About

I am currently the program lead for the MSc in Clinical Exercise Science and also contribute to teaching the BSc (Hons) Sport Therapy and Rehabilitation course. At the MSc level, I currently lead modules in Global Physical Activity and Public Health and Clinical Exercise and Rehabilitation Training. I contribute to Undergraduate teaching in Sport Trauma Management and Manual Therapy modules. I continue to practice clinically in the University Sports Therapy Clinic, where I also provide clinical supervision for final-year students. I take an active role in research and supervise independent research projects for final-year dissertation and MSc students. In addition to my role at the University, I continue to work part-time in the NHS as a Physiotherapist providing cover for weekend shifts. I am a HCPC registered Physiotherapist and AHCS registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist. I am currently a regional representative for the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sport and Exercise Medicine (ACPSEM) across the East and West Midlands. I am also part of the ACPSEM executive committee as secretary.

Teaching responsibilities

MSc - Clinical Exercise Science

Module lead Global Physical Activity and Public Health; Clinical Exercise and Rehabilitation Training (Level 7)

BSc (Hons) - Sport Therapy and Rehabilitation 

Manual Therapy Level 5 (Year 2); Sport Trauma Management - Level 5 (Year 2)

Clinical Supervision in Sports Therapy Clinic - Level 6 (Year 3)

Project Supervision

• Research Methods in Sport and Exercise - Level 5 (Year 2)
• Independent Study for Sport and Exercise - Level 6 (Year 3)
• Independent Research for Sport and Exercise - Level 7 (Msc)

Professional interests

• Physiotherapist and Sport and Exercise Scientist. Special interests are shared equally across both main aspects of Sport and Exercise Medicine
• Exercise Medicine interests - Physical activity in the general population to reduce the risk of chronic disease; physical activity and clinical exercise prescription to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life for people with a variety of clinical conditions
• Public Health - Physical Activity Promotion throughout the lifespan; Links between physical, mental and social health; reducing loneliness and social isolation.
• Sports Medicine interests - prehabilitation to reduce risk of sports injury, assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions - with a special interest in sports injuries and movement screening (FMS Level 1+2; SFMA Level 1 certified)

Research interests

• Physical Activity throughout the lifespan and impact on reducing the risk of chronic disease
• Physical activity/ clinical exercise prescription in reducing disease severity and promoting improved quality of life, health, and well-being
• Teaching theory - specifically in peer or near-peer teaching
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation 

Membership of professional bodies

• Member - Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP)
• Member - Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sport and Exercise Medicine (ACPSEM) Regional rep East and West Midlands; Secretary on Executive Committee
• Member - Chartered Physiotherapists in Mental Health (CPMH)
• Fellow - Higher Education Academy (HEA)

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science - University of Wolverhampton
• MSc (Pre-Reg) Physiotherapy - University of Birmingham
• PGCHE - Academic Practice in Higher Education - Coventry University 

Recent conferences

Chair:

Therapy Expo - Theatre chair, including keynote introduction: 27th-28th Nov 2024. 

UKSCA & ACPSEM Session Chair: Session 1 Strength in Collaboration – 13th Sep 2024 

Presenting:

Lowton-Smith, S., Walker, A., Wilde, T., Simpson, E., North. R., Briley, S., Faghy, M. and Williams, A. (2025) CPR Exhausting, or is it? Exploring the relationship between body weight, decline in CPR performance and underpinning exercise physiology. May, 2025, World Congress Physiotherapy, Tokyo.  

Lowton-Smith, S., Taylor, A., Louise Sewell, L., Monkhouse, J., Khan, A., Fessey, V., Kerslake, M., Lord, V., Krumins, S., Dodd, P. and Gelder, C. (2019) Making Waves: Spreading a community asset-based model for informal COPD clinics, which aim to improve health and reduce social isolation. 3rd World Congress on Public Health and Healthcare Management, April 2019, Dubai, UAE. Day 2.

Lowton-Smith S., King A., Duncan M., Eyre E. and Oxford S. (2016) Relationship between physical activity levels and body fat of children aged 8-9, from UK schools in low socioeconomic areas. ER-WCPT 2016, Liverpool, UK, Physiotherapy, Vol 102 (Sup 1), e7-e8.

Experience in industry

Brief Summary of Experience in Healthcare:

Experience gained in a range of clinical areas since 2008 (NHS since 2010) across a variety of healthcare roles; Musculoskeletal, cardiology, respiratory, neurology outpatients/community, stroke, diabetes, renal, vascular, gastrointestinal, general surgery, elderly care, elective orthopaedics, trauma orthopaedics, A+E, first response, acute medicine, rehabilitation, burns, plastic surgery, mental health, falls, adult and paediatric learning disability.

Brief Summary of Healthcare Experience in Sport:

Varied Clinical Caseload in sports therapy clinic since 2014 (Ranging from private clients, University sports teams, colleagues/students with sport, exercise or workplace musculoskeletal complaints).

Event work - Sport and exercise medicine, Sports Therapy Clinic, Football, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Rugby 7’s, Iron Man/ Triathlons (Including water and cycle response), Shotokan Kumite Karate, Judo, Badminton, Squash, Basketball, Netball, Athletics, Hockey, Lacrosse and Horse Racing.

