Claire Stapleton

Biography

Dr Claire Stapleton graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Sports Science at The University of Birmingham (1993-1996) before qualifying as a Chartered Physiotherapist at Coventry University (1997-2000, BSc (Hons), First Class). Claire’s background combines experience from both academic and clinical roles specialising in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. She worked at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS trust specialising in musculoskeletal physiotherapy before accepting a lectureship in Sports Therapy at The University of Hertfordshire. Claire completed a post-graduate certificate in Health Research at Leeds University (2005) and later undertook her PhD at Liverpool John Moores University with research on the mechanisms, and diagnosis, of vascular compression syndromes at the shoulder (2009). She was awarded the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists Robert Williams International Award and an Educational award to fund the completion and dissemination of her research. She held a post-doctoral research post at the University of Salford for an NIHR Health Technology Assessment funded project involving biomechanical gait laboratory data collection and analysis. In 2013, Claire joined Keele in the School of Allied Health Professions as a Lecturer and promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2021.

Whilst undertaking her PhD Claire set-up and managed her own private sports injury clinic based at Liverpool John Moores University. She has provided physiotherapy support for Olympic and Paralympic athletes funded by the English Institute of Sport, elite athletes in higher or further education funded by the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) and Liverpool John Moores University sport scholarship students. Related sports injury experience includes: the Commonwealth Games (Manchester 2002) and the World Transplant Games (Leicester 2002).

Research and scholarship

Claire’s specialist clinical interest focuses on haemodynamics and screening for risk of cervical artery dysfunction with work disseminated both nationally and internationally. She leads the development and implementation of the evaluation, evidence and research theme within pre-registration health profession curriculums which was showcased in a Council of Deans of Health publication. She is a keen advocate for the implementation of digital healthcare and the development of digital literacy in student health professionals and is recognised for her innovative applications to engage learners with technology by work presented on national and international platforms, a Keele Excellence Award and a Keele Teaching Innovation award.

Claire is currently Programme Director for the MSc (pre-registration) Physiotherapy, an Education representative for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and the School’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead.

Claire's research expertise:

Screening for injury prevention
Screening for risk of harm (in particular, vascular conditions associated with cervical spine manual therapy)
Haemodynamics
Health inequalities/Digital exclusion/Digital literacy

Selected Publications

Lefroy J, Bialan J, Moult A, Hay F, Stapleton C, Thompson J, Mustafa N, Diggory C, Farrington J, Aynsley S, Jacklin S, Winterton A, Cope N. Training healthcare professionals to be ready for practice in an era of social distancing: A realist evaluation. Research Square, vol. preprint. doi> full text>
Gough Z and Stapleton C. Characteristics of headache in vertebral artery dissections. link> doi> full text>
Pickford H and Stapleton C. Physiotherapists’ identification and knowledge of Cervical Artery Dysfunction. link> doi> full text>
Davies N, Firth P, Stapleton C. The beliefs, behaviours and knowledge of health profession students towards the role of physical activity. doi> link> full text>
Stapleton C. Student-generated video creation for the assessment of communication skills. full text>

