Dr Nicholas Owen

Associate Professor

Sport and Exercise Sciences

n.j.owen@swansea.ac.uk

Academic Office - A112
First Floor
Engineering East
Bay Campus

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7067-8082

ResearchGate

About

Dr Nick Owen is a biomechanist specialising in human biomechanics. His interests lie both in the assessment of human performance and in developing novel instruments for neuromuscular assessment.

Dr Owen’s work has led him to several seemingly disparate areas of investigation. As well as assessing elite athletes for neuromuscular function e.g. strength and conditioning, Dr Owen uses the same techniques for the assessment of coordination in children. One long standing collaboration is with the Mary Rose Trust in which he uses the techniques of biomechanics to investigate the effects of physical activity of bones. He also has a keen interest in various imaging techniques e.g. photogrammetry and DXA scanning and their usefulness to biomechanics.

Areas Of Expertise

Biomechanics
Instrumentation
Neuromuscular assessment
Elite athletes
Force measurement
Heritage biomechanics
DXA
Coordination assessment

Career Highlights

Teaching Interests

SR-142 Introduction to Biomechanics A (1^st year)

SR-305 Sports Biomechanics (final year)

Research Collaborations

Publications

Research Highlights

Winson, D., MacNair, R., Hutchinson, A., Owen, N., Evans, R., & Williams, P. (2021). Delayed Achilles tendon rupture presentation: Non-operative management may be the SMART choice. The Foot, 46, 101724
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foot.2020.101724, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa54942
Kingsley, M., Kilduff, L., & Owen, N. (2009). Complex Training in Professional Rugby Players: Influence of Recovery Time on Upper-Body Power Output. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181b3f269, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa5680
Kingsley, M., Kilduff, L., & Owen, N. (2008). Influence of recovery time on post-activation potentiation in professional rugby players. Journal of Sports Sciences
https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410701784517, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa5684
Kilduff, L. & Owen, N. (2010). Optimal Loading for the Development of Peak Power Output in Professional Rugby Players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181c63c64, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa6235
Kilduff, L. & Owen, N. (2010). Strength and Power Predictors of Swimming Starts in International Sprint Swimmers. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181c8656f, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa6236
Kilduff, L., Owen, N., & Bracken, R. (2011). Effect of Postactivation Potentiation on Swimming Starts in International Sprint Swimmers. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e318201bf7a, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa6237
Kilduff, L. & Owen, N. (2011). Validating Two Systems for Estimating Force and Power. International Journal of Sports Medicine
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0030-1270487, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa6240
Kilduff, L. & Owen, N. (2010). Influence of Postactivation Potentiation on Sprinting Performance in Professional Rugby Players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181c7b68a, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa6245
Kilduff, L., Owen, N., & Bracken, R. (2011). Relationships Between Force–Time Characteristics of the Isometric Midthigh Pull and Dynamic Performance in Professional Rugby League Players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 25(11)
https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0b013e318212dcd5, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa10799
Hughes, G., Watkins, J., Owen, N., & Owen, N. (2010). Differences between the sexes in knee kinetics during landing from volleyball block jumps. European Journal of Sport Science, 10(1), 1-11.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17461390903108117, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa14094
Hughes, G., Watkins, J., Owen, N., & Owen, N. (2008). Gender differences in lower limb frontal plane kinematics during landing. Sports Biomechanics, 7(3), 333-341.
https://doi.org/10.1080/14763140802233215, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa14095
Owen, N., Watkins, J., Kilduff, L., Bevan, H., Bennett, M., & Owen, N. (2014). Development of a Criterion Method to Determine Peak Mechanical Power Output in a Countermovement Jump. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28(6), 1552-1558.
https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000311, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa24265
Mahmoodi, P., Aristodemou, S., Ransing, R., Owen, N., & Friswell, M. (2016). Prosthetic foot design optimisation based on roll-over shape and ground reaction force characteristics. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science
