Dr Michael G Hughes

Michael's research interests are as follows

• Post-exercise reduction in blood pressure (post-exercise hypotension)
• Metabolic and cardiovascular responses to exercise and training

His past research spans a range of areas including

• Physiology of repeated sprint exercise
• Paediatric exercise training
• Physiology of Badminton
• Physiology of Football (effect of playing surface)

Peer-reviewed Journal Articles

Webb R., Hughes, M.G., Thomas, A.W., Morris, K. (2017). The Ability of Exercise-Associated Oxidative Stress to Trigger Redox-Sensitive Signalling Responses. Antioxidants. Aug 10;6(3). pii: E63. doi: 10.3390/antiox6030063.
Cullen, T., Thomas, A.W., Webb, R., Phillips, T., Hughes, M.G., (2017). sIL-6R is related to weekly training mileage and psychological wellbeing in athletes. Medicine and Science in Sports & Exercise. 49 (6), 1176-1183. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001210

Meyers R.W., Oliver J.L., Hughes M.G., Lloyd R.S., Cronin J.B. (2017). Asymmetry during maximal sprint performance in 11-16 year old boys. Pediatric Exercise Science. 29 (1): 94-102. doi: 10.1123/pes.2016-0018
Meyers R.W., Oliver J.L., Hughes M.G., Lloyd R.S., Cronin J.B. (2017). The influence of age, maturity and body size on the spatiotemporal determinants of maximal sprint speed in boys. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 31 (4): 1009–1016. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001310

Meyers, R.W., Oliver, J.L., Hughes, M.G., Lloyd, R.S., Cronin, J.B. (2016). The Influence of Maturation on Sprint Performance in Boys over a 21-Month Period. Medicine and Science in Sports & Exercise. 48(12): 2555-2562. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001049

Cullen, T., Webb, R., Thomas, A., Hughes, M.G. (2016). Interleukin-6 and associated cytokine responses to an acute bout of high intensity interval exercise: the effect of exercise intensity and volume. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism. 41(8): 803-8. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2015-0640.

Stembridge M., Ainslie, P.N., Donnelly, J., McLeod, N., Joshi, S., Hughes, M., Sherpa, K. and Shave, R. (2016). Cardiac structure and function in adolescent Sherpa; effect of habitual altitude and developmental stage. American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology. 310(6): H740-6. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00938.2015.

Stembridge M., Ainslie, P.N., Hughes, M.G., Stöhr, E.J., Cotter, J.D., Tymko, M.M., Day, T.A., Bakker, A., Shave, R.E. (2015). Impaired myocardial function does not explain reduced left ventricular filling and stroke volume at rest or during exercise at high altitude. Journal of Applied Physiology. 119(10): 1219-27. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00995.2014.

Meyers, R.W., Oliver, J., Hughes, M.G, Lloyd, R.S., Cronin, J. (2015). Reliability of the Spatiotemporal Determinants of Maximal Sprint Speed in Adolescent Boys Over Single and Multiple Steps. Pediatric Exercise Science. 27(3): 419-426. doi: 10.1123/pes.2015-0038

Cullen, T., Thomas, A.W., Webb, R., Hughes, M.G. (2015). The relationship between interleukin-6 in saliva, venous and capillary plasma, at rest and in response to exercise. Cytokine. 71(2): 397-400. doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2014.10.011.

Stone, K.J., Hughes, M.G., Stembridge, M.R., Meyers, R.W., Newcombe, D.J., Oliver, J.L., (in press, 2015). The influence of playing surface on physiological and performance responses during and after soccer simulation. European Journal of Sport Science. 16(1): 42-9.doi: .1080/17461391.2014.984768

Meyers, R.W., Oliver, J., Hughes, M., Cronin, J., Lloyd, R.S. (2015). Maximal Sprint Speed in Boys of Increasing Maturity. Pediatric Exercise Science. 27(1): 85-94. doi: 10.1123/pes.2013-0096

Rumpf, M.C., Cronin, J.B., Oliver, J., Hughes, M. (2015). Kinematics and Kinetics of Maximum Running Speed in Youth Across Maturity. Pediatric Exercise Science. 27(2) 277-284. doi: 10.1123/pes.2014-0064

Rumpf, M.C., Cronin, J.B., Mohamad, I.N., Mohamad, S., Oliver, J.L., Hughes, M.G. (2015). The effect of resisted sprint training on maximum sprint kinetics and kinematics in youth. European Journal of Sport Science. 15(5): 374-81. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2014.955125

Davies, N.A., Watkeys, L., Butcher, L., Potter, S., Hughes, M.G., Moir, H., Morris, K., Thomas, A.W., Webb, R. (2015). The contributions of oxidative stress, oxidised lipoproteins and AMPK towards exercise-associated PPARγ signalling within human monocytic cells. Free Radical Research. 49(1):45-56. doi: 10.3109/10715762.2014.978311. 

