Alan Wilson
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Alan is a Professor of Locomotor Biomechanics and leader of the Locomotion (Muscle, Tendon and Biomechanics) Research Group.
Biography
Alan graduated from Glasgow University in 1987 having studied Veterinary Medicine and an intercalated BSc in Physiology. He subsequently undertook a PhD in the Anatomy Department at Bristol University, supervised by Allen Goodship, where he studied the mechanical basis of tendon injury. Alan worked for a brief period as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate and then as a lecturer.
Alan moved to the Royal Veterinary College in 1996 where he now holds the post of Professor of Locomotor Biomechanics and leader of the Locomotion (Muscle, Tendon and Biomechanics) Research Group.
Research
Alan's scientific interests include:
- design of animals for high speed locomotion and factors limiting athletic performance,
- innovative measurement techniques for studying animals during field locomotion,
- muscle-tendon interaction in locomotion,
- diagnosis, assessment and treatment of locomotor dysfunction.
Alan currently holds a BBSRC Research Fellowship and a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award. (see Links). He has worked with a range of animals including humans, horses, greyhounds, ostriches and camels with plans for others in the future.
Selected Publications
WALKER, A. M., PFAU, T., CHANNON, A. & WILSON, A. (2010) Assessment of dairy cow locomotion in a commercial farm setting: the effects of walking speed on ground reaction forces and temporal and linear stride characteristics. Res Vet Sci 88, 179-187. PubMed ID 19527912
WILLIAMS, S. B., USHERWOOD, J. R., JESPERS, K., CHANNON, A. J. & WILSON, A. M. (2009) Exploring the mechanical basis for acceleration: pelvic limb locomotor function during accelerations in racing greyhounds (Canis familiaris). J Exp Biol 212, 550-565. PubMed ID 19181903
WILLIAMS, S. B., TAN, H., USHERWOOD, J. R. & WILSON, A. M. (2009) Pitch then power: limitations to acceleration in quadrupeds. Biol Lett 5, 610-613. PubMed ID 19553249
REES, J. D., WOLMAN, R. L. & WILSON, A. (2009) Eccentric exercises; why do they work, what are the problems and how can we improve them? Br J Sports Med 43, 242-246. PubMed ID 18981040
PFAU, T., SPENCE, A., STARKE, S., FERRARI, M. & WILSON, A. (2009) Modern riding style improves horse racing times. Science 325, 289. PubMed ID 19608909
LICHTWARK, G. A., WATSON, J. C., MAVROMMATIS, S. & WILSON, A. M. (2009) Intensity of activation and timing of deactivation modulate elastic energy storage and release in a pennate muscle and account for gait-specific initiation of limb protraction in the horse. J Exp Biol 212, 2454-2463. PubMed ID 19617439
HALFACREE, Z. J., WILSON, A. M. & BAINES, S. J. (2009) Evaluation of in vitro performance of suction drains. Am J Vet Res 70, 283-289. PubMed ID 19231963
FERRARI, M., PFAU, T., WILSON, A. M. & WELLER, R. (2009) The effect of training on stride parameters in a cohort of National Hunt racing Thoroughbreds: a preliminary study. Equine Vet J 41, 493-497. PubMed ID 19642411
CHURCH, E. E., WALKER, A. M., WILSON, A. M. & PFAU, T. (2009) Evaluation of discriminant analysis based on dorsoventral symmetry indices to quantify hindlimb lameness during over ground locomotion in the horse. Equine Vet J 41, 304-308.PubMed ID 19469241
CHANNON, A. J., WALKER, A. M., PFAU, T., SHELDON, I. M. & WILSON, A. M. (2009) Variability of Manson and Leaver locomotion scores assigned to dairy cows by different observers. Vet Rec 164, 388-392. PubMed ID 19329807
BOWTELL, M. V., TAN, H. & WILSON, A. M. (2009) The consistency of maximum running speed measurements in humans using a feedback-controlled treadmill, and a comparison with maximum attainable speed during overground locomotion. J Biomech 42, 2569-2574. PubMed ID 19683240
