Dr Sharon Dixon

About me:

Dr Sharon Dixon is an Associate Professor in Biomechanics, in Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Exeter, and has been a lecturer here since January 1999. Dr Dixon gained her Ph.D. (Loughborough University) in 1996, investigating the influence of footwear interventions on Achilles tendon loading. In the period 1997-1998, she held postdoctoral research positions in the School of Civil Engineering, University of Nottingham and in the Human Performance Laboratory, University of Calgary. Dr Dixon coordinates the Biomechanics Research Team, a group of researchers using biomechanical tools to improve understanding of human movement. She teaches on the undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes in Sport and Health Sciences.

Broad research specialisms:

• Lower extremity overuse injury mechanisms in sports and exercise
• Influence of footwear, insert and surface manipulations on lower limb biomechanics and injury risk.

Interests:

Dr Dixon's research focuses on development of an understanding of the biomechanical risk factors for lower limb injury during sport and exercise, and the influence of external factors such as footwear and surfaces on these risk factors, with an overall aim of contributing to reduced injury and improved performance. She has published in a range of international peer reviewed journals in the fields of sports and exercise related biomechanics, sports medicine and sports engineering. Dr Dixon has performed collaborative projects with industry (e.g. Cosyfeet, Ida Sports, RSscan International, MOD) and has managed EPSRC and Innovate UK funded research projects on sports playing surfaces and footwear. Dr Dixon is past chair and current treasurer of the Footwear Biomechanics Group (a technical group of the International Society of Biomechanics), and is a member of the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB) and the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES).

Qualifications:

PhD, BSc (Hons)