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Dr Penny Hudson

Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Biomechanics

Penny Hudson

About

Dr Penny Hudson is a senior lecturer in sport and exercise biomechanics.  She obtained her undergraduate degree from the Royal Veterinary College, and her PhD from the University of London, on the biomechanics of high speed galloping in the Cheetah.  After finishing her PhD she continued postdoctoral work at the Royal Veterinary College, on a DARPA funded project to inspire fast legged robotic design, working alongside Boston Dynamics.  Penny’s current research interests are in combining her PhD work to influence human sprinting performance and understanding the limits of running speed.  She is also an active trampoline gymnastics coach, and offers biomechanical support to athletes.  She is keen to pursue research in this area.

EDUCATION

2007 – 2011 BBSRC Funded PhD  “ The Structural and Functional specialisations of locomotion in the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

2004 – 2007 BSc (Hons) Bioveterinary Sciences

Professional

Professional memberships

  • Society for Experimental Biology
  • Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
  • Research Fellow for the Zoological Society of Lond

Teaching

SPL103 Anatomy and Kinesiology

Aims: This module aims to introduce students to the basic anatomical and physiological components and biomechanical principles underpinning the practical analysis of human movement. It will also consider the role of analysis in sport and in movement education. It will serve to widen the students’ knowledge base and show the integrative nature of the separate disciplines of physiology and biomechanics; it will also provide a firm basis for work at a higher level in the discipline of biomechanics

SPL300 Independent project

Aims: The independent project provides an opportunity to apply appropriate knowledge, concepts, techniques and research methods of Sport and Exercise Sciences to an in-depth study of a particular question or problem related to sport, exercise or sports therapy. This module aims to foster a greater understanding of the processes to undertake a small scale research project, and marks the culmination of the students learning experience. The study will enable the student to produce a written research report.

MSCBM02 Tissue Mechanics and Assistive Devices

Aims: This module aims to introduce students to the functional limitations of human body tissues and how they are derived from their mechanical properties. It will also consider the role of training in altering tissues function.  We explore the need for modelling to explore the musculoskeletal system as it is performing various tasks and discuss the advances that have aided in the design of both active and passive assisting devices used in sport.

Administration

  • Module co-ordinator for Anatomy and Kinesiology (SPL103) and Tissue mechanics and Assistive Devices (MSCB02).
  • Academic Advisor

Key Publications

P.E. Hudson, S.A. Corr, A.M. Wilson (IN PREP) Mechanical work of high speed galloping in the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and racing greyhound (Canis familiaris)

P.E. Hudson, S.A. Corr, A.M. Wilson (IN PREP) The gearing of galloping in the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and racing greyhound (Canis familiaris)

E.L. Webster, P.E. Hudson, S.B. Channon. (UNDER REVEIW) Functional anatomy of the spinal musculature of a sprint specialist, the racing greyhound (Canis familiaris). Journal of Anatomy

T.G. West, C.N. Toepfer, R.C. Woledge, N.A. Curtin, A. Rowlerson, M.Kalakoutis, P.E. Hudson, A.M. Wilson (2013) Power output of skinned skeletal muscle fibres from the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). Journal of Experimental Biology. 216(15) p 2974-2982.

A.M. Wilson, J. Lowe, K. Roskilly, P.E. Hudson, K. Golabek, J.W. McNutt. (2013) Locomotion Dynamics of hunting in Wild Cheetahs. Nature. 498 (7453), p. 185-189.

P.E. Hudson, S.A. Corr, A.M. Wilson (2012). High speed galloping the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and racing greyhound (Canis familiaris); spatio-temporal and kinetic characteristics. Journal of Experimental Biology. 215: p. 2425-2434.

P.E. Hudson, S.A. Corr, R.C. Payne-Davis, S.N. Clancy, E. Lane, A.M. Wilson (2011). Functional anatomy of the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) hindlimb. Journal of Anatomy. 218(4): p. 363-74.

P.E. Hudson, S.A. Corr, R.C. Payne-Davis, S.N. Clancy, E. Lane, A.M. Wilson (2011). Functional anatomy of the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) forelimb. Journal of Anatomy. 218(4): p. 375-85.

RECENT CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

P.E. Hudson, S.A. Corr, A.M. Wilson (2012) “Gearing of galloping in the cheetah and racing greyhound” Poster presentation at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.

P.E. Hudson, S.A. Corr, A.M. Wilson (2011) “From anatomy to kinematics: how the cheetah achieves such remarkable top speeds” Oral presentation at Duke University, North Carolina, USA.

P.E. Hudson, S.A. Corr, A.M. Wilson (2011) “A Cheetah’s tail of turning” Oral presentation at the Royal Veterinary College Internal Seminar Series, London, UK.

P.E. Hudson, S.A. Corr, A.M. Wilson (2011) “Galloping cheetahs: the challenges of high speed locomotion” Oral presentation at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

P.E. Hudson, S.A. Corr, A.M. Wilson (2010) “Galloping cheetahs: the challenges of high speed locomotion” Oral presentation at Brown University, Rhode Island, USA.

P.E. Hudson, S.A. Corr, A.M. Wilson (2010) “Galloping at high speed: insights from cheetahs and racing greyhounds” Oral presentation at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, USA.

P.E. Hudson, S.A. Corr, A.M. Wilson (2010) “Kinematics and kinetics of galloping in cheetahs and racing greyhounds” Oral presentation at the Society for Experimental Biology Annual Main Meeting, Prague, Czech Republic.

