About
Claire Stapleton is a Senior Lecturer in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy at the School of Allied Health Professions and Pharmacy, Keele University, where she serves as MSc Physiotherapy Programme Director and School Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead. With a clinical and academic background in physiotherapy, her work bridges musculoskeletal diagnostics, vascular safety in manual therapy, and digital healthcare innovation.
- Doctorate in vascular compression syndromes at the shoulder (Liverpool John Moores University, 2009)
- Postgraduate Health Research Certificate (Leeds University, 2005)
- First-Class BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy (Coventry University, 2000)
- BSc (Hons) in Sports Science (University of Birmingham, 1996)
Her research focuses on haemodynamics, cervical artery dysfunction, and digital literacy in health professions, with grants from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and NIHR Health Technology Assessment. Recent work explores clinical prediction rules for back pain and exercise interventions for whiplash, reflecting her expertise in musculoskeletal diagnostics and injury prevention. Awards include the Keele Excellence Award and Keele Teaching Innovation Award.
- Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Robert Williams International Award
- Keele Excellence Award
- Keele Teaching Innovation Award
Claire advocates for digital healthcare integration and technology-enhanced learning, evidenced by her animated educational tools and student video-creation initiatives. She previously led a post-doctoral NIHR project in biomechanical gait analysis and managed a private sports injury clinic during her PhD, supporting Olympic athletes and TASS-funded students.