WILLIAMS, S. B., WILSON, A. M., DAYNES, J., PECKHAM, K. & PAYNE, R. C. (2008) Functional anatomy and muscle moment arms of the thoracic limb of an elite sprinting athlete: the racing greyhound (Canis familiaris). J Anat 213, 373-382. PubMed ID 19034998
SPENCE, A. J., TAN, H. & WILSON, A. (2008) Accuracy of the TurfTrax Racing Data System for determination of equine speed and position. Equine Vet J 40, 680-683. PubMed ID 19165938
PFAU, T., FERRARI, M., PARSONS, K. & WILSON, A. (2008) A hidden Markov model-based stride segmentation technique applied to equine inertial sensor trunk movement data. J Biomech 41, 216-220. PubMed ID 17897652
BIRCH, H. L., WILSON, A. M. & GOODSHIP, A. E. (2008) Physical activity: does long-term, high-intensity exercise in horses result in tendon degeneration? J Appl Physiol 105, 1927-1933. PubMed ID 18832761
WILLIAMS, S. B., WILSON, A. M., RHODES, L., ANDREWS, J. & PAYNE, R. C. (2008) Functional anatomy and muscle moment arms of the pelvic limb of an elite sprinting athlete: the racing greyhound (Canis familiaris). J Anat. PubMed ID 18657259
TAN, H., WILSON, A. M. & LOWE, J. (2008) Measurement of stride parameters using a wearable GPS and inertial measurement unit. J Biomech 41, 1398-1406. PubMed ID 18423472
STARKE, S. D., ROBILLIARD, J. J., WELLER, R., WILSON, A. M. & PFAU, T. (2008) Walk-run classification of symmetrical gaits in the horse: a multidimensional approach. J R Soc Interface. PubMed ID 18664427
REES, J. D., LICHTWARK, G. A., WOLMAN, R. L. & WILSON, A. M. (2008) The mechanism for efficacy of eccentric loading in Achilles tendon injury; an in vivo study in humans. Rheumatology (Oxford). PubMed ID 18647799
PARSONS, K. J., PFAU, T. & WILSON, A. M. (2008) High-speed gallop locomotion in the thoroughbred racehorse. I. The effect of incline on stride parameters. J Exp Biol 211, 935-944. PubMed ID 18310119
PARSONS, K. J., PFAU, T., FERRARI, M. & WILSON, A. M. (2008) High-speed gallop locomotion in the Thoroughbred racehorse. II. The effect of incline on centre of mass movement and mechanical energy fluctuation. J Exp Biol 211, 945-956. PubMed ID 18310120
LICHTWARK, G. A. & WILSON, A. M. (2008) Optimal muscle fascicle length and tendon stiffness for maximising gastrocnemius efficiency during human walking and running. J Theor Biol 252, 662-673. PubMed ID 18374362
CROOK, T. C., CRUICKSHANK, S. E., MCGOWAN, C. M., STUBBS, N., WAKELING, J. M., WILSON, A. M. & PAYNE, R. C. (2008) Comparative anatomy and muscle architecture of selected hind limb muscles in the Quarter Horse and Arab. J Anat 212, 144-152. PubMed ID 18194205
WILLIAMS, S. B., WILSON, A. M. & PAYNE, R. C. (2007) Functional specialisation of the thoracic limb of the hare (Lepus europeus). J Anat 210, 491-505. PubMed ID 17428206
WILLIAMS, S. B., PAYNE, R. C. & WILSON, A. M. (2007) Functional specialisation of the pelvic limb of the hare (Lepus europeus). J Anat 210, 472-490. PubMed ID 17362487
WATSON, J. C. & WILSON, A. M. (2007) Muscle architecture of biceps brachii, triceps brachii and supraspinatus in the horse. J Anat 210, 32-40. PubMed ID 17229281
USHERWOOD, J. R., WILLIAMS, S. B. & WILSON, A. M. (2007) Mechanics of dog walking compared with a passive, stiff-limbed, 4-bar linkage model, and their collisional implications. J Exp Biol 210, 533-540. PubMed ID 17234623
SMITH, N. C., PAYNE, R. C., JESPERS, K. J. & WILSON, A. M. (2007) Muscle moment arms of pelvic limb muscles of the ostrich (Struthio camelus). J Anat 211, 313-324. PubMed ID 17608640
ROBILLIARD, J. J., PFAU, T. & WILSON, A. M. (2007) Gait characterisation and classification in horses. J Exp Biol 210, 187-197. PubMed ID 17210956
PFAU, T., ROBILLIARD, J. J., WELLER, R., JESPERS, K., ELIASHAR, E. & WILSON, A. M. (2007) Assessment of mild hindlimb lameness during over ground locomotion using linear discriminant analysis of inertial sensor data. Equine Vet J 39, 407-413. PubMed ID 17910264
