Dr Grace Smith

Lecturer in Sports Biomechanics

Qualifications

BSc (Hons), MSc, PGCert, PhD

Overview

Grace has been teaching at Chester since January 2006. She teaches extensively on the undergraduate Sport and Exercise Sciences programme and is strand leader on the MSc Sports Biomechanics Pathway. Her research interests include the biomechanical analysis of sports performance and running shoe design.

Grace has recently completed a PhD in the area of foot function in relation to sports performance and also completed her Post Graduate Certificate for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education at the University of Chester.

Teaching

She currently teaches on the following modules:

Introduction to Biomechanics and Kinesiology in Sport (Module Leader) (Level 4)
Biomechanical and Notational analysis in Sport (Level 5
Research Methods in Sport and Exercise Sciences (Level 5)
Applied Sports Biomechanics (Module Leader) (Level 6
Contemporary Issues in Sports Biomechanics (Level M)
Measurement Techniques in Sports Biomechanics (Level M)
Biomechanical Assessment and Evaluation of Sports Performance (Level M)

Grace also supervises dissertation students at level 6 and masters level.

Research

Biomechanics of sports performance, track and field athletics
Footwear Biomechanics
Measurement techniques in Sports Biomechanics

Published work

Conference Papers

Smith, G. & Lake, M. (2011). Athlete specific analyses of the effect of shoe bending stiffness on foot function during sprint running. 16th Annual Congress of the European College of Sports Sciences, Liverpool, UK

Smith, G., Lake, M., Sterzing, T. & Worsfold, P. (2010). The influence of sprint spike stiffness on sprinting performance and Metatarsophalangeal joint kinematics. Congress of the International Foot and Ankle Biomechanics Community, Washington University, USA.

Smith, G. & Lake, M. (2010). Pressure profiles during barefoot and shod sprinting. British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Annual Conference, Glasgow University, UK.

Smith, G. & Lake, M. (2009). Foot function in Sprinting: Barefoot and Sprint
Spike Conditions. International Society of Biomechanics in Sport Annual
Conference, University of Limerick, Ireland.

Smith, G. & Lake, M. (2007). Methodological considerations for determining
metatarsophalangeal joint function during sprinting. British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Annual Conference, Bath University, UK.

Smith, G. & Lake, M. (2007). Methodological considerations for determining
metatarsophalangeal joint kinetics during sprinting. Sixth International Conference on Sport, Leisure and Ergonomics, UK.