Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ

Dr Tom Maden-Wilkinson

  1. About us
  2. Our people
  3. Staff profiles
  4. Dr Tom Maden-Wilkinson

Dr Tom Maden-Wilkinson PhD, FHEA

Senior Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ Fellow


Summary

My area of expertise lies in skeletal muscle physiology, in particular the importance of muscle mass, strength and function, the underpinning physiological mechanisms that control these and how these can be manipulated to benefit human performance and maximise resilience.

My research has 2 strands within this expertise, 1. Application within elite sport and 2. Application with Clinical Musculoskeletal Health. Whilst these 2 contexts appear at opposite ends, the strategies in understanding maximising performance from elite settings has comparable characteristics with the performance of activities of daily living as we get older and being resilient to acute changes such as falls, surgery or COVID-19.

About

My research focus is on skeletal muscle physiology, in particular the importance of muscle mass, strength and function, the underpinning physiological mechanisms that control these and how these can be manipulated to benefit human performance and maximise resilience.

My research has 2 strands within this expertise,

  • 1. Application with Clinical Musculoskeletal Health and
  • 2. Application within elite sport

Musculoskeletal Health

My main research interest lies in the promotion and implementation of resistance training in older adults and people with long term conditions.

I co-created the Strength4Life programme alongside colleagues in the department and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals to deliver community strength training classes aimed at over 55’s. Strength4Life was formed based there is inadequate provision for strength training aimed at this group and poor knowledge from associated practitioners. The programme embeds student work placements, projects and internships , alongside an active social media presence; podcast and educational series.

Application of knowledge from Sports Science and Elite Sport and application into clinical populations including Stroke, Arthritis, Peripheral Vascular Disease, Cancer and Long COVID. This include using strategies in understanding maximising performance from elite settings has comparable characteristics with the performance of activities of daily living as we get older and being resilient to acute changes.This work has led to working alongside the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy on their strength training campaigns and a recent role as part of the national falls prevention group.

Elite Sport

My work within elite sport has been understanding the role of muscle mass and strength, muscle mass distribution and muscle architecture for performance and injury risk. This has typically involved imaging techniques such as MRI, pQCT, DXA and Ultrasound alongside strength measurements.

My work in elite sport has led to publications alongside colleagues from English Institute of Sport, Lawn Tennis Association, British Cycling, High Performance Centre of Japan Cycling, Royal Dutch Cycling Federation and Sheffield United FC.

Specialist areas of interest

Musculoskeletal Physiology
Explosive Strength Performance
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Ultrasound
Ageing

Teaching

School of Sport and Physical Activity

College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences

Subject area

- Physical Activity
- Sport and Exercise Science

Courses

- MSc Strength and Conditioning
- MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Science
- BSc Sport and Exercise Science
- BSc Physical Activity and Health

Modules

- Exercise and Health
- Physiology and Nutrition for Sport and Exercise Performance
- Applied Physiology for Sports Performance
- Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ Project
- Science of Strength and Conditioning

Publications

Journal articles

Owen, R., Ashton, R.E., Bewick, T., Copeland, R.J., Ferraro, F.V., Kennerley, C., ... Faghy, M.A. (2025). . Journal of global health, 15.

Balshaw, T.G., McDermott, E.J., Massey, G.J., Hartley, C., Kong, P.W., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Folland, J. (2024). Smaller Biceps Femoris Aponeurosis Size in Legs with a History of Hamstring Strain Injury. International journal of sports medicine, 45 (13), 871-883.

Sconce, E., Heller, B., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Hamilton, N. (2024). . Sport Sciences for Health.

Balshaw, T.G., Massey, G.J., Miller, R., McDermott, E.J., Maden-Wilkinson, T.M., & Folland, J.P. (2024). . Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985), 137 (4), 789-799.

Parkington, T., Broom, D., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Nawaz, S., & Klonizakis, M. (2024). . Vascular.

Tong, L., Gentle, J., Harms, A., Chau, H., Shahin, S., Phan, U., ... Semciw, A.I. (2024). . Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 32, S233-S234.

Balshaw, T.G., Funnell, M.P., McDermott, E., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Massey, G.J., Abela, S., ... Folland, J.P. (2023). . Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 55 (11), 2083-2095.

Parkington, T., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Broom, D., Nawaz, S., & Klonizakis, M. (2023). . Vascular Medicine, 28 (6), 554-563.