Full Publications Listshow

Journal Articles

Lefroy J, Bialan J, Moult A, Hay F, Stapleton C, Thompson J, Mustafa N, Diggory C, Farrington J, Aynsley S, Jacklin S, Winterton A, Cope N. Training healthcare professionals to be ready for practice in an era of social distancing: A realist evaluation. Research Square, vol. preprint. doi> full text>
Philp F, Blana D, Chadwick EK, Stewart C, Stapleton C, Major K, Pandyan AD. 2018. Study of the measurement and predictive validity of the Functional Movement Screen. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med, e000357, vol. 4(1). link> doi> full text>
Prenton S, Kenney LP, Stapleton C, Cooper G, Reeves ML, Heller BW, Sobuh M, Barker AT, Healey J, Good TR, Thies SB, Howard D, Williamson T. 2014. Feasibility study of a take-home array-based functional electrical stimulation system with automated setup for current functional electrical stimulation users with foot-drop. Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 1870-1877, vol. 95(10). link> doi>
Stapleton CH, Elias J, Green DJ, Cable NT, George KP. 2010. Arterial compression during overhead throwing: a risk for arterial injury?. Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, 1259-1266, vol. 36(8). doi>
Stapleton C, Herrington L, George K. 2009. Sonographic evaluation of the subclavian artery during thoracic outlet syndrome shoulder manoeuvres. Man Ther, 19-27, vol. 14(1). link> doi>
Stapleton CH, Green DG, Cable NT, George KP. 2009. Flow mediated dilation and intima media thickness of the brachial and axillary arteries in individuals with and without inducible axillary artery compression. Ultrasound in medicine & biology, 1443-1451, vol. 35(9). doi>
Stapleton C, Scott MA, Atkinson G. 2009. The 'so what' factor: statistical versus cinical significance. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE, 773-774, vol. 30(11). link> doi>
Stapleton C, Herrington L, George K. 2008. Sonographic evaluation of the axillary artery during simulated overhead throwing arm positions. Phys Ther Sport, 126-135, vol. 9(3). link> doi>
Stapleton CH, Herrington L, George K. 2008. Anterior translation at the glenohumeral joint: a cause of axillary artery compression?. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 539-544, vol. 36. doi>

Other

Gough Z and Stapleton C. Characteristics of headache in vertebral artery dissections. link> doi> full text>
Pickford H and Stapleton C. Physiotherapists’ identification and knowledge of Cervical Artery Dysfunction. link> doi> full text>
Davies N, Firth P, Stapleton C. The beliefs, behaviours and knowledge of health profession students towards the role of physical activity. doi> link> full text>
Stapleton C. Student-generated video creation for the assessment of communication skills. full text>
Hart R and Stapleton C. 2019. Dizziness: differential characteristics for patients with vertebral artery dissection, vertebrobasilar insufficiency and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Physiotherapy (p. e207, vol. 105). Elsevier BV. doi>
Jackson R and Stapleton C. Differentiating Characteristics of Atherosclerotic Induced Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency and Vertebral artery Dissection: a systematic review. full text>
Chatting S and Stapleton C. 2016. Clinical identification of cervical artery dissection. Physiotherapy (p. 126, vol. 102). Chartered Society of Physiotherapists. doi>
Lewis M and Stapleton C. 2016. The influence of Anterio-Posterior mobilisation at the cervical spine on vertebral artery blood flow. Manual Therapy (p. e85, vol. 25). Elsevier. doi>
Stapleton C and Lane J. 2016. Statistics. Top Tips. Council for Allied Health Professions Research. Keele and South East Scotland hubs (in collaboration with Dr Judith Lane).
Stapleton C. Learning with e’s: Technology and Professional Identity.
Stapleton C, Bucher C, Ambrose B, Smale T, Waterfield J, Watkins C. The use of animation in physiotherapy education: a focus on professional education and the development of knowledge of professional responsibility.
Stapleton C. Compression at the axillary artery.
Stapleton C, Elias J, Green DJ, Cable NT, George K. The effect of transient axillary artery compression on arterial health in elite overhead athletes.
Stapleton C. 2009. Arterial compression syndromes at the shoulder. Part one: An overview.
Stapleton C. 2009. Arterial compression syndromes at the shoulder. Part two: Diagnostic arm manoevres.
Stapleton C, Green DJ, Cable NT, George K. Endothelial function in active individuals with and without inducible axillary artery compression.
Stapleton C, Green DJ, Cable NT, George KP. Endothelial function in active individuals with and without inducible axillary artery compression. Liverpool, UK.
Stapleton C, Herrington L, George KP. Axillary artery changes in normals during diagnostic arm positioning for vascular compression. Proceedings of the 6th International conference on Sport, Leisure and Ergonomics.
Stapleton C, Herrington LC, George KP. Sonographic evaluation of the subclavian artery during thoracic outlet syndrome shoulder manoeuvres. Proceedings of the 15th International Congress of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy. London: Elsevier publishers.
Stapleton C and Brew J. The Upper Limb Tension Test: The effect of lateral rotation on the test response.

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Conference posters 2020

https://youtu.be/zBEOgbGaUWU

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