LICHTWARK, G. A. & WILSON, A. M. (2007) Is Achilles tendon compliance optimised for maximum muscle efficiency during locomotion? J Biomech 40, 1768-1775. PubMed ID 17101140
LICHTWARK, G. A., BOUGOULIAS, K. & WILSON, A. M. (2007) Muscle fascicle and series elastic element length changes along the length of the human gastrocnemius during walking and running. J Biomech 40, 157-164. PubMed ID 16364330
JINDRICH, D. L., SMITH, N. C., JESPERS, K. & WILSON, A. M. (2007) Mechanics of cutting maneuvers by ostriches (Struthio camelus). J Exp Biol 210, 1378-1390. PubMed ID 17401120
WITTE, T. H., HIRST, C. V. & WILSON, A. M. (2006) Effect of speed on stride parameters in racehorses at gallop in field conditions. J Exp Biol 209, 4389-4397. PubMed ID 17050854
WELLER, R., PFAU, T., VERHEYEN, K., MAY, S. A. & WILSON, A. M. (2006) The effect of conformation on orthopaedic health and performance in a cohort of National Hunt racehorses: preliminary results. Equine Vet J 38, 622-627. PubMed ID 17228576
WELLER, R., PFAU, T., MAY, S. A. & WILSON, A. M. (2006) Variation in conformation in a cohort of National Hunt racehorses. Equine Vet J 38, 616-621. PubMed ID 17228575
WELLER, R., PFAU, T., BABBAGE, D., BRITTIN, E., MAY, S. A. & WILSON, A. M. (2006) Reliability of conformational measurements in the horse using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. Equine Vet J 38, 610-615. PubMed ID 17228574
USHERWOOD, J. R. & WILSON, A. M. (2006) Accounting for elite indoor 200 m sprint results. Biol Lett 2, 47-50. PubMed ID 17148323
SMITH, N. C., WILSON, A. M., JESPERS, K. J. & PAYNE, R. C. (2006) Muscle architecture and functional anatomy of the pelvic limb of the ostrich (Struthio camelus). J Anat 209, 765-779. PubMed ID 17118064
PFAU, T., WITTE, T. H. & WILSON, A. M. (2006) Centre of mass movement and mechanical energy fluctuation during gallop locomotion in the Thoroughbred racehorse. J Exp Biol 209, 3742-3757. PubMed ID 16985191
PARSONS, K. J. & WILSON, A. M. (2006) The use of MP3 recorders to log data from equine hoof mounted accelerometers. Equine Vet J 38, 675-680. PubMed ID 17228585
MOORES, A. P., BECK, A. L., JESPERS, K. J. & WILSON, A. M. (2006) Mechanical evaluation of two loop tensioning methods for crimp clamp extracapsular stabilization of the cranial cruciate ligament-deficient canine stifle. Vet Surg 35, 476-479. PubMed ID 16842294
MOORES, A. P., BECK, A. L., JESPERS, K. J., HALFACREE, Z. & WILSON, A. M. (2006) Mechanical evaluation of two crimp clamp systems for extracapsular stabilization of the cranial cruciate ligament-deficient canine stifle. Vet Surg 35, 470-475. PubMed ID 16842293
LICHTWARK, G. A. & WILSON, A. M. (2006) Interactions between the human gastrocnemius muscle and the Achilles tendon during incline, level and decline locomotion. J Exp Biol 209, 4379-4388. PubMed ID 17050853
HARRIS, R. C., HARRIS, P. A., ROUTLEDGE, N. B., NAYLOR, J. R. & WILSON, A. M. (2006) Plasma glutamine concentrations in the horse following feeding and oral glutamine supplementation. Equine Vet J Suppl, 637-642. PubMed ID 17402497
FERRARI, M., WELLER, R., PFAU, T., PAYNE, R. C. & WILSON, A. M. (2006) A comparison of three-dimensional ultrasound, two-dimensional ultrasound and dissections for determination of lesion volume in tendons. Ultrasound Med Biol 32, 797-804. PubMed ID 16785002
WITTE, T. H. & WILSON, A. M. (2005) Accuracy of WAAS-enabled GPS for the determination of position and speed over ground. J Biomech 38, 1717-1722. PubMed ID 15958230
USHERWOOD, J. R. & WILSON, A. M. (2005) Biomechanics: no force limit on greyhound sprint speed. Nature 438, 753-754. PubMed ID 16341003
ROBILLIARD, J. J. & WILSON, A. M. (2005) Prediction of kinetics and kinematics of running animals using an analytical approximation to the planar spring-mass system. J Exp Biol 208, 4377-4389. PubMed ID 16339858
