Dr Kyra De Coninck joined the University of Kent as a lecturer in sports therapy in 2005 and completed her PGCHE in 2007. Prior to this, she ran a successful sports massage practice and taught massage to a wide range of students and health practitioners for more than 10 years.
She teaches undergraduate and postgraduate modules in sports massage, sports injuries and soft tissue techniques. Kyra trained in musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging at Centre for Ultrasound Studies, University of Bournemouth in 2009. She is also a member of the Anatomical Society.
Her research interest focuses on understanding the structure, function and dysfunction of specialised connective tissues, such as fascia. Fascia consists of thin layers which wrap around every muscle, bone and organ in the body. These fascial layers transmit forces and allow muscles to slide over each other during movement.
Kyra's PhD thesis investigates how ultrasound imaging can be used to measure the differences in thoracolumbar fascia, in the lower back, in a range of populations with lower back pain. She has presented her research at conferences and scientific meetings in UK, Canada, Italy and Romania.
Kyra continues, together with students, to provide sports massage to athletes at a number of national and international events and championships.
Dr Kyra De Coninck's general research interests include the anatomy and function of fascia, myofascial pain and adaptation of fascia to mechanical loading. She is a PhD candidate at the School. Her thesis consists of an investigation of the interaction between chronic pain, physical activity and changes within the fascia network.
Studies include ultrasound imaging of thoracolumbar fascia in a sedentary and athletic population, both with and without lower back pain.
Kyra has presented on the subject of fascia and tissue repair at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court, the European School of Osteopathy and the Third International Fascia Research Congress in Vancouver.
She is a reviewer for the American Journal of Sports Medicine and a member of the School’s Health Research Group.
Loading publications...
Showing of total publications in the Kent Academic Repository. View all publications
