NeckCentric

Dr Lesley McBride is an Emeritus researcher in physiotherapy at the University of Leicester, where she continues her specialist research into neck strength, injury prevention, and exercise prescription across multiple sports. She graduated from the Nottingham School of Physiotherapy and has held a range of academic and clinical roles throughout her career.

Prior to joining Leicester, Dr McBride was a senior lecturer at Coventry University, where she taught on both undergraduate physiotherapy programmes and the highly regarded MSc Manual Therapy course, known nationally and internationally for its innovation and excellence. Drawing on her expertise in curriculum development, she authored the MSc (Pre-registration) Physiotherapy and Leadership programme, which saw its first cohort graduate in December 2022.

From 2001 to 2017, she served as squad physiotherapist for the England Rugby Football Union’s U20 national team and as a consultant physiotherapist to the senior England squad, focusing on cervical spine screening, treatment, and rehabilitation. Her PhD, completed in 2023, explored neck strength in rugby players, contributing valuable insights into sports injury prevention.

Dr McBride has presented her research at major conferences including the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) in Vancouver (2007) and Geneva (2019), and the UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) in 2022. She was also part of the physiotherapy team at the London 2012 Olympic Games, working in the Athletes’ Village.

Her research has been published in leading journals such as the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Sports. She remains actively involved in postgraduate education and continues to deliver specialist training across the UK.