PFAU, T., WITTE, T. H. & WILSON, A. M. (2005) A method for deriving displacement data during cyclical movement using an inertial sensor. J Exp Biol 208, 2503-2514. PubMed ID 15961737
PAYNE, R. C., VEENMAN, P. & WILSON, A. M. (2005) The role of the extrinsic thoracic limb muscles in equine locomotion. J Anat 206, 193-204. PubMed ID 15730484
PAYNE, R. C., HUTCHINSON, J. R., ROBILLIARD, J. J., SMITH, N. C. & WILSON, A. M. (2005) Functional specialisation of pelvic limb anatomy in horses (Equus caballus). J Anat 206, 557-574. PubMed ID 15960766
MCGUIGAN, M. P., WALSH, T. C., PARDOE, C. H., DAY, P. S. & WILSON, A. M. (2005) Deep digital flexor tendon force and digital mechanics in normal ponies and ponies with rotation of the distal phalanx as a sequel to laminitis. Equine Vet J 37, 161-165. PubMed ID 15779630
LICHTWARK, G. A. & WILSON, A. M. (2005) In vivo mechanical properties of the human Achilles tendon during one-legged hopping. J Exp Biol 208, 4715-4725. PubMed ID 16326953
LICHTWARK, G. A. & WILSON, A. M. (2005) Effects of series elasticity and activation conditions on muscle power output and efficiency. J Exp Biol 208, 2845-2853. PubMed ID 16043589
LICHTWARK, G. A. & WILSON, A. M. (2005) A modified Hill muscle model that predicts muscle power output and efficiency during sinusoidal length changes. J Exp Biol 208, 2831-2843. PubMed ID 16043588
WITTE, T. H. & WILSON, A. M. (2004) Accuracy of non-differential GPS for the determination of speed over ground. J Biomech 37, 1891-1898. PubMed ID 15519597
WITTE, T. H., KNILL, K. & WILSON, A. M. (2004) Determination of peak vertical ground reaction force from duty factor in the horse (Equus caballus). J Exp Biol 207, 3639-3648. PubMed ID 15371472
ELIASHAR, E., MCGUIGAN, M. P. & WILSON, A. M. (2004) Relationship of foot conformation and force applied to the navicular bone of sound horses at the trot. Equine Vet J 36, 431-435. PubMed ID 15253085
WILSON, A. M., WATSON, J. C. & LICHTWARK, G. A. (2003) Biomechanics: A catapult action for rapid limb protraction. Nature 421, 35-36. PubMed ID 12511944
VIITANEN, M. J., WILSON, A. M., MCGUIGAN, H. R., ROGERS, K. D. & MAY, S. A. (2003) Effect of foot balance on the intra-articular pressure in the distal interphalangeal joint in vitro. Equine Vet J 35, 184-189. PubMed ID 12638796
MCGUIGAN, M. P. & WILSON, A. M. (2003) The effect of gait and digital flexor muscle activation on limb compliance in the forelimb of the horse Equus caballus. J Exp Biol 206, 1325-1336. PubMed ID 12624168
JACKSON, B. F., BLUMSOHN, A., GOODSHIP, A. E., WILSON, A. M. & PRICE, J. S. (2003) Circadian variation in biochemical markers of bone cell activity and insulin-like growth factor-I in two-year-old horses. J Anim Sci 81, 2804-2810. PubMed ID 14601884
SMITH, R. K., MCGUIGAN, M. P., HYDE, J. T., DALY, A. S., PARDOE, C. H., LOCK, A. N. & WILSON, A. M. (2002) In vitro evaluation of nonrigid support systems for the equine metacarpophalangeal joint. Equine Vet J 34, 726-731. PubMed ID 12455845
ELIASHAR, E., MCGUIGAN, M. P., ROGERS, K. A. & WILSON, A. M. (2002) A comparison of three horseshoeing styles on the kinetics of breakover in sound horses. Equine Vet J 34, 184-190. PubMed ID 11902761
WILSON, A. M. & PARDOE, C. H. (2001) Modification of a force plate system for equine gait analysis on hard road surfaces: a technical note. Equine Vet J Suppl, 67-69. PubMed ID 11721573
WILSON, A. M., MCGUIGAN, M. P., SU, A. & VAN DEN BOGERT, A. J. (2001) Horses damp the spring in their step. Nature 414, 895-899. PubMed ID 11780059
WILSON, A. M., MCGUIGAN, M. P., FOURACRE, L. & MACMAHON, L. (2001) The force and contact stress on the navicular bone during trot locomotion in sound horses and horses with navicular disease. Equine Vet J 33, 159-165. PubMed ID 11266065