Stembridge, M., Ainslie, P.N., Hughes, M.G., Stöhr, E.J., Cotter, J.D., Nio, A.Q., Shave, R. (2014). 
Ventricular structure, function, and mechanics at high altitude: chronic remodeling in Sherpa vs. short-term lowlander adaptation. Journal of Applied Physiology. 117(3):334-43. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00233.2014.

Meylan, C.M.P., Cronin, J.B., Oliver, J.L., Hughes, M.G., Manson, S. (2014). An Evidence-Based Model of Power Development in Youth Soccer. International Journal of Sport Science and Coaching. 9(5):241-264. doi: 10.1260/1747-9541.9.5.1241

Rumpf, M.C., Cronin, J.B., Mohamad, I.N., Mohamad, S., Oliver, J.L., Hughes, M.G. (2014).  Kinetic asymmetries during running in male youth. Physical Therapy in Sport. 15(1):53-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2013.03.001.

Hughes, M.G., Birdsey, L., Meyers, R., Newcombe, D., Oliver, J.L., Smith, P.M., Stembridge, M., Stone, K., Kerwin, D.G. (2013). Effects of playing surface on physiological responses and performance variables in a controlled football simulation. Journal of Sports Sciences. 31(8):878-86. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2012.757340.

Rumpf, M.C., Cronin, J.B., Oliver, J.L., Hughes, M.G. (2013). Vertical and leg stiffness and stretch-shortening cycle changes across maturation during maximal sprint running. Human Movement Science. 32(4):668-76. doi: 10.1016/j.humov.2013.01.006.

Thomas, A.W., Davies, N.A., Moir,H., Watkeys,L., Ruffino, J.S., Isa, S.A., Butcher, L.R., Hughes, M.G., Morris, K., Webb, R. (2012). Exercise-associated generation of PPARgamma ligands activates PPARgamma signaling events and upregulates genes related to lipid metabolism. Journal of Applied Physiology. 112(5): 806-815.

Lloyd, R.S., Oliver, J.L., Hughes, M.G., Williams, C.A. (2012). Age-related differences in the neural regulation of stretch-shortening cycle activities in male youths during maximal and sub-maximal hopping. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology. 22(1):37-43. 

Rumpf, M., Cronin, J., Pinder, S., Oliver, J., Hughes, M. (2012). Effect of different training methods on running sprint times in male youth. Pediatric Exercise Science. 24(2):170-186.

Meylan, C.M., Cronin, J.B., Oliver, J.L., Hughes, M.G., McMaster, D.T. (2012). The reliability of jump kinematics and kinetics in children of different maturity status. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 26(4):1015-1026.

Lloyd, R.S., Oliver, J.L., Hughes, M.G., Williams, C.A. (2012). The effects of 4-weeks of plyometric training on reactive strength index and leg stiffness in male youths. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 26(10):2812-2819.

Stone, K.J., Oliver, J.L., Hughes, M.G., Stembridge, M., Newcombe, D., Meyers, R.M. (2011). Development of a soccer simulation protocol to include repeated sprints and agility. International Journal of Sports Physiology & Performance. 6(3):427-31.

Lloyd, R.S., Oliver, J.L., Hughes, M.G., Williams, C.A. (2011). Specificity of test selection for the appropriate assessment of different measures of stretch-shortening cycle function in children. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. 51(4):595-602.

Lloyd, R.S., Oliver, J.L., Hughes, M.G., Williams, C.A., (2011). The influence of chronological age on periods of accelerated adaptation on stretch-shortening cycle performance in pre-and post-pubescent boys. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 25(7):1889–1897.

Rumpf, M., Cronin, J., Oliver, J., Hughes, M. (2011). Assessing youth sprint ability-methodological issues, reliability and performance. Pediatric Exercise Science. 23(4):442-467.

