Alex Bugg BSc, MSc
Researcher
Summary
Alex is a researcher in the Physical Activity, Wellbeing and Public Health Research Group. He has nearly a decade's experience working in workplace health, and utilising behaviour change techniques in combination with physical health screening. Alex's research focuses on musculoskeletal health, workplace wellbeing, and interventions for preventing, or supporting people with, long term conditions.
About
Alex graduated from Sheffield Hallam University with a BSc in Sport Science for Performance Coaching in 2015, and an MSc in Applied Sport and Exercise Science in 2017. He joined the research group full-time in 2017 to continue supporting the award winning SHUWellness workplace wellbeing programme. Alex's interest in supporting health and wellbeing has led to his involvement in a variety of research, evaluation and consultancy projects. Since 2017 he has trained workplace health practitioners both within SHU and for external organisations, as well as delivering and evaluating a variety of workplace health initiatives internally and externally.
Alongside workplace health, Alex has experience of working with clinical populations, including people that have experienced cardiac events, people with multiple sclerosis, and people with long covid. He has also been part of teams that have helped to evaluate the work of charities, non-profits and community organisations, and often works as part of inter-disciplinary teams to develop the strategy, reach and impact of programmes.
Alex’s developing research area is in musculoskeletal health, and interventions that can support musculoskeletal health throughout the lifespan, as well as finding ways to identify and support people that may be at risk. Alongside his full-time role, Alex is studying part time towards a doctorate. His research is focused on musculoskeletal health support within the workplace.
Alex also provides guest lectures for students in the School of Sport and Physical Activity and supports placement students to gain research experience through his role as a co-locator at the advanced wellbeing research centre.
Teaching
School of Sport and Physical Activity
College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences
Projects:
Optimising secondary prevention and quality of life following early CR: OSPREY CR
ExoMS
Feasibility of the Hero of Health integrated health service and connected neighbours App
Assessing the Impact of Active Travel Style Interventions on Common Musculoskeletal Conditions - Systematic Review
Choose Your Workforce - A framework for creating clinical exercise pathways
Courses taught:
MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Science
BSc Sport and Exercise Science
BSc Physical Activity Sport and Health
Modules:
Physical Activity and Health
Research
Publications
Journal articles
Carter, A.M., Humphreys, L., Beswick, A., Kesterton, S., Bugg, A., & Platts, K. (2025). The acceptability of a novel seismocardiography device for measuring VO 2 max in a workplace setting: a mixed methods approach. BMC Public Health, 25 (1). http://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21480-6
Klonizakis, M., Bugg, A., Hunt, B., Theodoridis, X., Bogdanos, D.P., & Grammatikopoulou, M.G. (2021). Assessing the Physiological Effects of Traditional Regional Diets Targeting the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials Implementing Mediterranean, New Nordic, Japanese, Atlantic, Persian and Mexican Dietary Interventions. Nutrients, 13 (9). http://doi.org/10.3390/nu13093034
Conference papers
Hardcastle, S., Frith, G., & Bugg, A. (2024). Uptake and Adherence to Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Qualitative study exploring Healthcare Professional and Patient Experiences and Perspectives across the UK. In Asia Pacific Society for Physical Activity Conference, Perth, Australia, 20 November 2024 - 22 November 2024.
Reports
Vernon, T., Quirke, H., Jones, G., Daly-Smith, A., Broom, D., O'Hagan, C., ... Shibli, S. (2019). Active Lives Children and Young People Comparison Study.
Bugg, A., Gareth, J., & Nichols, S. (2018). New Games Primary School Intervention Report. https://inewgames.com/about/new-games-research/
Posters
Bugg, A., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Carter, A., Humphreys, H., & Nichols, S. (2023). A Cross-Sectional Study to Assess the Prevalence of Poor Sarcopenia Specific Quality of Life in Mid-Life Adults. Presented at: International Sarcopenia Translational Research Conference, Newcastle University, 2023