PARDOE, C. H., MCGUIGAN, M. P., ROGERS, K. M., ROWE, L. L. & WILSON, A. M. (2001) The effect of shoe material on the kinetics and kinematics of foot slip at impact on concrete. Equine Vet J Suppl, 70-73. PubMed ID 11721574
MCGUIGAN, M. P. & WILSON, A. M. (2001) The effect of bilateral palmar digital nerve analgesia on the compressive force experienced by the navicular bone in horses with navicular disease. Equine Vet J 33, 166-171. PubMed ID 11266066
SCHUMACHER, J., WILSON, A. M., PARDOE, C. & EASTER, J. L. (2000) In vitro evaluation of a novel prosthesis for laryngoplasty of horses with recurrent laryngeal neuropathy. Equine Vet J 32, 43-46. PubMed ID 10661384
WILLIAMS, G. E., SILVERMAN, B. W., WILSON, A. M. & GOODSHIP, A. E. (1999) Disease-specific changes in equine ground reaction force data documented by use of principal component analysis. Am J Vet Res 60, 549-555. PubMed ID 10328423
PARDOE, C. H. & WILSON, A. M. (1999) In vitro mechanical properties of different equine hoof wall crack fixation techniques. Equine Vet J 31, 506-509. PubMed ID 10596933
BOSWELL, J. C., SCHRAMME, M. C., WILSON, A. M. & MAY, S. A. (1999) Radiological study to evaluate suspected scapulohumeral joint dysplasia in Shetland ponies. Equine Vet J 31, 510-514. PubMed ID 10596934
WILSON, A. M., SEELIG, T. J., SHIELD, R. A. & SILVERMAN, B. W. (1998) The effect of foot imbalance on point of force application in the horse. Equine Vet J 30, 540-545. PubMed ID 9844974
PATTERSON-KANE, J. C., WILSON, A. M., FIRTH, E. C., PARRY, D. A. & GOODSHIP, A. E. (1998) Exercise-related alterations in crimp morphology in the central regions of superficial digital flexor tendons from young thoroughbreds: a controlled study. Equine Vet J 30, 61-64. PubMed ID 9458400
PATTERSON-KANE, J. C., FIRTH, E. C., PARRY, D. A., WILSON, A. M. & GOODSHIP, A. E. (1998) Effects of training on collagen fibril populations in the suspensory ligament and deep digital flexor tendon of young thoroughbreds. Am J Vet Res 59, 64-68. PubMed ID 9442247
PATTERSON-KANE, J. C., WILSON, A. M., FIRTH, E. C., PARRY, D. A. & GOODSHIP, A. E. (1997) Comparison of collagen fibril populations in the superficial digital flexor tendons of exercised and nonexercised thoroughbreds. Equine Vet J 29, 121-125. PubMed ID 9104561
HARRIS, D. B., HARRIS, R. C., WILSON, A. M. & GOODSHIP, A. (1997) ATP loss with exercise in muscle fibres of the gluteus medius of the thoroughbred horse. Res Vet Sci 63, 231-237. PubMed ID 9491449
BIRCH, H. L., WILSON, A. M. & GOODSHIP, A. E. (1997) The effect of exercise-induced localised hyperthermia on tendon cell survival. J Exp Biol 200, 1703-1708. PubMed ID 9202452
DOW, S. M., WILSON, A. M. & GOODSHIP, A. E. (1996) Treatment of acute superficial digital flexor tendon injury in horses with polysulphated glycosaminoglycan. Vet Rec 139, 413-416. PubMed ID 8923715
WILSON, A. M. & GOODSHIP, A. E. (1994) Exercise-induced hyperthermia as a possible mechanism for tendon degeneration. J Biomech 27, 899-905. PubMed ID 8063840
PLATT, D., WILSON, A. M., TIMBS, A., WRIGHT, I. M. & GOODSHIP, A. E. (1994) Novel force transducer for the measurement of tendon force in vivo. J Biomech 27, 1489-1493. PubMed ID 7806556
WILMINK, J., WILSON, A. M. & GOODSHIP, A. E. (1992) Functional significance of the morphology and micromechanics of collagen fibres in relation to partial rupture of the superficial digital flexor tendon in racehorses. Res Vet Sci 53, 354-359. PubMed ID 1465509
Book Chapters and Reviews
REES, WILSON, A.M., WOLMAN, R.L. (2006) Current concepts in the management of tendon disorders Rheumatology (4.1) Published on Line.
WILSON, A.M., VAN DEN BOGERT, A.J. & MCGUIGAN, M.P. (2000) Optimisation of the muscle âÃ�ï��Ã�ï��ï��Ã�ï��ï��Ã�ï��Ã�ï��ï��Ã�ï��ï�� tendon unit for economical locomotion in cursorial animals. In Muscle mechanics: from molec