Andy Sanderson

Dr Andy Sanderson is a Senior Lecturer in Pain and Movement Impairment at Manchester Metropolitan University's Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences within the Institute of Sport. His research focuses on using novel technologies like high-density electromyography (HDEMG) and motion analysis to study muscle activation patterns during pain, disuse, elite sports, and space travel. Key areas include chronic low back pain, muscle atrophy in microgravity, and biopsychosocial influences on pain.

Education: PhD in Sport and Exercise Sciences (Motor Control and Rehabilitation) from the University of Birmingham (2017–2020), BSc (Hons) Anatomical Sciences from the University of Dundee (2012–2016). He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) after completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (2020).

Research Projects: Current initiatives include interventions to prevent muscle wastage in microgravity, links between form and function in chronic low back pain, and injury prevention in elite sports. He emphasizes patient involvement in research through his role as co-PPIE Lead.

Teaching: Leads anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics modules. Serves as Personal Tutoring Lead for the department, focusing on student well-being and pastoral care.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates on projects involving wearable technology, space medicine, and musculoskeletal adaptations. Open to supervising research students in his areas of expertise.