https://doi.org/10.1177/0954406216643110, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa26762
Jones, C., McNarry, M., Owen, N., & Owen, N. (2019). The Effect of Body Size on Countermovement Jump Kinetics in Children aged 7 to 11 years. European Journal of Sport Science, 1-18.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2019.1615557, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa50193
Owen, N., Boston, C., Aldridge, S., Johnston, R., & Loe, L. (2016). Validity of Photogrammetric Osteological Analysis for Sex Traits of Historic Crania. In Proceedings of 18th Annual Conference British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology (pp. 65-66).
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa31318
https://www.kent.ac.uk/sac/events/BABAO_2016/BABAO_Conference_Programme.pdf
Macnair, R., Hutchison, A., Evans, R., Owen, N., Topliss, C., Williams, P., & Owen, N. (2016). Delayed Achilles tendon ruptures. Does non-operative management work?. In Proceedings of the 13th meeting of the combined orthopaedic associations, Cape Town, 2016 (pp. 325-325).
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa31184
http://www.comoc2016.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/COMOC-2016-Abstract-Book_download.pdf
Owen, N. (2015). Normative data for lower limb peak mechanical power in children aged 7 to 11 years old. In Journal of Comorbidity (pp. 93-93). Swiss Medical Press.
https://doi.org/10.15256/joc.2015.5.52, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa20870
http://jcomorbidity.com/index.php/test/about
Shearer, D., Kilduff, L., Finn, C., Jones, R., Bracken, R., Mellalieu, S., Owen, N., Crewther, B., Cook, C., & Owen, N. (2015). Measuring Recovery in Elite Rugby Players: The Brief Assessment of Mood, Endocrine Changes, and Power. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 86(4), 379-386.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2015.1066927, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa22953
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/02701367.2015.1066927#.VdV-FHgk_dk
Owen, N., Mahmoodi, P., & Simon, A. (2015). A computational method of obtaining reliable measurement of periosteal cross-sectional area of human radii from laser scans. In Proceedings of the 23rd UK Conference of the Association for Computational Mechanics in Engineering (pp. 73-76).
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa20806
http://eng-intranet-web.swan.ac.uk/acme2015/ACMEUK2015.pdf
Cunningham, D., West, D., Owen, N., Shearer, D., Finn, C., Bracken, R., Crewther, B., Scott, P., Cook, C., Kilduff, L., Kilduff, L., & Owen, N. (2013). Strength and power predictors of sprinting performance in professional rugby players.. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 53(2), 105-111.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa29654
https://www.minervamedica.it/en/journals/sports-med-physical-fitness/article.php?cod=R40Y2013N02A0105&acquista=1
Hughes, G., Watkins, J., Owen, N., Watkins, J., & Owen, N. (2010). The Effects of Opposition and Gender on Knee Kinematics and Ground Reaction Force During Landing From Volleyball Block Jumps. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 81(4), 384-391.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2010.10599698, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa29655
http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/21268461
Kilduff, L., Bevan, H., Mike, K., Mark, B., & Owen, N. (2007). POSTACTIVATION POTENTIATION IN PROFESSIONAL RUGBY PLAYERS: OPTIMAL RECOVERY. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 21(4), 1134-1138.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa19584
http://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Abstract/2007/11000/POSTACTIVATION_POTENTIATION_IN_PROFESSIONAL_RUGBY.26.aspx
Kilduff, L., Bevan, H., Owen, N., Kingsley, M., Bunce, P., Bennett, M., Cunningham, D., & Owen, N. (2007). Optimal loading for peak power output during the hang power clean in professional rugby players..
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa29658
http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/19168926
Kilduff, L., Lewis, S., Kingsley, M., Owen, N., Dietzig, R., & Owen, N. (2007). Reliability and Detecting Change Following Short-Term Creatine Supplementation: Comparison of Two-Component Body Composition Methods. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 21(2), 378
https://doi.org/10.1519/R-19245.1, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa29659
http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/17530953
Kilduff, L., Bevan, H., Kingsley, M., Owen, N., Bennett, M., Bunce, P., Hore, A., Maw, J., Cunningham, D., & Owen, N. (2007). Postactivation Potentiation in Professional Rugby Players: Optimal Recovery. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 21(4), 1134
https://doi.org/10.1519/R-20996.1, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa29657
http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/18076243