P.E. Hudson, S.A. Corr, A.M. Wilson (2010) “The anatomy of speed insights from the cheetah and racing greyhound” Oral presentation at the British Veterinary Orthopaedic Association Spring Scientific Meeting, Birmingham, UK.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

(2013) “Cheetah tracking study reveals incredible acceleration” BBC News

(2012) “Royal Veterinary College Summer School”

(2012) “GCSE student science outreach day”, Royal Veterinary College

(2011) “Robotville”, Science Museum, London.

(2010) “Inside Natures Giants”, Channel 4 BAFTA award winning series.

(2010) “Animals at work”, CBBC.

(2009) “Speedy cheetahs put through their paces”, BBC News.

(2009) “Running with greyhounds, horses, cheetahs…and dinosaurs”, BBSRC.

(2009) “Michaela’s Animal Road Trip”, Channel 5.

JOURNAL REVIEWER

Mammalian Biology

Research Output

Articles

da Silva, Z., Shield, S., Hudson, P. E., Wilson, A. M., Nicolls, F. and Patel, A. (2024) Markerless 3D kinematics and force estimation in cheetahs. Scientific Reports, 14 (10579). pp. 1-13. ISSN 2045-2322 10.1038/s41598-024-60731-1

Augustus, S. N., Hudson, P. E. and Smith, N. A. (2024) Multiplanar lumbar, pelvis and kick leg sequencing during soccer instep kicking from different approach angles. Journal of Biomechanics, 163. pp. 1-8. ISSN 0021-9290 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111920

Augustus, S., Hudson, P. E. and Smith, N. A. (2022) Defining movement strategies in soccer instep kicking using the relationship between pelvis and kick leg rotations. Sports biomechanics, 39 (1). pp. 1-12. ISSN 1752-6116 10.1080/14763141.2022.2106297

Augustus, S., Hudson, P. E., Harvey, N. and Smith, N. A. (2021) Whole-body energy transfer strategies during football instep kicking: implications for training practices. Sports biomechanics. pp. 1-16. ISSN 1752-6116 10.1080/14763141.2021.1951827

Augustus, S., Hudson, P. E. and Smith, N. A. (2021) The effect of approach velocity on pelvis and kick leg angular momentum conversion strategies during football instep kicking. Journal of Sports Sciences. pp. 1-10. ISSN 0264-0414 10.1080/02640414.2021.1929008

Foster, A., Hudson, P. E. and Smith, N. A. (2020) Quasi-stiffness of the knee joint is influenced by walking on a destabilising terrain. The Knee, 27 (6). pp. 1889-1898. ISSN 0968-0160 10.1016/j.knee.2020.09.019

Augustus, S., Amca, A., Hudson, P. E. and Smith, N. A. (2020) Choice of low-pass filter influences practical interpretation of ball kicking motions: the effect of a time-frequency filter method. Sports Biomechanics. pp. 1-18. ISSN 1476-3141 10.1080/14763141.2020.1805507

Augustus, S., Amca, A., Hudson, P. E. and Smith, N. A. (2020) Improved accuracy of biomechanical motion data obtained during impacts using a time-frequency low-pass filter. Journal of Biomechanics, 101 (109639). pp. 1-5. ISSN 1873-2380 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2020.109639

Webster, E. L., Hudson, P. E. and Channon, S. B. (2014) Comparative functional anatomy of the epaxial musculature of dogs (Canis familiaris) bred for sprinting vs. fighting. Journal of Anatomy, 225 (3). pp. 317-327. ISSN 0021-8782 10.1111/joa.12208

West, T. G., Toepfer, C. N., Woledge, R. C., Curtin, N. A., Rowlerson, A., Kalakoutis, M., Hudson, P. E. and Wilson, A. M. (2013) Power output of skinned skeletal muscle fibres from the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). The Journal of Experimental Biology (JEB), 216. pp. 2974-2982. ISSN 1477-9145 10.1242/​jeb.083667

Wilson, A. M., Lowe, J. C., Roskilly, K., Hudson, P. E., Golabek, K. A. and McNutt, J. W. (2013) Locomotion dynamics of hunting in wild cheetahs. Nature, 498 (7453). pp. 185-189. ISSN 0028-0836 10.1038/nature12295

Hudson, P. E., Corr, S. A. and Wilson, A. M. (2012) High speed galloping in the cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) and the racing greyhound (canis familiaris): Spatio-temporal and kinetic characteristics. The Journal of Experimental Biology (JEB), 215. pp. 2425-2434. ISSN 1477-9145 10.1242/​jeb.066720

Hudson, P. E., Corr, S. A., Payne-Davis, R. C., Clancy, S. N., Lane, E. and Wilson, A. M. (2011) Functional anatomy of the cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) forelimb. Journal of Anatomy, 218 (4). pp. 375-385. ISSN 0021-8782 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2011.01344.x

Hudson, P. E., Corr, S. A., Payne-Davis, R. C., Clancy, S. N., Lane, E. and Wilson, A. M. (2011) Functional anatomy of the cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) hindlimb. Journal of Anatomy, 218 (4). pp. 363-374. ISSN 0021-8782 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2010.01310.x

Other department members

Adrian Penrose
Coach Development Officer (Women & Girl's)
Amber Hartigan
Lecturer in Sports Therapy
Andy Briggs
Physiology Laboratory Technician & Part-Time PhD Student

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