McDermott, E., Balshaw, T.G., Brooke-Wavell, K., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Folland, J. (2023). . Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports.

Balshaw, T.G., Funnell, M.P., McDermott, E., Maden-Wilkinson, T.M., Abela, S., Quteishat, B., ... Folland, J.P.P. (2023). The effect of specific bioactive collagen peptides on function and muscle remodeling during human resistance training. Acta Physiologica, 237 (4).

Balshaw, T.G., Funnell, M.P., McDermott, E., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Abela, S., Quteishat, B., ... Folland, J.P. (2022). . Acta Physiologica, 237 (4).

Bell, L., Ruddock, A., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Rogerson, D. (2022). . Applied Sciences, 12 (24).

Parkington, T., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Klonizakis, M., & Broom, D. (2022). . International Journal of Environmental Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ and Public Health, 19 (23).

Mc Dermott, E.J., Balshaw, T.G., Brooke-Wavell, K., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Folland, J.P. (2022). . European Journal of Applied Physiology, 122 (7), 1639-1655.

Chiu, C.-.Y., Dunn, M., Heller, B., Churchill, S., & Maden-Wilkinson, T. (2022). . Obesity Science and Practice.

Fowler Davis, S., Humphreys, H., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Withers, S., Lowe, A., & Copeland, R. (2022). . Healthcare, 10 (6).

Bell, L., Ruddock, A., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Rogerson, D. (2022). . Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 4.

Faghy, M.A., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Arena, R., Copeland, R.J., Owen, R., Hodgkins, H., & Willmott, A. (2022). . Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine.

Ashton, R., Ansdell, P., Hume, E., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Ryan, D., Tuttiett, E., & Faghy, M. (2022). . Reviews in cardiovascular medicine, 23 (2).

Ashton, R., Ansdell, P., Hume, E., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Ryan, D., Tuttiett, E., & Faghy, M. (2022). . Reviews in cardiovascular medicine, 23 (2).

Balshaw, T.G., Massey, G.J., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Lanza, M.B., & Folland, J.P. (2022). . Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports.

Fowler-Davis, S., Young, R., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Hameed, W., Dracas, E., Hurrell, E., ... Copeland, R. (2021). . International Journal of Environmental Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ and Public Health, 18 (24).

Sconce, E., Heller, B., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Hamilton, N. (2021). . Journal of Sports Sciences.

Skarabot, J., Balshaw, T., Maeo, S., Massey, G., Bahia-Lanza, M., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Folland, J. (2021). . Journal of Applied Physiology.

Darabseh, M., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Welbourne, G., Wust, R., Ahmed, N., Aushah, H., ... Degens, H. (2021). . Scientific Reports, 11.

Bell, L., Ruddock, A., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Hembrough, D., & Rogerson, D. (2021). . Sports, 9 (6), 85.

Maden-Wilkinson, T., Balshaw, T., Massey, G., & Folland, J. (2021). . European Journal of Applied Physiology, 121, 1099-1110.

Balshaw, T.G., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Massey, G.J., & Folland, J.P. (2021). . Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

Kordi, M., Parker-Simpson, L., Thomas, K., Goodall, S., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Menzies, C., & Howatson, G. (2021). . International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance.

Sconce, E., Heller, B., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Hamilton, N. (2021). . Frontiers in Sport and Active Living, 3, 629606.

Faghy, M.A., Arena, R., Stoner, L., Haraf, R.H., Josephson, R., Hills, A.P., ... Ashton, R.E.M. (2021). . Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases.

Faghy, M.A., Brown, P.I., Davis, N.M., Mayes, J.P., & Maden-Wilkinson, T. (2021). . European Journal of Applied Physiology, 121 (1), 183-191.

Faghy, M.A., Ashton, R.E., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Copeland, R., Bewick, T., Smith, A., & Loosemore, M. (2020). . The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 8 (9), 852.

Bell, L., Ruddock, A., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Rogerson, D. (2020). . Journal of Sports Sciences.

Maden-Wilkinson, T.M., Balshaw, T.G., Massey, G., & Folland, J.P. (2019). . Journal of Applied Physiology.

Kordi, M., Folland, J., Goodall, S., Haralabidis, N., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Patel, T.S., ... Howatson, G. (2019). . Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports.