Potthast, W., Verhelst, R., Hughes. M.G., Stone, K., DeClercq, D. (2010). Football-specific evaluation of player-surface interaction on different football turf systems. Journal of Sports Technology. 3(1): 5-12.

Moir, H., Hughes, M.G., Potter, S., Sims, C., Butcher, L., Davies, N., Verheggen, K., Jones, K.P., Thomas, A., Webb, R. (2010). Exercise-induced immunosuppression: roles of reactive oxygen species and 5-AMP-activated protein kinase dephosphorylation within immune cells. Journal of Applied Physiology. 108(5): 1284-1292

Thomas, N., Leyshon, A., Hughes, M.G., Davies, B., Graham, M.R., Bulloch, J.M., Baker, J.S. (2010) Concentrations of salivary testosterone, cortisol and immunoglobulin A following supra-maximal exercise in female adolescents. Journal of Sports Sciences. 27(16):1-8.

Meylan, C., Cronin, J., Oliver, J., Hughes, M. (2010). Talent identification in soccer: the role of maturity status on physical, physiological and technical characteristics. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching. 5(4):571-592.

Thomas, N., Leyshon, A., Hughes, M.G., Davies, B., Graham, M, Baker, J. (2009). The effect of anaerobic exercise on salivary cortisol, testosterone and immunoglobin (A) in boys aged 15-16 years. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 107(4):455-61.

Lloyd, R.S., Oliver, J.L., Hughes, M.G. Williams, C.A. (2009). Reliability and validity of field-based measures of leg stiffness and reactive strength index in youths. Journal of Sports Sciences. 27(14):1565-1573.

Moir, H., Butcher, L., Jones, K.P., Hughes, M.G., Neale, H., Jia, H., Al-Ismaily, Z., Webb, R. (2008). AMPK inactivation in mononuclear intracellular mechanism for exercise-induced immunosuppression. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism. 33(1):75-85.

Brown, P., Hughes, M.G., Tong, R.J. (2008). The effect of warm-up on high-intensity, intermittent running using non-motorised treadmill ergometry. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 22(3):1-7.

Brown, P., Hughes, M.G., Tong, R.J. (2007). The effect of  VO2 max on repeated sprint ability using non-motorised treadmill ergometry. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. 47:186-190.

Glaister, M., Stone, M.H., Stewart, A.M., Hughes, M.G., Moir, G.L. (2007). The influence of endurance training on multiple sprint cycling performance. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 21(2):606-612.

Glaister, M., Stone, M.H., Stewart, A.M., Hughes, M.G., Moir, G.L. (2006). Aerobic and anaerobic correlates of multiple sprint cycling performance. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 20(4):792-798.

Hughes, M.G., Doherty, M., Tong, R.J., Reilly, T., Cable. N.T. (2006). Reliability of repeated sprint activity in non-motorised treadmill ergometry. International Journal of Sports Medicine. 27:900-904.

Glaister, M., Stone, M.H, Stewart, A.M., Hughes, M., Moir, G. (2005). The influence of recovery duration on multiple sprint cycling performance. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 19(4):831-837.

Doherty, M.D., Smith, P.M., Hughes, M.G., Davison, R.C. (2004). Caffeine lowers perceptual response and increases power output during high-intensity cycling. Journal of Sports Sciences. 22:637–643.

Glaister, M., Stone, M.H., Stewart, A.M., Hughes, M., Moir, G.L. (2004). The reliability and validity of fatigue measures during short-duration maximal intensity intermittent cycling. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 18(3):459–462.
Glaister, M., Stone, M.H., Stewart, A.M., Hughes, M., Moir, G.L (2003). Reliability of power output during short-duration maximal intensity intermittent cycling. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 17(4):781-784.

Doherty, M., Smith, P., Davison, R., Hughes, M. (2002). Caffeine is ergogenic after supplementation of oral creatine monohydrate. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 34(11):1785-1792.

Doherty, M., Smith, P., Hughes, M. (2001). Rating of perceived exertion during high-intensity treadmill running.Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 33(11):1953-8.

Demirel, H.A., Powers, S.K., Naito, H, Hughes, M., Coombes, J.S. (1999). Exercise-induced alterations in skeletal muscle myosin heavy chain phenotype: dose-response relationship. Journal of Applied Physiology. 86(3):1002-1008.

