Dr. Allie Welsh is a Lecturer in Physical Activity and Health in the School of Education at the University of East Anglia.

Originally from Stockport, Cheshire, Allie completed a BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Central Lancashire, followed by a Master’s by Research in Clinical Exercise Physiology at Edge Hill University. In fulfilment of her MRes, Allie undertook a pilot randomised controlled trial to explore the implementation of High Intensity Interval Training (HITT) in Cardiac Rehabilitation. In 2016, Allie won the Young Scientist of Year Award for this project, awarded by the British Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation.

Allie joined the UEA to undertake her PhD in the School of Health Sciences. Her thesis examined the use of aerobic exercise to maintain cognitive health among stroke survivors. Specific contributions to research include a systematic review, aiming to quantify the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive function; the development of a novel cardiopulmonary exercise test for people with severe movement impairments post-stroke; and the implementation and mixed-methods evaluation of a safe and feasible exercise intervention for people with severe movement impairments post-stroke. Further study within this area is ongoing.

Throughout her PhD, Allie was involved in various research projects, including SleepSmart and FestivApp, FATIGUES. She also contributed to teaching Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Nursing sciences, specifically exercise physiology and (qualitative) research methods. She gained further teaching experience on the Physical Education, Sport and Health (PESH) cluster as module lead for Anatomy and Physiology and Health, Fitness and Training.

As a post-doctoral researcher, Allie’s research interests continue to include exercise training for pre and rehabilitation, physical activity promotion and inclusion within the community, utilising co-production methodologies. More recently, her interests now lie within equipping practitioners with the skills, knowledge and behaviours to promote physical activity and health for priority and marginalised groups.

In 2020, Allie co-lead on a tender awarded by Health Education England to develop and co-produce an educational framework for Advanced Clinical Practitioners in Neurological Rehabilitation. The uniqueness of this work is emphasised within transitions period from in-patient care to community care and acknowledges the complexity and specialism of neurological rehabilitation. This work has been recognised by the UK Stroke Forum and the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists Interested in Neurology.

Currently, Allie mainly teaches across the PESH cluster, leading on Anatomy and Physiology, Health, Fitness and Training, Science of Physical Activity modules. She is also part of the teaching team delivering Research Methods and Health and Physical Activity Promotion for PESH and Health Science programmes. Allie supervises several undergraduate dissertation projects, covering a range of topics under the umbrella discipline of Physical Activity and Heath.

• Exercise physiology
• Physical activity and health
• Complex intervention development and evaluation
• Inclusion
• Clinical populations (neurological conditions)
• Rehabilitation
• Mixed-methods research
• Behaviour change
• Curriculum development

• UEA - Acquired Brain Injury Reseach Alliance (ABIRA)
• UEA - Sport, Health and Education (SHE)
• The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences
• British Association For Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation