Staff Profile
Zoe Dawson
Lecturer
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I am a Graduate Sports Therapist from the University of Gloucestershire and a proud member of the Society of Sports Therapists. I completed my MSc in Strength and Conditioning at Leeds Beckett University in 2019, further deepening my understanding of performance and rehabilitation through an evidence-based lens.
My professional journey has taken me across a variety of settings - from the pitch to the clinic. I’ve worked in team sport environments, including men’s and women’s rugby league and rugby union, providing hands-on support in injury prevention, acute care, and return-to-play strategies. I’ve also practiced in private clinics and corporate health settings, treating a wide range of musculoskeletal issues in people from all walks of life.
One of the most formative parts of my career was working for five years in the NHS within a musculoskeletal (MSK) department. There, I collaborated with advanced practitioners, physiotherapists, and orthopaedic surgeons, supporting patients through rehabilitation and helping them regain movement, function, and confidence. It was incredibly rewarding to see how our work directly improved people’s quality of life and it’s what gave me a lasting passion for sports therapy as a career.
I truly believe that the skills we develop as sports therapists - assessment, hands-on treatment, rehabilitation planning, and person-centred care, have value that reaches far beyond sport. They are equally relevant and transferable across broader health, wellbeing, and performance fields.
Now, in teaching, I want to share that passion and real-world perspective with students. I bring energy, honesty, and support to the classroom and clinic, giving students a sense of what this profession can really offer and helping them shape their own path forward.
- School – School of Science, Technology and Health
- Email – z.dawson@yorksj.ac.uk
Further information
Teaching
I teach predominantly on the BSc (Hons) Sports and Exercise Therapy degree, a programme developed in collaboration with the Society of Sports Therapists (SST) and external industry partners. This course equips students with the clinical knowledge, scientific understanding, and practical skills required to work confidently in a variety of sport and exercise injury settings.
Sports and exercise therapy is a dynamic area of healthcare that applies sport science and medical principles to prevent injuries and rehabilitate individuals to their optimal level of functional, occupational, or sports-specific fitness - regardless of age or ability.
As an educator, I genuinely love to teach and take the time to get to know my students, so I can work with them to bring out the best in everything we do. My approach is blended and student-centred, combining traditional theory and hands-on practical sessions with online platforms that support learning beyond the classroom. I aim to break down complex theory in different ways to suit a range of learning styles and abilities, making the content more accessible and meaningful.
In practical sessions and seminars, I strive to create a fun, inclusive, and interactive learning environment where students feel supported, challenged, and confident in applying their skills.
Alongside the rest of the course team, I support students to become practitioners who:
- Maintain high standards of professional performance.
- Deliver person-centred care.
- Solve complex injury-related problems using an evidence-informed, interdisciplinary approach.
- Make sound clinical decisions.
- Collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
I contribute to a wide range of modules, including:
- Introduction to Sports and Exercise Therapy.
- Introduction to Strength and Conditioning.
- Management of Sport and Exercise Trauma and Illness.
- Assessment of Sport and Exercise Injuries.
- Rehabilitation, Reconditioning and Return to Sport.
- Peripheral Joint Treatment and Management.
- Vertebral Joint Assessment, Treatment and Management.
- Contemporary Sport and Exercise Therapy Practice.
Research
I am an active member of two research groups: PAtCH (Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health) and InSPIRe (Interdisciplinary sports performance and injury research).
As part of the PAtCH research group, I am currently undertaking a PhD exploring activity levels in individuals with osteoarthritis and how these relate to cardiovascular health. This area of research was sparked by my time working in the NHS musculoskeletal services, where I supported patients with osteoarthritis daily. It became clear to me how important it is to help this population not only move more, but sit less, to improve their overall health and quality of life.
So far, I have completed three of the four studies that make up my PhD. These include a systematic review (which is now published), a comparative study on activity and cardiovascular health, and a qualitative exploration of attitudes and beliefs around sedentary behaviour. The next exciting phase of the project involves co-producing educational resources and interventions with people living with osteoarthritis, healthcare professionals, and social prescribers. The goal is to create meaningful, real-world strategies that help reduce sedentary time in this at-risk population.
In addition to this, I am also part of the InSPIRe research group, which, though still in its early stages, is rapidly growing in scope and impact. Our work has focused on maturation and development in female athletes, leading to several successful publications. We’re also exploring biobanding - the process of grouping athletes by biological rather than chronological age to better understand its implications for injury risk, performance, and long-term athlete development. A recent highlight includes the delivery of a biobanded football tournament, where we collected valuable data, and we're now looking to expand this work into other sports and community settings.
Both strands of my research reflect my commitment to evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and translating research into meaningful outcomes for both clinical and performance populations.
Publications and conferences
Salter, Jamie , Forsdyke, Dale , Dawson, Zoe, Rhymer, Jacob, Walsh, Luke and Mundy, Peter (2025) The influence of athletic profile on acute neuromuscular response to a repeated sprint protocol in youth females: a pilot study. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. (In Press)
Salter, Jamie , Forsdyke, Dale , Dawson, Zoe, Walsh, Luke, Rymer, Jacob and Mundy, Peter (2024) Reliability and sensitivity of using Isometric strength and sprint speed measures in adolescent female athletes. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 39 (4). pp. 418-426.
Dawson, Zoe, Beaumont, Alexander and Carter, Sophie (2023) A systematic review of physical activity and sedentary behaviour patterns in an osteoarthritic population. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 21 (2). pp. 115-133.
Nicholson G, Walker J, Dawson Z, Bissas A, Harris N. Morphological and functional outcomes of operatively treated Achilles tendon ruptures. Phys Sportsmed. 2020 Sep;48(3):290-297. doi: 10.1080/00913847.2019.1685364. Epub 2019 Nov 7. PMID: 31662010.
