MSc Musculoskeletal Sport Science and Health

Our Musculoskeletal Sport Science and Health MSc will provide you with knowledge of the scientific concepts and procedures underpinning sport and exercise-related musculoskeletal function, measurement, injury and treatment.

The programme allows you to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to the scientific study of sport and exercise related musculoskeletal health and performance including anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, bioengineering and kinesiology.

You will also have the opportunity to carry out in-depth and critical research in selected areas of interest.

The Musculoskeletal Sport Science and Health programme is delivered in connection with the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine – East Midlands (NCSEM-EM), an Olympic legacy funded project aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of the nation. Combining the state-of-the-art facilitates of the NCSEM-EM with the unparalleled sport environment at Loughborough provide a unique postgraduate learning experience for the scientific study of sport and exercise-related musculoskeletal health and performance.

The NCSEM-EM has five key themes that cover research, education and clinical activity: physical activity in disease prevention; exercise in chronic disease; sports injuries and musculoskeletal health; mental health and wellbeing, and performance health.

The NCSEM-EM hub is based in a state-of-the-art building, purpose-designed to facilitate the transfer of high quality research into frontline patient care. The building features a range of cutting-edge technology and specialist medical equipment:

Functional analysis rehabilitation laboratory – a state-of-the-art space containing the latest technology for research. Motion capture cameras of the highest resolution and precision will be available, along with hi-speed video cameras, force plates of different sizes and an electromyography system with display screens for feedback.
Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) – an interactive system that can be used to treat and rehabilitate patients with, for example, back pain or posture and balance difficulties. It contains the latest technology for the registration, evaluation and training of functional human behaviour. The system consists of a motion base, integrated force plates, eight-camera real-time motion capture system, and a projection system, used for a range of posture and balance-related applications.
Disability sport laboratory – used for testing and assessment of submaximal and maximal aerobic fitness, anaerobic fitness, lung function, body composition and biochemical analyses of the immune system. Exercise testing is carried out in a number of settings such as using the treadmill for both wheelchair propulsion and running, and wheelchair, arm crank, handcycle and cycle ergometry.
3T MR imaging – enables high definition scans to be taken in a shorter amount of time, improving comfort and convenience. The increased image clarity provided by the 3T is beneficial in the diagnosis of more subtle conditions and in diagnosing conditions with a high level of accuracy.
Musculoskeletal and cardiac ultrasound – have superb imaging capabilities and increased contrast resolution. This enables enhanced visualisation of smaller conditions with greater sensitivity and aids the assessment process to support early diagnosis.

Core study areas include orthopaedic sports biomechanics; neuromuscular function; physiology of endurance performance; risk and recovery of sport injury; research methods for sport and exercise; basic science and regenerative therapy; emerging technologies for health and wellbeing; motion analysis of human movement; developing computer models for sports biomechanics; sports injury, and a research project.