Dale Cooper

Biography

Dale Cooper is a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, Lead for the Musculoskeletal Research Group in the School of Allied Health Professionals, Keele University. 
He graduated from Brunel University Sports Sciences Department in 2001 and subsequently completed the MSc (Pre-registration) degree in Physiotherapy. He undertook junior and senior rotations before specializing in musculoskeletal practice within the NHS. He was a awarded a Pre-Doctoral Fellowship from the National Institute of Health Research, and subsequently completed a PhD funded by Versus Arthritis UK at the School of Medicine, University of Nottingham. The research focused on examining the health of retired Great Britain’s Olympians.
After completing the PhD, he accepted a part-time post-doctoral position in the School of Medicine, University of Nottingham. Responsibilities included designing a feasibility randomised controlled trial investigating pain mechanisms in knee osteoarthritis using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). He also held an Assistant Professor position in Sport and Exercise Medicine at the University of Nottingham. 

His commitment to the well-being of retired athletes continued through participation in the Retired Olympians Musculoskeletal Health Study (ROMHS). This project, funded by the World Olympians Association, signifies a dedication to understanding the health outcomes of retired Olympians worldwide. 

He has maintained an active role in teaching physiotherapy, sharing expertise and knowledge with the next generation of healthcare professionals. He has demonstrated a passion for education and played a pivotal role in establishing new courses in physiotherapy. This initiative contributes to the evolution of physiotherapy education, ensuring alignment with contemporary healthcare needs and advancements. His dedication to teaching excellence and educational leadership is underscored by being awarded Senior Fellow status of the Higher Education Academy.

He joined the School of Allied Health Professionals at Keele University in 2021 and continues to undertake research in musculoskeletal epidemiology. He has served as a Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist for the NHS, private practice, and the England and Wales Cricket Board from 2005 to 2021. This extensive period of involvement has provided a wealth of experience in managing musculoskeletal issues. 

Research and scholarship

His primary focus lies in musculoskeletal epidemiology, and understanding the prevalence, distribution, and determinants of musculoskeletal conditions within various populations. He previously led the British Olympic Association’s Olympian Study, demonstrating expertise in studying the health and well-being of elite athletes. He took on the role of Principal Investigator for a study examining pain mechanisms in knee osteoarthritis using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). As a Co-Investigator on the Retired Olympians Musculoskeletal Health Study (ROMHS), he continued to contribute to research focused on the musculoskeletal health of retired Olympians. He actively supervises doctoral students examining musculoskeletal health outcomes within industry and is committed to mentoring and fostering the next generation of researchers. He has developed collaborations with researchers at Universities in the UK and overseas and welcomes potential collaborations and inquiries from doctoral students.

Teaching

He teaches across both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the School of Allied Health Professionals at Keele University. His teaching focus is musculoskeletal practice, sport and exercise medicine, and research methods. He has acted as external examiner for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in physiotherapy and postgraduate research degrees in other universities in the UK.

Collaborations and grants awards

• GB Olympian Study
• World Olympians Association - Retired Olympian Musculoskeletal Health Study (ROMHS), $120k