Behan, F.P., Moody, R., Patel, T.S., Lattimore, E., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Balshaw, T.G. (2019). . Journal of Sports Sciences, 37 (21), 2452-2458.

Hattersley, C., Hembrough, D., Khan, K., Picken, A., Rumbold, J., & Maden-Wilkinson, T. (2019). . Professional strength & conditioning, (53), 11-16.

Balshaw, T.G., Massey, G.J., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Lanza, M.B., & Folland, J.P. (2018). . Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 29 (3), 348-359.

McPhee, J.S., Cameron, J., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Piasecki, M., Yap, M.H., Jones, D.A., & Degens, H. (2018). . The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 73 (10), 1287-1294.

Massey, G., Balshaw, T., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Tillin, N., & Folland, J. (2018). . Frontiers in Physiology, 9 (SEP).

Massey, G.J., Balshaw, T.G., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Folland, J.P. (2018). . Acta Physiologica, 222 (4), e13019.

Behan, F.P., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Pain, M.T.G., & Folland, J. (2018). . PLoS ONE, 13 (1), e0190903.

Coulson, J., Bagley, L., Barnouin, Y., Bradburn, S., Butler-Browne, G., Gapeyeva, H., ... McPhee, J.S. (2017). . Osteoporosis International, 28 (9), 2683-2689.

Balshaw, T.G., Massey, G.J., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Folland, J.P. (2017). . European Journal of Applied Physiology, 117 (6), 1275-1276.

Balshaw, T.G., Fry, A., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Kong, P.W., & Folland, J.P. (2017). . European journal of applied physiology, 117 (6), 1085-1094.

Massey, G.J., Balshaw, T.G., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Tillin, N.A., & Folland, J.P. (2017). . Experimental Physiology, 102 (4), 448-461.

Balshaw, T.G., Massey, G.J., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Morales-Artacho, A.J., McKeown, A., Appleby, C.L., & Folland, J.P. (2017). . European Journal of Applied Physiology, 117 (4), 631-640.

Balshaw, T.G., Massey, G.J., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Tillin, N.A., & Folland, J.P. (2016). . Journal of Applied Physiology, 120 (11), 1364-1373.

Ireland, A., Degens, H., Ganse, B., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Wilks, D.C., & Rittweger, J. (2015). . Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, 3 (3), 142-151.

Maden-Wilkinson, T., McPhee, J.S., Jones, D.A., & Degens, H. (2015). . Journal of aging and physical activity, 23 (3), 352-360.

Mcphee, J.S., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Narici, M.V., Jones, D.A., & Degens, H. (2014). . Muscle & Nerve, 50 (3), 393-400.

Sillanpää, E., Stenroth, L., Bijlsma, A.Y., Rantanen, T., McPhee, J.S., Maden-Wilkinson, T., ... Sipilä, S. (2014). . Age, 36 (4), 9667.

Ireland, A., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Ganse, B., Degens, H., & Rittweger, J. (2014). . Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA, 25 (4), 1389-1400.

Maden-Wilkinson, T., McPhee, J.S., Rittweger, J., Jones, D.A., & Degens, H. (2014). . Age, 36 (1), 383-393.

Maden-Wilkinson, T., Degens, H., Jones, D.A., & Mcphee, J.S. (2013). . Journal of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions, 13 (3), 320-328.

Maden-Wilkinson, T., Degens, H., Jones, D.A., & McPhee, J.S. (2013). . Journal of musculoskeletal & neuronal interactions, 13 (3), 320-8.

Ireland, A., Maden-Wilkinson, T., McPhee, J., Cooke, K., Narici, M., Degens, H., & Rittweger, J. (2013). . Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 45 (9), 1749-58.

Degens, H., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Ireland, A., Korhonen, M.T., Suominen, H., Heinonen, A., ... Rittweger, J. (2013). . Age, 35 (3), 1007-1015.

McPhee, J.S., Hogrel, J.-.Y., Maier, A.B., Seppet, E., Seynnes, O.R., Sipilä, S., ... Jones, D.A. (2013). . Biogerontology, 14 (3), 325-37.

Ireland, A., Maden-Wilkinson, T., McPhee, J., Cooke, K., Narici, M., Degens, H., & Rittweger, J. (n.d.). . Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 45 (9), 1749-1758.

