Neil Light
Senior lecturer in Physiotherapy
About
Neil is the programme coordinator for both BSc and MSc (pre-registration) Physiotherapy. He has a special interest in lower-limb musculoskeletal injury management and has a background in Sports Physiotherapy. Neil is a Chartered Physiotherapist who joined Chichester in 2012 from Exeter City Football Club where he held the position of Head Physiotherapist. He is currently pursuing a PhD investigating hip and groin injuries in professional youth footballers. Prior to this, Neil has lectured at Hartpury University and the University of Salford.
Professional
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP)
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC): #PH91009​
- 2003-2006, BSc Sports Rehabilitation: University of Salford:
- 2007-2008, MSc Physiotherapy (pre-registration): Manchester Metropolitan University
- 2009-2010, PG Cert in Higher Ed: University of West of England
Key Publications
Academic journal papers:
Light, N, Gimpel, M, Sparks, S, Bowen, L, Bruce-Low, S and Hughes-Jones, Z (2018) Associations between Adductor Strength; Flexibility and Self-Reported Symptoms in Elite Professional Footballers: A case series. Science and Medicine in Football. doi: 10.1080/24733938.2018.1501159
Light, N. (2018) The effect of acute match play loading on hip adductor strength & flexibility in soccer players. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. doi: 10.23736/S0022-4707.18.08194-X [Epub ahead of pri
Light, N., Smith, N A., Delahunt, E and Thorborg, K. (2018) Hip and groin injury management in English youth football: A survey of 64 professional academies. Science and Medicine in Football, 2 (2). pp. 133-140. doi.org/10.1080/24733938.2018.1441536
Light, N & Thorborg, K. (2016). The precision and torque production of common hip adductor squeeze tests used in elite football. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 19 (11)
Industry publications:
Light, N. (2016). Why research should focus on youth hip and groin pain. Football Medic and Scientist. Issue 17 29-31.
Conference contributions:
Light, N; Delahunt, E; Smith, N & Thorborg, K. Academy football survey of hip / groin injury management. FMS conference Barcelona, May 2017
Light, N & Clark, R. Adductor squeeze workshop IOC injury prevention conference Monaco, March 2017
Light, N & Thorborg, K. Adductor squeeze testing in soccer: precision, torque production and implications for screening. Oral presentation at International Sports Science & Sports Medicine conference. Newcastle, UK.
Long, C & Light, N. (2016). Adductor longus activation during two common hip adduction exercises. Poster presented at the International Sports Science & Sports Medicine conference. Newcastle, UK.
Light, N & Ritson, D. (2014). The use of Sacroiliac belts in the management of hip and groin injury. Poster presented at the 1st World conference on groin pain in athletes. Doha, Qatar.
Light, N. (2009) Career ending injuries & implications for practitioners. Poster presented at the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports Medicine conference. Leeds, UK
Research
Special interest in youth football injury and hip / groin injury
Delivered staff CPD workshops and consultancy work at various football clubs including Manchester City FC, Bristol City FC, Brentford FC, Brighton & Hove Albion FC, Portsmouth FC and Nottingham Forest FC.
External funding award sources: Defence Human Capability Science and Technology Centre – Measurement of leisure and occupational physical activity exposure during in UK Armed Forces personnel (collaboration with Loughborough University and Mark Rayson Consulting Ltd). £91,000. (2015)
Research Output
Articles
Light, N., Johnson, A., Williams, S., Smith, N. A., Hale, B. J. and Thorborg, K. (2021) Injuries in youth football and the relationship to player maturation: an analysis of time-loss injuries during four seasons in an English elite male football academy. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 31. pp. 1324-1335. ISSN 0905-7188 10.1111/sms.13933
Light, N., Gimpel, M., Sparks, S., Bowen, L., Bruce-Low, S. and Hughes-Jones, Z. (2018) Associations between Adductor Strength; Flexibility and Self-Reported Symptoms in Elite Professional Footballers: A case series. Science and Medicine in Football. pp. 1-6. ISSN 2473-3938 10.1080/24733938.2018.1501159
Light, N. (2018) The effect of acute match play loading on hip adductor strength & flexibility in soccer players. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. ISSN 0022-4707 10.23736/S0022-4707.18.08194-X
Light, N., Smith, N. A., Delahunt, E. and Thorborg, K. (2018) Hip and groin injury management in English youth football: A survey of 64 professional academies. Science and Medicine in Football, 2 (2). pp. 133-140. ISSN 2473-3938 10.1080/24733938.2018.1441536
Light, N. and Thorborg, K. (2016) The precision and torque production of common hip adductor squeeze tests used in elite football. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 19 (11). pp. 888-892. ISSN 1440-2440 10.1016/j.jsams.2015.12.009
Light, N. (2016) Why research should focus on youth hip & groin pain. Football medic and scientist, 17. pp. 29-31.
Conference or Workshop Items
Light, N. (2019) Monitoring player groin health: An evidence based (realistic) approach. In: Bristol City FC CPD event, 27 Mar 2019, Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol UK. (Unpublished)
Light, N. (2017) Hip & groin injury management in professional English youth football: A survey of 64 academies. In: XXVI International conference on sports rehabilitation and traumatology: The future of football medicine, 13-15 May 2017, Nou Camp Stadium: Barcelona. (Unpublished)
Light, N. and Clark, R. (2017) Comparing Adductor Squeeze Tests: Detection = Prevention. In: IOC world conference: Prevention of illness and injury in sport, 16-18 March 2017, Monaco. (Unpublished)
Light, N. and Long, C. (2016) Adductor longus activation during two common hip adduction exercises. In: International Sports Science and Sports Medicine Conference, 31 August - 2 September 2016, Newcastle, UK.
Light, N. and Ritson, D. (2014) An initial investigation into the influence of Sacroiliac belt application on groin injury related clinical measures. In: 1st world conference on groin pain in athletes, 3-5 November 2014, Doha, Qatar. (Unpublished)
Other
Light, N. (2017) Letter of consultancy work with Brentford FC. C/o Brentford Football Club, London, UK. (Unpublished)
Light, N. (2017) Letter of consultancy work with MCFC academy. C/o Manchester City Academy, Manchester. (Unpublished)
Other department members
Amber Chafe
Lecturer in Sports Therapy
