Rate My Professor Natalie Vanicek

Natalie Vanicek is a Professor of Clinical Biomechanics in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Hull, serving as Head of Team for Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences in the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science, an MSc in Human Kinetics, and a PhD in Sport Science from the University of Hull. Originally from Canada, she joined the University of Hull in 2004 after completing her studies and has also held positions at the University of Sydney. Recognised as a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), Professor Vanicek is an Associate Editor for the Sports Medicine and Biomechanics section of the Journal of Sports Sciences. She is also an Associate Member of the British Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Limb Absence Rehabilitation (BACPAR).

Professor Vanicek's research focuses on clinical gait analysis and musculoskeletal biomechanics, with the goal of enhancing quality of life, functional mobility, and fall prevention for individuals with lower limb amputations and limited mobility. She developed the KEEP MOVING community-based exercise programme for people living with limb loss in Hull, which received the 2024 Disability Sport Yorkshire Cyril Villiers Organisation award and is now offered online across the UK in collaboration with the Limbless Association. As Chief Investigator, she leads the STEPFORWARD trial (2026-2029, funded by NIHR Health Technology Assessment), a multi-centre randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation assessing the effects of a hydraulic self-aligning ankle-foot prosthesis on quality of life for below-knee amputation patients with limited mobility, involving 10-12 NHS prosthetics centres in England and Scotland. This follows her successful NIHR Research for Patient Benefit feasibility trial (2018-2020). Her influential publications include "A personalised exercise programme for individuals with lower limb amputation reduces falls and improves gait biomechanics: A block randomised controlled trial" (Gait & Posture, 2018), "Gait patterns in transtibial amputee fallers vs. non-fallers: Biomechanical differences during level walking" (Gait & Posture, 2009), and "Through-knee versus above-knee amputation for vascular disease" (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2021). Professor Vanicek's work has significantly impacted rehabilitation practices for amputees.