Fowler-Davis, S., Young, R., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Hameed, W., Dracas, E., Hurrell, E., ... Copeland, R. (n.d.). Assessing the Acceptability of a Co-produced Long COVID Intervention in an Underserved Community in the UK. .

Conference papers

Parkington, T., Broom, D., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Nawaz, S., Shahzad, N., & Klonizakis, M. (2024). . European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, 67 (3), e48-e49.

Kirk, C., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Childs, C. (2023). Pilot Pupillometry Data Examining The Effects Of Mixed Martial Arts Sparring On Autonomic Brain Function. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 55 (9S), 489-490.

Kirk, C., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Childs, C. (2023). Pilot data of the effects of mixed martial arts sparring on autonomic brain function (Oral presentation and abstract). In ECSS Annual Congress 2023, Paris, 4 July 2023 - 7 July 2023.

Shafizadeh, M., Mucklow, C., Marsh, G., Churchill, S., Penitente, G., Jones, L., ... Fielding-Lloyd, B. (2023). . In Annual Conference of Teaching and Learning, Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ.

Faghy, M.A., Ashton, R.E.M., Owen, R., Yates, J., Thomas, C., Maden-Wilkinson, T., ... Bewick, T. (2022). P227 Reduced respiratory muscle strength, lung function, and functional status and symptomology in patients referred to Long COVID clinics, an observational cohort analysis. ‘Endgame’ – Long term impacts of COVID-19, A205.1-A205.

Parkington, T., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Klonizakis, M., & Broom, D. (2021). . In British Society of Gerontology annual conference, Lancaster, UK, 7 July 2021 - 9 July 2021.

Ali, A., Delchev, K., Nichols, S., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Kudierski, N., Baig, S., ... Majid, A. (2020). PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE AND PERCEIVED EXERTION DURING RECUMBENT AEROBIC CYCLING FOLLOWING ACUTE STROKE. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STROKE, 15 (1_SUPPL), 212.

Mc Dermott, E.J., Balshaw, T.G., Brooke-Wavell, K., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Folland, J.P. (2020). . Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 52 (7S), 946.

McDermott, E., Balshaw, T., Brooke-Wavell, K., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Folland, J. (2019). Neuromechanics of different resistance training contractions in older adults. In British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences.

Howatson, G., Kordi, M., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Folland, J. (2019). Physiological determinants of peak power output in elite cyclists. In American College of Sports Medicine.

Behan, F., Maden-Wilkinson, T.M., Pain, M.T.G., & Folland, J.P. (2016). . Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 48 (5), 388.

Balshaw, T.G., Massey, G.J., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Tillin, N.A., & Folland, J.P. (2016). . Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 48 (5S), 452.

Hattersley, C., Khan, K., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Hembrough, D. Strength for Life. In Scottish Physical Activity Conference 2020.

Maden-Wilkinson, T., Balshaw, T., Massey, G., & Folland, J.P. What makes strong, highly trained individuals so strong? A comparison of skeletal muscle morphology, architecture and joint mechanics between untrained and long term strength trained individuals. In European Congress in Sports Science.

Balshaw, T., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Massey, G., & Folland, J. Re-examining the Strength-Size Relationship of Skeletal Muscle. European Congress of Sports Science. In European Congress in Sports Science.

Maden-Wilkinson, T., Balshaw, T., Massey, G., & Folland, J. What makes strong, highly trained individuals so strong? A comparison of skeletal muscle morphology, architecture and joint mechanics between untrained and long-term strength trained individuals. In BASES.

Balshaw, T.G., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Kong, P.W., Massey, G., & Folland, J.P. Biceps femoris long head proximal aponeurosis and muscle anatomy in athletes susceptible to hamstrings strain injury: a retrospective injury study. In Sport Kongres.

Maden-Wilkinson, T., Balshaw, T.G., & Folland, J.P. Morphological determinants of Explosive Strength. In ECSS.

Massey, G., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Folland, J.P. Tendon size and stiffness:influence of short-term and chronic strength training? In ECSS.

Behan, F., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Pain, M., & Folland, J. Sex differences in Hamstrings to Quadriceps muscle volume ratio. In ACSM.

Balshaw, T.G., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Massey, G., & Folland, J.P. 12-Weeks of explosive strength training increases both maximal and explosive voluntary torque production. In ACSM.

