Helen Gravestock

Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science

Email:: Helen.gravestock@bcu.ac.uk

Helen has worked in learning and teaching in Higher Education for 7 years in Sport and Exercise Science undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Helen has also completed a PGCert in Higher Education and is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Helen completed her PhD at Leeds Beckett University, where she measured and evaluated the biomechanics of some of the world’s best race walking athletes, including Olympians and World Championship medallists, using 3D motion capture, electromyography and advanced statistical analysis.

As part of her applied work, Helen has provided biomechanical support to British Athletics and British Gymnastics. Helen was one of the event directors for the largest athletics biomechanics study to date with the IAAF. Biomechanical support was provided to the IAFF during London 2017 outdoor and Birmingham 2018 indoor world championship. Helen is a BASES accredited sport and exercise scientist in biomechanics and is recognised as a chartered scientist by The Science Council.

Areas of Expertise

Qualifications

Memberships

Teaching

Publications

Journal Articles

Hanley, B., Gravestock, H.J., Hopkinson, M., Paradisis, G.P., Merlino, S. and Bissas, A. (2022) Kinematics of the Final Approach and Take-Off Phases in World-Class Men and Women Pole Vaulters. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 4 pp.1-8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2022.835659
Gravestock, H.J., Tucker, C.B. and Hanley, B (2021) The Role of Upper Body Biomechanics in Elite Racewalkers. Frontiers in Sport and Active Living, 3 pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.702743
Gravestock, H.J. and Barlow, M., 2017. The use of tensiomyography to evaluate neuromuscular profile and lateral symmetry in competitive female surfers. Advances in Skeletal Muscle Function Assessment, 1 (2), pp.16-20.

Scientific Reports

Hanley, B., Gravestock, H.J., Bissas, A. and Merlino, S. (2019). Biomechanical Report for the IAAF World Indoor Championships 2018: Pole Vault Women's. Birmingham, UK: International Association of Athletics Federations.
Hanley, B., Gravestock, H.J., Bissas, A. and Merlino, S. (2019). Biomechanical Report for the IAAF World Indoor Championships 2018: Pole Vault Men’s. Birmingham, UK: International Association of Athletics Federations.
Gravestock, H.J. and Bissas, A. (2018). Biomechanical Report for the IAAF World Championships 2017: Pole Vault Men’s. Tampere, Finland: International Association of Athletics Federations.
Gravestock, H.J. and Bissas, A. (2018). Biomechanical Report for the IAAF World Championships 2017: Pole Vault Women’s. Tampere, Finland: International Association of Athletics Federations.

Conference Proceedings (Peer-Reviewed)

Gravestock, H and Hanley, B and Bissas, A and Tucker, CB (2019) Whole body kinematic waveform comparisons between elite male and female race walkers. In: British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) National Conference 2019, 19 November 2019 - 20 November 2019, King Power Stadium, Leicester. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2019.1671688
Gravestock, H.J., Tucker, C.B., Hanley, B. and Bissas, A. (2018) An Analysis of Lower Body Kinematics in Response to Changes in Speed in World-Class Walkers. 23rd Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, Dublin.
Gravestock, H., Corbett, M., Griffiths, L., Mizen, R., Thomas, G., Eastough, D. (2014) Spatio-Temporal Differences in Gait After 8 Weeks Minimalist Footwear Habituation: A Comparison of Three Footwear Conditions. European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Amsterdam.
Griffiths, L., Eastough, D., Gravestock, H., Thomas, G., Mizen, R. and Horne, S. (2014). The Effect of Habitual Walking in Minimalist Footwear on Dynamic Balance and Lower Limb Strength. European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Amsterdam.
Gravestock, H. (2014) Alterations in Spatio-temporal gait parameters and musculoskeletal strength after minimalist footwear intervention. BASES Biomechanics Interest Group, Easter Meeting, Manchester Metropolitan University.
Gravestock, H. (2014) The effect of 8-week minimalist footwear habituation on spatiotemporal gait parameters. The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) Student Conference, Portsmouth, April.
Gravestock, H. (2013) Active and Passive Mass Differences in Whole Body Vibration. (BASES) Biomechanics Interest Group, Easter Meeting, University of Wolverhampton.
Gravestock, H. (2012) An Investigation into Active and Passive Mass on Whole Body Vibration. The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) Student Conference, University of East London, April.