Good Health and Well-Being

Manchester Met has partnered with Sport England and two other organisations, in a major new report (2024) into the social value generated by sport and activity, which is calculated at £107.2 billion per year. 

This relieves pressure on the NHS through the prevention of illness, reduced mental health service usage, fewer GP visits and a reduced need for informal (unpaid) care, says the report. 

Women who have a history of depression before pregnancy are more likely to experience problems breastfeeding, according to research from Manchester Met. The first-of-its-kind study (2024) of more than 78,000 women found that a lifetime history of depression before pregnancy is linked to problems starting and keeping-up breastfeeding, and also to experiencing difficulties while trying to breastfeed.

Understanding the complex relationship between obesity and anabolic resistance is crucial for developing effective interventions to improve muscle health and overall metabolic function in people with obesity and could reduce the risk of conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. A new study (2024-2026), funded by the Academy of Medical Sciences, will look at why people with obesity may be unable to increase their muscle size even by weightlifting and eating protein.

Scientists from the Institute of Sport have launched a new project (2023-2026) to boost astronauts’ strength in space. Astronauts will receive electrical stimulation on their muscles to see if it can help them stay strong and fit during spaceflight, and to help aid their recovery once they return to Earth. The three-year project involves an international team of scientists, led by the University of Trieste.

The long-term health effects of vaping (2023) will be explored by academics from the Institute of Sport. They will compare the vascular health of vapers, smokers and non-smokers as researchers believe that although vaping is likely to be better for an individual than smoking cigarettes, using them on a regular basis will still have significant impacts.

A psychological-based study published in the Journal of Health Communication  (2024) shows that endometriosis patients are being failed and feel dismissed when it comes to accessing healthcare support. 

Elite and student rugby players will be supported by Manchester Met and Sale Sharks to provide pathways into the game and educational opportunities. This strategic partnership (2023) will also see the development of sport science research at our Institute of Sport for the Premiership rugby union club. 

Analysis from the second GM TRENDS report (2023) have revealed the latest trends and patterns for substance use across Greater Manchester. The findings will help inform the Greater Manchester Local Drugs Information System, provide recommendations to local authorities on the development and delivery of services for substance users, and support with the development of harm reduction policies and initiatives.  

Researchers have discovered how muscle cells become impaired as we get older, which impacts their ability to regenerate and recover after an injury. After analysing more than 11,000 gene transcripts inside muscle cells, scientists from the Institute of Sport have found that the development pathways – the different ways in which genes work together to regenerate muscle – become weakened as cells age. The study was published in the Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (2023). 

Manchester Met has joined forces with the UK’s Sports Institute (2023) to explore how the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraception affects female athletes’ performance and help provide better understanding and support for sportswomen and coaches. 

Researchers have put forward recommendations for possible drug therapies to prevent heart attacks caused by plaque erosion, which have not been possible before. Findings published in 2023 reveal a completely new mechanism that links cell stress caused by smoking – and potentially other factors like air pollution.

Elite sporting talent is set to get a boost with a strategic partnership between Manchester Thunder Netball and Manchester Met (2022). Manchester Thunder will work with the University on a range of areas including using its high-performance training facilities, retaining new talent within the North West and benefiting from research opportunities to support elite performance.

Research findings and insights on the impact of type 2 diabetes in Greater Manchester has been published in the report by Health Innovation Manchester, (2022) in collaboration with Manchester Met researchers. The report, which is part of the Cities Changing Diabetes (CCD) Manchester programme, highlights how local ethnic minority communities and an increasing number of younger people within the city region are affected by the condition. 

Our researchers, in collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University, have developed a new testing device that can replicate injury risk scenarios and test the impact during falls when wearing wrist protectors. Researchers developed an International Standard for snowboarding wrist protectors and a new set of tests to determine which design features are effective at preventing wrist hyperextension during falls.

Research led by Manchester Metr (2022) interviewed adults with learning disabilities in supported living or residential care about where they live and how this affects their health, wellbeing and lifestyles. The 200 Lives project, with partners National Development Team for Inclusion, the London School of Economics and Changing our Lives, also evaluated how different housing support services operate, their quality and cost.

Researchers have created an environmentally friendly finishing method for textiles with antimicrobial properties, using plant-based substances which can be applied to organic cotton materials that can be reused. The study was funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) and the latest findings (2021) suggest that this antibacterial finishing of cotton could be scaled up to help improve hygiene and health at a community level using locally produced herbs from India.