Co-founder and Vice President of Birmingham University Sport and Exercise Medicine Society (BUSEMS) from 2012-2013.

Regional Representative East and West Midlands ACPSEM 2022 - present.

Secretary on Executive Committee ACPSEM 2023 - present.

International experience

Presented research at international conferences:

• World Congress of Physical Therapy (2025)
• World Congress of Public Health and Health Care Management (2019)
• World Congress of Physiotherapy European Region (2016)

Contributed to the facilitation of an Online International Learning project in collaboration with a University in the Netherlands for undergraduate students (2018/19).

Recent publications

Book Chapters:

Lewis, J., Lowton-Smith, S. and North, R. (2024) Chapter 16 -Management of Sporting Injuries in the Upper Limb in Ward, K. (Ed.) (2024) Routledge Handbook of Sports Therapy, Injury Assessment and Rehabilitation (2^nd edition), Routledge International, UK.

Briley, S., Lowton-Smith, S.  Bossuyt, F. and Lighthall Haubert, L. (2025) Shoulder Health in Wheelchair Sports in Griggs, et al., (2025) Routledge Handbook of Disability Sport Science (1st edition), Routledge International, UK. 

Peer-Reviewed Journal Papers:

Lowton-Smith, S., Morgan, R., Stanley, M., Hames, T., Smith, P., Lawson, C. and Leddington Wright, S. (2019) Peer-to-peer teaching: Experience of 3rd year undergraduate Sports Therapy students and impact upon applied academic performance in comparison to being peer-taught. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, Vol: 25, 100196.

Eyre, E. L. J., Clark, C. C. T., Tallis, J., Hodson, D., Lowton-Smith. S., Nelson, C., Noon, M. and Duncan, M. J. (2020) The Effects of Combined Movement and Storytelling Intervention on Motor Skills in South Asian and White Children Aged 5–6 Years Living in the United Kingdom. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol: 17(10), Art; 3391, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17103391}. Available from < https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/10/3391>.

Commissioned Report:

Sewell, L., Taylor, A., Monkhouse, J., Khan, A., Fessey, V., Kerslake, M., Lord, V., Lowton-Smith, S., Krumins, S., Kelly, J., Dodd, P., Gelder, C., Gray, S., Monkhouse, J. and Leatham, D. (2018). Making Waves Final Report: Evaluation of the Making Waves: RIPPLE2 Spread Project. 

E-Book Case Study

Lowton-Smith, S., Horton, E. and Matthews, T. (2019) Augmented reality: virtual patients for clinical exercise prescription. In Teaching and Learning Excellence: The Coventry Way. Coventry: Coventry University, UK. 

Conference Presentations:

Price, M., Lowton-Smith, S. and Cartwright, D. (2015) The physiological and perceptual responses to exercise using a variable resistance swing. BASES conference 2015, St Georges Park, Burton Upon Trent, UK, 1st Dec 2015. Journal of Sports Sciences, Vol: 33 (1) s5–s8. 

Lowton-Smith S., King A., Duncan M., Eyre E. and Oxford S. (2016) Relationship between physical activity levels and body fat of children aged 8-9, from UK schools in low socioeconomic areas. ER-WCPT 2016, Liverpool, UK, Physiotherapy, Vol 102 (Sup 1), e7-e8. 

Horton, E., Hames, T., Lowton-Smith, S., Duncan, M.J., and Leddington Wright, S. (2017) Validity and reliability of the modified shuttle walk test in older adults. European College of Sport Science (ECSS), July 2017, Metropolitan Ruhr, GER, p. 545-546.

Eyre, E., Duncan, M., Lowton-Smith, S., Hodson, D. and Dobell, A. (2018) Differential effects of combined movement and storytelling intervention on motor skills in South Asian and White children aged 5 -6 years living in the UK. ECSS 2018, Dublin, ROI, p.287. 

Sewell, L., Taylor, A., Dodd, P., Monkhouse, J., Khan, A., Kerslake, M., Lord, V., Lowton-Smith, S., Fessey, V., Krumins, S. and Gelder, C. (2018) Making Waves: An asset-based community development approach to improve self-management, social inclusion and mental well-being in people with COPD. PCRS-UK conference Sept 2018, Telford, UK. Primary Care Respiratory Update, Vol 52(16), pp. 58. 

Lowton-Smith, S., Taylor, A., Louise Sewell, L., Monkhouse, J., Khan, A., Fessey, V., Kerslake, M.,Lord, V., Krumins, S., Dodd, P. and Gelder, C. (2019) Making Waves: Spreading a community asset-based model for informal COPD clinics, which aim to improve health and reduce social isolation. 3rd World Congress on Public Health and Healthcare Management, April 2019, Dubai, UAE. Day 2. 

Briley, P.M., Lowton-Smith, S., Osler, C., Outram, T. and Briley, S. (2025) BioMeQ-MD: Developing Biomechanical Interventions for Major Depression. BJPsyc Open, Vol 11(S1) Abstracts from the RCPsych International Congress 2025, June 2025, pp. S25-S26.  DOI: <https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2025.10105>

Briley, S., Outram, T., Osler, C., Lowton-Smith, S. and Briley, P. (2025) Developing biomechanical interventions for major depression: The relationship between affective processing and gait dynamics in young adults. The XXX Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics, July 2025 Stockholm, Sweeden.