Dr Luke Connolly
Profiles

Dr Luke Connolly

Lecturer in Physiotherapy (Exercise Science)

School of Health Professions (Faculty of Health)

Qualifications

  • PhD Sport and Health Sciences (University of Exeter)
  • MSc Sport and Health Sciences (University of Exeter)
  • BSc Applied Sports Science and Coaching (University of St Mark & St John)
  • Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Professional membership

  • The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES)
  • The Physiological Society

Research interests

The effect of physical inactivity and subsequent physical activity on the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases (cardiovascular and musculoskeletal adaptations) in healthy and clinical populations using manipulations such as fitness training, nutritional supplementation exercise intensity, exercise modality and exercise duration. Muscular adaptation to exercise training, fitness testing in elite team sports and match analysis as a research tool in team sports.

Other research

CogEx Study

The group is made up of researchers, research assistants/therapists and people with progressive MS across 11 sites worldwide. CogEx is a multi-arm, randomised, blinded, sham-controlled trial of cognitive rehabilitation and exercise. The CogEx study will recruit 360 people with progressive MS, across all sites. Participants will be experiencing mild-moderate cognitive difficulties with an EDSS score between 3.0-6.5. There are two sites in the UK: Plymouth and London.

Key publications

Key publications are highlighted

Journals
Articles
Dennett R, Madsen LT, Connolly L, Hosking J, Dalgas U & Freeman J 2020 'Adherence and drop-out in randomized controlled trials of exercise interventions in people with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analyses' Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders 43, 102169-102169 , DOI Open access
Connolly LJ, Scott S, Morencos CM, Fulford J, Jones AM, Knapp K, Krustrup P, Bailey SJ & Bowtell JL 2020 'Impact of a novel home-based exercise intervention on health indicators in inactive premenopausal women: a 12-week randomised controlled trial' European Journal of Applied Physiology 120, (4) 771-782 , DOI
Skoradal M-B, Weihe P, Patursson P, Mortensen J, Connolly L, Krustrup P & Mohr M 2018 'Football training improves metabolic and cardiovascular health status in 55- to 70-year-old women and men with prediabetes' Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports 28, 42-51 , DOI
Dewhurst-Trigg R, Yeates T, Blackwell JR, Thompson C, Linoby A, Morgan PT, Clarke I, Connolly LJ, Wylie LJ & Winyard PG 2018 'Lowering of blood pressure after nitrate-rich vegetable consumption is abolished with the co-ingestion of thiocyanate-rich vegetables in healthy normotensive males' Nitric Oxide 74, 39-46 , DOI
Connolly LJ, Bailey SJ, Krustrup P, Fulford J, Smietanka C & Jones AM 2017 'Effects of self-paced interval and continuous training on health markers in women' European Journal of Applied Physiology 117, (11) 2281-2293 , DOI Open access
Reddy P, Dias I, Holland C, Campbell N, Nagar I, Connolly L, Krustrup P & Hubball H 2017 'Walking football as sustainable exercise for older adults – A pilot investigation' European Journal of Sport Science 17, (5) 638-645 , DOI
Connolly LJ, Nordsborg NB, Nyberg M, Weihe P, Krustrup P & Mohr M 2016 'Low-volume high-intensity swim training is superior to high-volume low-intensity training in relation to insulin sensitivity and glucose control in inactive middle-aged women' European Journal of Applied Physiology 116, (10) 1889-1897 , DOI
Bowtell JL, Jackman SR, Scott S, Connolly LJ, Mohr M, Ermidis G, Julian R, Yousefian F, Helge EW & Jørgensen NR 2016 'Short Duration Small Sided Football and to a Lesser Extent Whole Body Vibration Exercise Induce Acute Changes in Markers of Bone Turnover' BioMed Research International 2016, 1-10 , DOI Open access
Nordsborg NB, Connolly L, Weihe P, Iuliano E, Krustrup P, Saltin B & Mohr M 2015 'Oxidative capacity and glycogen content increase more in arm than leg muscle in sedentary women after intense training' Journal of Applied Physiology 119, (2) 116-123 , DOI
KRUSTRUP P, BRADLEY PS, CHRISTENSEN JF, CASTAGNA C, JACKMAN S, CONNOLLY L, RANDERS MB, MOHR M & BANGSBO J 2015 'The Yo-Yo IE2 Test' Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 47, (1) 100-108 , DOI
Connolly LJ, Scott S, Mohr M, Ermidis G, Julian R, Bangsbo J, Jackman SR, Bowtell JL, Davies RC & Hopkins SJ 2014 'Effects of small-volume soccer and vibration training on body composition, aerobic fitness, and muscular PCr kinetics for inactive women aged 20–45' Journal of Sport and Health Science 3, (4) 284-292 , DOI
Other Publications
Connolly L 2018 The effects of exercise training interventions on the health profile of inactive premenopausal women.