Physical Activity for Health Division Day 2025

Registration for this event is now closed. 

The Division Day is free to CASES members and open to non-members for a small registration fee.

All attendees will receive a sandwich lunch.

Non-members can sign up at the rates below, or you can become a member, and can access this event for free and also access the other member benefits. Members paying for annual membership via Direct Debit will also receive a £5 discount.

09:15 – 9:45 Arrival and registration

09:45 – 09:50 Welcome and introduction from the Division Chair, Dr Daniel Bailey

09.50 – 10.35 ‘Exercise versus cancer: from prehab to rehab’ – Professor John Saxton, University of Hull (Session Chair, Dr Daniel Bailey).

10.35 – 10.50 ‘Insights into the clinical exercise physiology profession through three case studies’, Dr Noemi Vadaszy, University of Leicester (Session Chair, Dr Daniel Bailey)

10.50 – 11.20 Morning break and Posters

11.20 – 12.20 Free Communications, 10 minutes each with 3 minutes questions (Session Chair, Dr Miranda Armstrong)

‘Move, play, learn: Understanding physical literacy and physical activity in 3-5-year-olds and the case for early intervention’ - Natalie Weir, University of Derby

‘Understanding and Addressing Inequalities in Physical Activity’ - Clare Roscoe, University of Derby

‘Once Active, Always Active? A Meta-Analysis of Physical Activity Tracking across the Lifespan’ - Adam Runacres, Manchester Metropolitan University

‘The Long-term Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions on Children's Movement Behaviours in Wales’ - Faith Goodliffe, Swansea University

12.20 – 13.00 5-in-5 presentations with 2 minutes questions (Session Chair, Dr Sophie Carter)

‘Supporting schools in the delivery of physical activity for children with Cystic Fibrosis’ - Emma Powell, Birmingham Newman University

‘Molecular Effects of Physical Activity and Body Composition: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.’ - Jenni Chambers, University of Derby

‘Stakeholder Perspectives: Identifying the Barriers, Facilitators, and Solutions to People with Phenylketonuria (PKU) to Performing Physical Activity and Exercise’ - Annabelle Skidmore, Birmingham City University

‘‘Family is Everything.’ A Qualitative Exploration of the Determinant’s of Family Engagement with the FMS of Early Years Children’ - Robert Flynn, University of Derby

‘Silent Deconditioning in Patients with Unexplained Breathlessness: A Retrospective CPET analysis’ - Alex Labey, University College London Hospital and North Middlesex University Hospital

13.00 – 13.45 Lunch break and posters

13.45 – 14.40 Networking event (Session Chair, Dr Stephanie Stockwell)

14.40 – 14.55 The Value of an Active Day (10,000 steps) - Dr Mark Elliott and Dr Danae Arroyos-Calvera, University of Birmingham (Session Chair, Dr Stephanie Stockwell)

14.55 – 15.00 Comfort break

15.00 – 15.45 ‘Physical Literacy - what is it and why does it matter?’ – Prof Kiara Lewis FCASES, Professor of Sport and Exercise Science, Birmingham City University (Session Chair: Hayley Mills)

15.45 – 16.00 Awards for best free communication, best 5-in-5 and best poster and Closing (Chair, Daniel Bailey)

First Keynote: John Saxton, Professor of Clinical Exercise Physiology and Head of the School of Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Hull

‘Exercise versus cancer: from prehab to rehab’

Abstract:

Epidemiological studies have provided evidence of an inverse association between physical activity and cancer risk at a number of sites. Furthermore, cohort studies show that a physically active lifestyle after diagnosis and curative-intent treatment for some of the most common cancers can improve survival. Other studies show that structured exercise and physical activity interventions during and after a cancer diagnosis can help patients to manage and/or overcome the physical and psychological consequences of the disease and its treatments; and interest in role of pre-operative exercise “prehabilitation” for optimising post-operative recovery following cancer treatment has grown significantly in recent times. A major challenge is to develop pragmatic and cost-effective interventions that can safely engage cancer survivors in their preferred modes of exercise and provide robust evidence of a long-lasting impact on exercise behaviour and important health outcomes. This presentation will provide an overview of evidence supporting a role for physical activity and structured exercise in primary and secondary cancer prevention, including data from our randomised controlled trials in patients living with and beyond common cancers.