Vrabas, I.S., Dodd, S.L., Powers, S.K., Hughes, M., Coombes, J., Fletcher, L., Demirel, H., Reid, M.B. (1999). Endurance training reduces the rate of diaphragm fatigue in vitro. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 31(11):1605-12.

Powers, S.K., Farkas, G.A., Coombes, J.S., Fletcher, L., Hughes, M.G., Hodge, K., Dodd, S.L., Schlenker, E.H. (1996). Effect of aging and obesity on respiratory muscle phenotype in Zucker rats. Journal of Applied Physiology. 81(3):1347-1354.

Grace, M., Fletcher, L., Powers, S.K., Hughes, M., Coombes, J. (1996). A comparison of maximal bioenergetic enzyme activities obtained with commonly used homogenization techniques. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. 36(4):281-6.

Book Chapters

Hughes, M.G., Oliver, J.L., Lloyd, R.S. (2013). Physiology for coaches, in: Jones, R.L. and Kingston, K. (eds.), An introduction to sports coaching (2nd edition). London: Routledge. 

Hughes, M.G., Lloyd, R.S., Meyers, R.W. (2011). Sprinting and plyometric ability in youths: the effect of natural development and training, in Duncan, M. (ed.), Reviews in Pediatric Science. Nova Science publishers.

Hughes, M.G. (2009). Field-based assessment of speed and power in junior badminton players. In: Lees, A., Cabello, D. and Torres, G. Science and Racket sports IV. Oxon, Routledge. pp 70-76.

Hughes, M.G. (2007). Physiology for coaches, in: Jones, R.L., Hughes, M.D. and Kingston, K. (eds.), An introduction to sports coaching. London: Routledge.

Hughes, M.G. and Cosgrove, M. (2007). Assessment of elite Badminton players. In: Winter et al. (eds), Sport and Exercise Physiology Testing Guidelines, The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Guide: Volume I: Sport Testing. Oxon: Routledge. pp 214 - 219.

Hughes, M.G. (1995). Physiological demands of training in elite Badminton players. In: Reilly, T., Hughes, M.D., Lees, A. (eds) Science and Racket Sports. E & FN Spon, London. pp32 - 37.

Hughes, M.G., Fullerton, F.M. (1995). Development of an on-court aerobic test for elite Badminton players. In: Reilly, T., Hughes, M.D., Lees, A. (eds) Science and Racket Sports. E & FN Spon, London. pp 51-54.

Conference presentations

Invited speaker
Fitness and its assessment in high-level junior Badminton players. World Badminton championships Coaching Conference, London (2011).

The Optimization of Speed and Power in Childhood. International Congress of Physical Education and Sports Science (ICPESS), Singapore. (2010).

Physiological effects of football playing surface. FIFA turf manufacturers' conference. FIFA headquarters, Zurich, Switzerland (October 2008).

Training and Testing in Badminton. Physiology of intermittent activity / games: practical issues workshop. BASES conference, Liverpool. (2000).

Other presentations (2006 – present only)

Hughes, M.G., Meyers, R., Nokes, L., Oliver, J., Stembridge, M., Stone, K. The effect of high ambient temperature on the responses to a controlled football simulation. European Congress of Sports Sciences (ECSS) 2013, Barcelona, Spain.

Hughes, M.G., Birdsey, L., Seeking equivalence of the acute responses to continuous and interval aerobic exercise. ECSS 2012, Bruges, Belgium.

Hughes, M.G., Andrew, M., O'Donoghue, P., Stembridge, M. Ten years of a fitness assessment programme for high-level junior Badminton players. ECSS 2012, Bruges, Belgium.

Hughes, M.G., Archer, M, Stembridge, M., Meyers, R., Oliver, J., Cronin, J., Sephton, T. (2010). The influence of maturation and age on speed-training gains in 11 to 16 year old boys. 3rd International Congress of Physical Education and Sports Science. May 2010, Nangyang Technological University, Singapore.

Hughes, M.G., Oliver, J., Tong, R.J. (2010). The provision of lecture podcasts and its effect on academic performance in an undergraduate sport science module. BASES conference 2010. University of Glasgow.

Hughes, M.G., Archer, M., Meyers, R.W., Stembridge, M., Oliver, J., Cronin, J., Sephton, A., Smith, P. (2010). The effect of training in the development of sprint-speed and power in groups of 11- to 16-year old boys. BASES conference 2010. University of Glasgow.

