal Injury in Entry-Level Recruit Populations.
Research summary
- Aquatic exercise therapy for health, injury prevention and rehabilitation
- Biomechanics for human performance enhancement, in particular for aquatic sports
- Interdisciplinary research in aquatic sports and activities
Current research interests
Stelios' main research interests lie within biomechanics for performance enhancement, and exercise for health, injury prevention and rehabilitation. His clinical research focuses on the use of aquatic exercise therapy for falls prevention in older adults and for the treatment and management of chronic back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders. Stelios' human performance enhancement research is centred on improving our understanding of human locomotion, especially in an aquatic environment, and on identifying new ways to improve performance. Stelios is an expert reviewer for funding bodies and for more than 30 academic journals. He is the chair of the committee of the European Network of Swimming Performance and a member of the scientific committee of the 'Biomechanics & Medicine in Swimming' conferences.Knowledge exchange
Stelios has organised and run KE and public engagement seminars for the 'WATER' project , which explored the suitability of a range of exercises in the water and on land for people with chronic low back pain. He is also involved in other KE activities and has provided consultancy for external companies in developing and optimising equipment used in sports and rehabilitation.
Project activity
LARGE RESEARCH GRANTS
Current Projects
- Chief Scientist Office, £350,025, 2023-2025. Psycharakis S (Principal Investigator), Skelton D, Fastier A, Linton L, Norrie J, Neilson A. 'AQUA STEPS: AQUAtic exerciSe ThEraPy for fall prevention in older adultS - A feasibility study'.
One-third of people aged 65 years or over fall every year. Falls reduce quality of life, cause about 90% of hip fractures and half of deaths due to injury. Several factors that increase fall risk can be improved, such as balance, muscle weakness and physical function. Aquatic exercise could likely improve many of these factors, and has some advantages compared to exercise on land. For example, buoyancy reduces spine and joint loads, while hydrostatic pressure assists with balance and mobility. Through the Aqua Steps study, we will deliver a high-quality aquatic exercise intervention for people with high risk of falls. We will assess whether people are willing/able to participate and complete the intervention, we will have a preliminary look at the programme’s effects on falls risk and compare it with a land programme with established effects.
Previous Projects
- Chief Scientist Office, £304,602, 2015-2017. Psycharakis S (Principal Investigator), Coleman S, Linton L, Kaliarntas K. 'The WATER project: Which AquaTic ExeRcises work best? Identifying muscle recruitment for aquatic exercises used in interventions for core strengthening and rehabilitation from musculoskeletal disorders'.
The WATER project used wireless electromyography to measure muscle activation for the main trunk supporting muscles and on both dominant and non-dominant sides. More than 40 exercises in the water and on land that can be used for the management and treatment of chronic low back pain were explored. The participants were people with chronic low back pain and individuals with no musculoskeletal disorders, and other outcome measures include pain, exertion and physical effort. The project provided an evidence base that could informs clinical practice and improve quality, efficiency and effectiveness of rehabilitation.
SELECTED OTHER GRANTS
- Sports Governing Body of Spain, €24,000, 2021-2023. Gonzalez-Rave JM (PI), Psycharakis S (named collaborator and chair of the network committee) et al. Three separate annual grants for the set-up and continuation of the 'European Network of Swimming Performance'.
- Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Spain, €3,300, 2022-2023 Yustres I (PI), Psycharakis S et al. 'Analysis of performance in major international swimming competitions'.
-
Scottish Funding Council Innovation Scheme, £10,944, 2014-2016. Psycharakis S (PI). Funding for two separate projects on the 'Evaluation of the Swimbeam training machine' and the 'Effectiveness of a new clinical device on strength, balance & flexibility (Kaliarntas K, Co-PI)'.
- Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, £7,200, 2009-2014. Psycharakis S (PI). Funding for three collaborative projects with the universities of Athens (Greece), Waseda (Japan) and Houston (USA).
-
Which phases of the stroke cycle are propulsive in front crawl swimming?
In:
Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Accepted/In press) -
Effect of high intensity interval training on functional movement in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis
(19 pages)
In:
Sports Medicine - Open, vol. 9, pp. 1-19
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-023-00551-1
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
The WATER study: Which AquaTic ExeRcises increase muscle activity and limit pain for people with low back pain?
(11 pages)
In:
Physiotherapy, vol. 116, pp. 108-118
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2022.03.003
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Which variables may affect underwater glide performance after a swimming start?
(8 pages)
In:
European journal of sport science, vol. 22, pp. 1141–1148
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2021.1944322
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Effect of water depth on muscle activity and stride duration when walking in the water at different speeds
(9 pages)
In:
Journal of Sports Sciences, vol. 39, pp. 1944–1951
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2021.1909810
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
The effect of back squat depth and load on lower body muscle activity in group exercise participants
In:
Sport Biomechanics
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2021.1875034
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Force production during maximal front crawl tethered swimming: Exploring bilateral asymmetries and differences between breathing and non-breathing conditions
In:
Sport Biomechanics
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2021.1891277
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Swimming World Championships: Association between success at junior and senior level for British swimmers
(8 pages)
In:
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 18
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18031237
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
The effects of British Army footwear on ground reaction force and temporal parameters of British Army foot-drill
(9 pages)
In:
The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (JSCR), vol. 34, pp. 754-762
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000002139
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Effects of additional load on the occurrence of bilateral deficit in counter-movement and squat jumps
(9 pages)
In:
Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, vol. 90, pp. 461-469
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2019.1617394
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Muscle activity during aquatic and land exercises in people with and without low back pain
(14 pages)
In:
Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal (PTJ), vol. 99, pp. 297-310
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzy150
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
How does buoyancy affect performance during a 200m maximum front crawl swim?
(7 pages)
In:
Journal of Sports Sciences, vol. 36, pp. 2061-2067
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1436188
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Reliability of the kinetics of British Army foot drill in untrained personnel
In:
The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (JSCR), vol. 31, pp. 464-474
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001492
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Muscle activation under different loading conditions during the power clean
(11 pages)
In:
International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, vol. 16, pp. 464-474
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
The key kinematic determinants of undulatory underwater swimming at maximal velocity
(8 pages)
In:
Journal of Sports Sciences, vol. 34, pp. 1036-1043
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2015.1088162
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Upper limb kinematic differences between breathing and non-breathing conditions in front crawl sprint swimming
(7 pages)
In:
Journal of Biomechanics, vol. 48, pp. 3995-4001
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2015.09.012
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Reliability of the elliptical zone method of estimating body segment parameters of swimmers
In:
Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, vol. 14, pp. 215-224
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Comparison of the effects of active, passive and mixed warm ups on swimming performance
(7 pages)
In:
Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, vol. 54, pp. 559-565
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Relationships Between Glide Efficiency and Swimmers' Size and Shape Characteristics.
(411 pages)
In:
Journal of Applied Biomechanics, vol. 28, pp. 400
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published)