Dr Tom Nightingale

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham

Scientific Background

Research Interests

Dr. Nightingale is an integrative physiologist with an interest in understanding the impact of physical activity on cardiometabolic and cerebrovascular health outcomes in individuals with neurological conditions. Primarily, Tom’s research has focused on the efficacy of therapeutic interventions (exercise and neuromodulation) to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals with a spinal cord injury. Below are his primary research themes:

Measurement of physical activity energy expenditure in clinical populations (wheelchair users and lower limb amputees).
Therapeutic interventions incorporating specific exercise paradigms and/or neuromodulation approaches to reduce cardiometabolic disease risk factors and secondary conditions associated with spinal cord injury.
The cerebrovascular and neurocognitive consequences of aberrant blood pressure fluctuations following spinal cord injury.

Research Groups

Birmingham Spinal Cord Injury Research

MoveWell - Centre for Movement and Wellbeing

ICORD

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: supportive, detail-oriented, collaborative.

Provision of Training

Initial hands on training is supported by myself and experienced members of my laboratory, leading to more independence and autonomy later in your degree.

Progression Monitoring and Management

I will set out my expectations of your progression on a monthly basis. If these progression criteria are not met we will always discuss a plan of action together.

Communication

I am happy to discuss any issues that are impacting your ability to fulfil your potential or my/our expectations.

Meetings

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me at least once per week. These meetings will be a mixture of face-to-face and via video chat or telephone. I am usually contactable for an instant response 3 or 4 days per week.

Work Patterns

The timing of work in my lab is completely flexible, and (other than attending pre-arranged meetings), I expect students to manage their own time.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 1 week's notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5,000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Primary supervisor for:

Understanding the vascular health impact of upper-body exercise

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

Understanding the vascular health impact of upper-body exercise

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Alex Wadley

University of Registration: University of Birmingham

BBSRC Research Themes:

Integrated Understanding of Health (Ageing, Diet and Health)

Project Outline

According to the World Health Organisation, approximately 1.8 billion adults were physically inactive in 2022, with this number projected to increase progressively year on year. A lack of physical exercise has negative implications for vascular health and is associated with cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. Repetitive exercise serves as a modifiable lifestyle intervention to improve vascular structure and function, thereby potentially minimising the economic burden of inactivity-related chronic diseases.

Acute exercise is a potent non-pharmacological stimulus to drive beneficial vascular changes. This is primarily through increased blood flow and pressure during exercise, which generates shear stress, nitric oxide bioavailability, the release of neurotrophic factors and an influx of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). While the magnitude of these responses can be influenced by exercise intensity and duration, currently little is known regarding the influence of upper compared to lower-body exercise modalities. Intuitively, the smaller muscle mass, lower mechanical efficiency and greater symathoexcitation with arm exercise will result in different responses. Even less is known regarding differences in long-term central or limb-specific vascular health changes in response to a prolonged upper or lower-body aerobic exercise intervention. Understanding these physiological responses has implications for individuals that are primarily restricted to upper-body exercise, such as people with a lower-limb disability (e.g., spinal cord injury), mobility restrictions (e.g., older adults) or exercise intolerance (e.g., peripheral artery disease).

Objectives

Aim 1. To compare haemodynamic, neurotrophic and EPC responses to both absolute and relative intensity-matched acute bouts of upper and lower-body aerobic exercise.

Aim 2. To establish central and limb-specific vascular health benefits of an upper compared to lower-body exercise intervention.

APPLY HERE