Hughes, M.G., Deutsch, M., Meyers, R., Reid, A. (2007). Correlates of speed-test performance among contestants in a football talent identification scheme: the Football Icon project. BASES conference, September 2007. University of Bath.

Hughes, M.G. (2006). Field-based assessment of power and speed in junior badminton players. Fourth World Congress of Science and Racket Sports, Madrid, Sept 2006.

Michael currently teaches and supervises at all levels of higher education from first year undergraduate to PhD. He is Programme Director for the MSc in Sport & Exercise Science and the BSc Intercalated degree in Sport & Exercise Science. He is currently module leader for SSP4009 (Introduction to Sport & Exercise Physiology, first year BSc) and SSP7111 (Physiology of Sports Performance, MSc Scheme), while contributing to many other modules across the curriculum. He has led the development of programmes and modules across all levels with recent examples being the 2016 review of the MSc SES programme and the SSP4009 module (BSc. SES, 2014-5). He has supervised over 150 BSc dissertations in his career so far and around 25 MSc dissertations.

He has six PhD completions and one current supervision, as listed below

PhD completions

• Tom Cullen – Cytokine responses to exercise and training (Cardiff Metropolitan University in collaboration with Sport Wales, 2015). Director of studies, with supervisors Drs R. Webb and A. Thomas (Cardiff School of Health Sciences).
• Mike Stembridge – Cardiac responses to altitude (Cardiff Metropolitan University, 2015). Supervisor with Prof. Rob Shave (CSS) as Director of Studies.
• Michael Rumpf - Speed development and trainability in youth (Auckland University of Technology, 2013).
• Cesar Meylan - Power development and trainability in youth (Auckland University of Technology, 2012). 
• Rhodri Lloyd – The impact of age, maturation and training on stretch-shortening cycle development in male youths (Cardiff Metropolitan University, then 'UWIC', 2010).
• Hannah Moir - The expression and activation of 5'AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) and immune function in aerobic exercise (Cardiff Metropolitan University, then 'UWIC', 2009).

PhD supervision (current)

• Wesley Sleat – Effect of variations in natural playing surface in football (Cardiff Metropolitan University, current (part time student). Director of Studies with supervisors Drs I. Bezodis and P. O'Donoghue (both CSS).

PhD - Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
Development of a non-motorised treadmill procedure to assess the performance of repeated-sprint exercise. Director of Studies - Prof. T. Reilly
MSc – Sport & Exercise Physiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
BSc – Human Movement Science, University of Liverpool

BASES accredited sport scientist provider (Physiology in Badminton) – 2001 to 2011
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).
Teaching fellow of Cardiff Metropolitan University

Michael has managed two major projects for FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football) on the comparison of natural and artificial playing surfaces. Specifically, original pilot work (Chelsea FC, 2008) led to a more extensive, multi site, pan-European study (Valencia FC, Spain; Ajax FC, Netherlands; Lillestrom, Norway) collaborating with Cologne's Sport University and Liverpool John Moores University (2010).

He has carried out consultancy work for the Badminton World Federation and was fitness consultant for Badminton England between 2000 and 2017 (fitness assessment of junior national players). He is a member of the Sport Science Commission for the Badminton World Federation.

Funding for research / consultancy

PhD studentship for Tom Cullen (Knowledge Economy Skill Scholarship in collaboration with Sport Wales) - £60,000

Physiological comparison of playing surfaces (FIFA) - ~ £70,000

Validity and reliability of Badminton fitness tests - US $3,000
Evaluation of strength and conditioning in junior players - US $5,000
(both Badminton World Federation)

External academic roles

Research degree examinations

• Examined two PhD students (Cardiff Met) & four research Masters degrees (Auckland University, Edith Cowan University (Perth, Aus), Coventry University).

Academic programmes

• External examiner for BSc Sport & Exercise Science (Coventry University, 2010-2013) and MSc Applied Sport & Exercise Physiology (St Mary's University, 2009-2013).
• External panel member for the validation of the MSc in Sport Performance (University of Bedfordshire, 2010).

In addition to these roles, Michael has been a reviewer for the following bodies and peer-review Journals:

• British Heart Foundation (grant funding)

• International Journal of Sports Medicine
• Journal of Sports Sciences
• Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
• Pediatric Exercise Science
• Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research
• International Journal of Sports Physiology & Performance
• European Journal of Sport Science