All Research

Journal Articles

Winson, D., MacNair, R., Hutchinson, A., Owen, N., Evans, R., & Williams, P. (2021). Delayed Achilles tendon rupture presentation: Non-operative management may be the SMART choice. The Foot, 46, 101724
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foot.2020.101724, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa54942
Jones, C., McNarry, M., Owen, N., & Owen, N. (2019). The Effect of Body Size on Countermovement Jump Kinetics in Children aged 7 to 11 years. European Journal of Sport Science, 1-18.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2019.1615557, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa50193
Mahmoodi, P., Aristodemou, S., Ransing, R., Owen, N., & Friswell, M. (2016). Prosthetic foot design optimisation based on roll-over shape and ground reaction force characteristics. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science
https://doi.org/10.1177/0954406216643110, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa26762
Shearer, D., Kilduff, L., Finn, C., Jones, R., Bracken, R., Mellalieu, S., Owen, N., Crewther, B., Cook, C., & Owen, N. (2015). Measuring Recovery in Elite Rugby Players: The Brief Assessment of Mood, Endocrine Changes, and Power. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 86(4), 379-386.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2015.1066927, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa22953
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/02701367.2015.1066927#.VdV-FHgk_dk
Owen, N., Watkins, J., Kilduff, L., Bevan, H., Bennett, M., & Owen, N. (2014). Development of a Criterion Method to Determine Peak Mechanical Power Output in a Countermovement Jump. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28(6), 1552-1558.
https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000311, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa24265
Cunningham, D., West, D., Owen, N., Shearer, D., Finn, C., Bracken, R., Crewther, B., Scott, P., Cook, C., Kilduff, L., Kilduff, L., & Owen, N. (2013). Strength and power predictors of sprinting performance in professional rugby players.. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 53(2), 105-111.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa29654
https://www.minervamedica.it/en/journals/sports-med-physical-fitness/article.php?cod=R40Y2013N02A0105&acquista=1
Kilduff, L., Owen, N., & Bracken, R. (2011). Effect of Postactivation Potentiation on Swimming Starts in International Sprint Swimmers. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e318201bf7a, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa6237
Kilduff, L. & Owen, N. (2011). Validating Two Systems for Estimating Force and Power. International Journal of Sports Medicine
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0030-1270487, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa6240
Kilduff, L., Owen, N., & Bracken, R. (2011). Relationships Between Force–Time Characteristics of the Isometric Midthigh Pull and Dynamic Performance in Professional Rugby League Players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 25(11)
https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0b013e318212dcd5, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa10799
Kilduff, L. & Owen, N. (2010). Optimal Loading for the Development of Peak Power Output in Professional Rugby Players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181c63c64, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa6235
Kilduff, L. & Owen, N. (2010). Strength and Power Predictors of Swimming Starts in International Sprint Swimmers. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181c8656f, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa6236
Kilduff, L. & Owen, N. (2010). Influence of Postactivation Potentiation on Sprinting Performance in Professional Rugby Players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181c7b68a, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa6245
Hughes, G., Watkins, J., Owen, N., & Owen, N. (2010). Differences between the sexes in knee kinetics during landing from volleyball block jumps. European Journal of Sport Science, 10(1), 1-11.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17461390903108117, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa14094
Hughes, G., Watkins, J., Owen, N., Watkins, J., & Owen, N. (2010). The Effects of Opposition and Gender on Knee Kinematics and Ground Reaction Force During Landing From Volleyball Block Jumps. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 81(4), 384-391.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2010.10599698, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa29655
http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/21268461
Kingsley, M., Kilduff, L., & Owen, N. (2009). Complex Training in Professional Rugby Players: Influence of Recovery Time on Upper-Body Power Output. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181b3f269, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa5680
Kingsley, M., Kilduff, L., & Owen, N. (2008). Influence of recovery time on post-activation potentiation in professional rugby players. Journal of Sports Sciences
https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410701784517, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa5684
Hughes, G., Watkins, J., Owen, N., & Owen, N. (2008). Gender differences in lower limb frontal plane kinematics during landing. Sports Biomechanics, 7(3), 333-341.
https://doi.org/10.1080/14763140802233215, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa14095
Kilduff, L., Bevan, H., Mike, K., Mark, B., & Owen, N. (2007). POSTACTIVATION POTENTIATION IN PROFESSIONAL RUGBY PLAYERS: OPTIMAL RECOVERY. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 21(4), 1134-1138.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa19584
http://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Abstract/2007/11000/POSTACTIVATION_POTENTIATION_IN_PROFESSIONAL_RUGBY.26.aspx
Kilduff, L., Bevan, H., Kingsley, M., Owen, N., Bennett, M., Bunce, P., Hore, A., Maw, J., Cunningham, D., & Owen, N. (2007). Postactivation Potentiation in Professional Rugby Players: Optimal Recovery. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 21(4), 1134
https://doi.org/10.1519/R-20996.1, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa29657
http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/18076243
Kilduff, L., Bevan, H., Owen, N., Kingsley, M., Bunce, P., Bennett, M., Cunningham, D., & Owen, N. (2007). Optimal loading for peak power output during the hang power clean in professional rugby players..
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa29658
http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/19168926
Kilduff, L., Lewis, S., Kingsley, M., Owen, N., Dietzig, R., & Owen, N. (2007). Reliability and Detecting Change Following Short-Term Creatine Supplementation: Comparison of Two-Component Body Composition Methods. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 21(2), 378
https://doi.org/10.1519/R-19245.1, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa29659
http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/17530953