Biography:

John Saxton is a Professor of Clinical Exercise Physiology and Head of the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Hull. He is a Fellow of the British Association of Sport & Exercise Sciences and has served on Council for the Society for Research in Rehabilitation. His research mainly focuses on the effects of exercise and complex interventions (involving exercise and dietary behaviour change) on wide-ranging health outcomes in people living with and beyond cancer. He has led randomised controlled trials with breast, prostate, bladder and colon cancer patients and as principal investigator or co-Investigator, his work has been supported by Cancer Research UK, the American Institute of Cancer Research, the Prostate Cancer Charity, Yorkshire Cancer Research and the NIHR-HTA. He was Co-Chief investigator for the PREPARE-ABC trial, a NIHR-HTA multicentre randomised controlled trial investigating the clinical and cost-effectiveness of pre- and post-operative exercise programmes on short- and longer-term health outcomes in people undergoing colorectal cancer surgery. In 2010 he was the lead editor of a book entitled Exercise and cancer survivorship: impact on health outcomes and quality of life, published by Springer Scientific (New York).

Second Keynote: Prof Kiara Lewis FCASES, Professor of Sport and Exercise Science, Birmingham City University

'Physical Literacy - what is it and why does it matter?'

Abstract: The concept of physical literacy has been defined in many different ways across the world. In 2022 Sport England commissioned a group of researchers to come up with a definition and consensus statement of Physical Literacy for England. The statement is intended for colleagues who work in policy, sport development, research and practice. The project began in March 2022 and included 2 national consultations, qualitative work with children and co-design with an expert panel. The project included over 50 organisations and led to the new definition launched by Sport England in September 2023. The aim of the presentation is to describe the processes involved in the project, to increase understanding of physical literacy and discuss how we can use physical literacy as a guiding principle to develop the wellbeing of our nation.

Biography: Professor Lewis has worked as an academic, researcher and practitioner in physical activity for over thirty years. She joined BCU in 2023 as a professor of Sport and Exercise Sciences and is a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES) and a Chartered Scientist (Science Council).Her work has centred around understanding and increasing physical activity from children and young people to adults living with serious mental illness. She has worked at a ‘systems’ level to increase regional physical activity participation and in professional sport to develop policies to support player welfare. Her work takes an ‘asset based’ approach to developing the psychosocial environment to enable individuals and communities to benefit from a more physically active lifestyle.

To view the abstract booklet, please click on the link here.

The Alexander Stadium is located in Perry Barr, north-west Birmingham. The Division Day will be held in the West Stand.

Address: Walsall Road, Perry Barr, Birmingham B42 2LR

What 3 words location: mini.sculpture.plots

Getting to the Alexander Stadium:

There is car parking space at the Alexander Stadium for anyone who does drive and has access to a car. This is free of charge.

Travelling by public transport from the City Centre: the closest train station to the Stadium is Perry Barr.

Numerous buses run from the City Centre up to the Alexander Stadium from Priory Queensway, the X51 being the most convenient.

There are many bus stops along Priory Queensway and Old Square. Double check which bus you're getting and stop it leaves from at www.nxbus.co.uk or www.journeyplanner.networkwestmidlands.com as stops can change!

(The 51 and 52 will also take you close to the Stadium but will stop at more stops and therefore take longer.)

Arriving at the Alexander Stadium by bus:

The blue dots down the orange road (the Walsall Road) represent the bus stops and where you can get off the bus to walk down Stadium Way to the Alexander Stadium

The PA4H Division Committee have worked to create this year’s Division Day:

Dr Daniel Bailey FCASES (Chair) 

Dr Miranda Armstrong (Deputy Chair)

Michael Penketh (UG Student Representative)

Annabelle Skidmore (PG Student Representative)

Hayley Mills (CPD Representative)

Dr Stephanie Stockwell (Membership Representative)

Dr Sophie Carter (Co-opted Member)

For any queries about the Division Day, please contact either Daniel Bailey via email or the Division on social media CASES Physical Activity for Health Division (@cases_pa) / X