Maden-Wilkinson, T., Moody, R., Behan, F., Folland, J., & Balshaw, T.G. Sex differences in human eccentric hamstring strength and Biceps Femoris long head architecture. In Biomedical Basis for Elite Performance.

Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Bramley, L. Variance of microcycle and mesocycle training intensity and injury risk in elite football: Comparison between Senior and U18 squads. In Stats Sports Conference.

Maden-Wilkinson, T., Balshaw, T.G., & Folland, J.P. Neural and morphological contributions to the individual changes in explosive and maximal strength following a 12-week training intervention period. In Biomedical Basis of Elite Performance.

Massey, G., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Tillin, N., Balshaw, T.G., & Folland, J.P. Do muscle-tendon unit and patellar tendon stiffness influence explosive strength in man? In Biomedical Basis for Elite Performance.

Maden-Wilkinson, T., Massey, G., Balshaw, T., & Folland, J.P. Differential tendinous tissue adaptations after conventional vs explosive strength training. In ECSS.

McPhee, J., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Narici, M., & Degens, H. Skeletal muscle fatigue: effects of age, sex and pattern of muscle activation. In The Biomedical Basis of Elite Performance (London).

Maden-Wilkinson, T., McPhee, J.S., Jones, D.A., Rittweger, J., & Degens, H. Muscle:bone ratio as an intra-individual indicator of sarcopaenia. In Physiological Society.

McPhee, J.S., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Degens, H. Loss of skeletal muscle power in older men is due to loss of muscle mass, specific force and speed of contraction. In Physiological Society.

McPhee, J.S., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Degens, H. Use of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and magnetic resonance imaging techniques to determine skeletal muscle size in humans. In Physiological Society.

McPhee, J.S., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Degens, H. Superior skeletal muscle fatigue resistance in old compared with young adult humans during sustained but not during intermittent contractions. In Physiological Society.

McPhee, J., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Campbell, E.-.L., & Degens, H. Skeletal muscle size, strength and ‘quality’ in untrained young and elderly men, and in elderly athletes. In ECSS.

Reports

Hattersley, C., Hembrough, D., Khan, K., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Rumbold, J. (2020). Managing the transition into retirement for elite athletes. UKSCA Professional Journal.

Hattersley, C., Khan, K., Hembrough, D., & Maden-Wilkinson, T. (2020). Clinical narrative: The role of muscular strength in recovery from hip fracture. Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

Hattersley, C., Hembrough, D., Kahn, K., & Maden-Wilkinson, T. (2019). 2. Implementing Digital Learning Methods to Provide Continuing Professional Development in Physiotherapy. Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

Theses / Dissertations

Bell, L. (2025). Overreaching and Overtraining in Strength Sports and Resistance Exercise Training. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Rogerson, D., Ruddock, A., & Maden-Wilkinson, T.

Bell, L. (2025). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Rogerson, D., Ruddock, A., & Maden-Wilkinson, T.

Kennerley, C. (2024). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Maden-Wilkinson, T., O'Hagan, C., Rogerson, D., & Broom, D.

Parkington, T. (2022). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Klonizakis, M., Broom, D., & Maden-Wilkinson, T.

Maden-Wilkinson, T. (2013). Age Related changes in skeletal muscle mass and function. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Degens, H., McPhee, J., & Jones, D.A.

Internet Publications

Maden-Wilkinson, T. (2020). Hamstring Strain injuries: What are they? How can we recover from them and come back bigger, stronger and more resilient?

Posters

Bugg, A., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Carter, A., Humphreys, H., & Nichols, S. (2023). A Cross-Sectional Study to Assess the Prevalence of Poor Sarcopenia Specific Quality of Life in Mid-Life Adults. Presented at: International Sarcopenia Translational Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ Conference, Newcastle University, 2023

Other publications

Lowe, A., Bullas, A., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Hembrough, D. (2020). . Public Health England/Move More Sheffield:

Lowe, A., Bullas, A., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Hembrough, D. (2020). . Public Health England/Move More Sheffield:

Other activities

National Falls Prevention Co-Ordination Group.

Postgraduate supervision

On going PhD supervision in areas of muscle physiology, ageing, long term conditions.

Cancel event

Are you sure you want to cancel your place on Saturday 12 November?

}