Lorna Mackay: Percussive therapy, pregnancy, football & qualitative research

The Women in Sport & Exercise Academic Network Podcast

Lorna Mackay runs her own business as a personal trainer and Zumba instructor. Her specialist interest lies in the management of chronic pain through the participation in exercise. She is a strong believer in both the physiological and psychological benefits of exercise. Lorna holds an MSc in Applied Sport an Exercise Science; her research considered the effect of Zumba® and ZumbaGold® on non-specific, pre-existing musculoskeletal pain. Lorna is currently a PhD student and is building on her previous research by investigating the effect of integrating percussive therapy into warm ups of strength and conditioning programmes, to improve experiences of chronic non-specific musculoskeletal pain in knees, lumbar spine and shoulders. When Lorna isn’t in the gym or studying, she is out walking her dog in the local countryside.

Topics covered in the podcast:

· PhD research.

· Recent research projects on pregnant women and exercise/COVID-19.

· The European Women in Sport (E-WinS) project on women’s football: Insights and findings.

· Skills learnt in conducting interviews with women.

· Perspectives as a more mature student. Words of wisdom/advice for others who are contemplating starting a research career later in life.