Dr Stelios Psycharakis
Senior Lecturer in Biomechanics

- Moray House School of Education and 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, being a member of the national swimming team of Greece from 1990-1995. He then went on to undertake a BSc (Hons) in Sport Science & Physical Education, an MSc in Sport & Exercise Science and a PhD in Biomechanics. Stelios 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 biomechanics for human performance enhancement or clinical biomechanics for health and rehabilitation, in particualr projects with a focus on aquatics. Examples include 3D analysis of swimming performance, aquatic rehabilitation for people with chronic low back pain or other MSDs, physical activity and aquatic exercise for the elderly. 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 low back pain
- Craig Riddle: The motoratic and biomechanical requirements of individuals with moderate to severe cerebral palsy during RaceRunning
- Guy Stern: Exercise modalities for improving and mantaining functional capacity in healthy older adults.
- Ran Hongyu: Effects of HIIT on smoking cessation.
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
- Clinical biomechanics for health and rehabilitation
- Biomechanics for human performance enhancement, in particular for aquatic sports
- Interdisciplinary research in aquatic sports and activities
Current research interests
Stelios' main area of expertise is biomechanics, with a dual focus on performance enhancement and clinical applications for health and rehabilitation. His human performance biomechanics research is centred on improving understanding in human locomotion, especially in an aquatic environment, and identifying new ways to improve performance. Stelios' current research in clinical biomechanics focuses on the potential of treatment and management of musculoskeletal disorders, and in particular chronic back pain, through exercise. His research expands to interdisciplinary topics, projects examining the validity and reliability of sports equipment and to other areas of biomechanics. Stelios is an expert reviewer for more than 20 academic journals and a member of the scientific committee of the 'Biomechanics & Medicine in Swimming' conferences.Knowledge exchange
Stelios has organised and run two KE and public engagement seminars for the 'WATER' project (2015-2017, CSO-funded), 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 three external companies in developing and optimising equipment used in sports and rehabilitation.
Project activity
Large Research Grants
- Chief Scientist Office, £304,602, Principal Investigator, 2015-2017: '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. (Co-Is: Dr Coleman, Ms Linton, Dr Kaliarntas).
Other Grants
- Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Spain, Co-I, €3,300, 2022-2023: 'Analysis of performance in major international swimming competitions' (PI: Dr Yustres).
-
Scottish Funding Council Innovation Scheme, PI, £5,000, 2015-2016: 'Evaluation of the Swimbeam training machine'.
- Scottish Funding Council Innovation Scheme, Pi, £5,944, 2014-2015: 'Effectiveness of a new clinical device on strength, balance & flexibility' (Co-I: Dr Kaliarntas).
- Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, PI, £7,200, 2009-2014: Funding for three collaborative projects with the universities of Athens (Greece), Waseda (Japan) and Houston (USA).
-
The WATER study: Which AquaTic ExeRcises increase muscle activity and limit pain for people with low back pain?
In:
Physiotherapy
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2022.03.003
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Accepted/In press) -
Which variables may affect underwater glide performance after a swimming start?
In:
European journal of sport science
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2021.1944322
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
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, 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) -
Assessment of accuracy, reliability and force measurement errors for a tethered swimming apparatus
(7 pages)
In:
International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, vol. 11, pp. 410-416
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Shoulder and hip roll differences between breathing and non-breathing conditions in front crawl swimming
(5 pages)
In:
Journal of Biomechanics, vol. 44, pp. 1752-1756
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2011.04.004
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published)