Conference Contributions

Owen, N., Boston, C., Aldridge, S., Johnston, R., & Loe, L. (2016). Validity of Photogrammetric Osteological Analysis for Sex Traits of Historic Crania. In Proceedings of 18th Annual Conference British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology (pp. 65-66).
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa31318
https://www.kent.ac.uk/sac/events/BABAO_2016/BABAO_Conference_Programme.pdf
Macnair, R., Hutchison, A., Evans, R., Owen, N., Topliss, C., Williams, P., & Owen, N. (2016). Delayed Achilles tendon ruptures. Does non-operative management work?. In Proceedings of the 13th meeting of the combined orthopaedic associations, Cape Town, 2016 (pp. 325-325).
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa31184
http://www.comoc2016.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/COMOC-2016-Abstract-Book_download.pdf
Owen, N. (2015). Normative data for lower limb peak mechanical power in children aged 7 to 11 years old. In Journal of Comorbidity (pp. 93-93). Swiss Medical Press.
https://doi.org/10.15256/joc.2015.5.52, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa20870
http://jcomorbidity.com/index.php/test/about
Owen, N., Mahmoodi, P., & Simon, A. (2015). A computational method of obtaining reliable measurement of periosteal cross-sectional area of human radii from laser scans. In Proceedings of the 23rd UK Conference of the Association for Computational Mechanics in Engineering (pp. 73-76).
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa20806
http://eng-intranet-web.swan.ac.uk/acme2015/ACMEUK2015.pdf

Supervision

Evolution of computational tools and experimental methods for the development of passive prosthetic feet. (awarded 2022)

EngD

Other supervisor: Dr Rajesh Ransing
Methodological considerations and reliability of visually detecting muscle activity onset during an isometric midthigh pull. (awarded 2024)

MSc

Other supervisor: Dr Shane Heffernan
Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) as an Instrument for Assessing Bone Mineral Density in Historic Human Remains. (awarded 2023)

MSc

Other supervisor: Dr Shane Heffernan
Methodological considerations for the assessment of postural stability and lower limb bilateral asymmetry (awarded 2023)

MSc

Other supervisor: Dr Michael Clee

Taught Modules

SR-305 Sports Biomechanics

The purpose of the module is to develop competence in biomechanical analysis of human movement and its application to sporting situations. The module builds upon the concepts, principles and methods established in the level 1 module SR-142, SR-146 and the level 2 module SR-254.
SR-S01 Study Abroad (SPEX)

Study at a partner institution abroad. Please note there are no Swansea University based assessments for this module. However, there will be varied assessments run by the host university.

Public Engagements

Channel 4 - Skeletons of the Mary Rose: The New Evidence

Learn how research at Swansea University led to amazing new discoveries about the ethnic origin of the crew of Henry VIII favourite warship.

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/skeletons-of-the-mary-rose-the-new-evidence

Public Engagements

BBC Radio 4 - Bone Stories

In conversation with Prof Ben Garrod, Dr Owen discusses some of the more unusual aspects of bones.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b090ygbd

Public Engagements

BBC Four - Secrets of Bones episode 1

Dr Owen appears on Prof Ben Garrod’s amazing series discussing archers’ bones!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03vrtzp

Invited Presentations, Lectures and Conferences

Mary Rose Anniversary Lecture, From Archer to Africa

2019

Portsmouth
Mary Rose Anniversary Lecture, Engineering the Past - A Tudor Tale

2016

Portsmouth
Preserving our History: cultural heritage and the science behind it. Engineering the Past-biomechanics of Tudor archery

2015

Institute of Physics Conference
Sports Anatomy with Prof Alice Roberts, and Tudor Time Capsule with Dr Alex Hildred and Prof Suzannah Lipscomb

2014

Cheltenham Science Festival

Dr Nicholas Owen

Email address

Research Links

About

Areas Of Expertise

Career Highlights

Research Highlights

All Research

Evolution of computational tools and experimental methods for the development of passive prosthetic feet. (awarded 2022)

Methodological considerations and reliability of visually detecting muscle activity onset during an isometric midthigh pull. (awarded 2024)

Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) as an Instrument for Assessing Bone Mineral Density in Historic Human Remains. (awarded 2023)

Methodological considerations for the assessment of postural stability and lower limb bilateral asymmetry (awarded 2023)

SR-305 Sports Biomechanics

SR-S01 Study Abroad (SPEX)

Mary Rose Anniversary Lecture, From Archer to Africa

Mary Rose Anniversary Lecture, Engineering the Past - A Tudor Tale

Preserving our History: cultural heritage and the science behind it. Engineering the Past-biomechanics of Tudor archery

Sports Anatomy with Prof Alice Roberts, and Tudor Time Capsule with Dr Alex Hildred and Prof Suzannah Lipscomb