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- Declan Ryan

Dr Declan
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Declan was awarded a first class honours degree in Sport and Exercise Science from Manchester Metropolitan University.
He completed his PhD at the Health, Exercise, and Active Living Research Centre (now Research Centre for Musculo-Skeletal Sciences & Sport Medicine), Manchester Metropolitan University in 2018. Declan’s doctorate research explored the relationships between older adults’ sedentary behaviour, physical activity, and cardio-metabolic profiles.
Declan joined the University of Northampton’s Sports Subject Area in 2019 to create and deliver exercise and health related topics, whilst continuing his research into older adults’ physical activity and health status.
Declan’s research featured in the UK Chief Medical Officers’ Physical Activity Guidelines 2019 Update report and in 2020, he was awarded the University of Northampton’s Diamond Research Awards Early-Career Researcher of the Year.
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Declan teaches across subject areas including but not limited to: Sport and Exercise Science, Health Studies, Biosciences. His content focusses on the various uses of physical activity for health promotion
Modules that Declan has developed:
- Health Physiology – Sport and Exercise Science
- Exercise as Medicine – Sport and Exercise Science
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Declan is accepting supervisory opportunities for PhD students. His main interests are sedentary behaviour and physical activity physiology, and the role of urban design in physical activity promotion.
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2023
- Ryan, D., Hardwicke, J. and Hill, K. (2023) Delapré Walk Project: Are signposted walking routes an effective intervention to increase engagement in urban parks? –Natural experimental study. Health and Place. 83 1353-8292.
- Ryan, D. and Benton, J. (2023) Using automated active infrared counters to estimate footfall on urban park footpaths: behavioural stability and validity testing. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 20 1479-5868.
2022
- Ashton, R., Ansdell, P., Hume, E., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Ryan, D., Tuttiett, E. and Faghy, M. (2022) COVID-19 and the long-term cardio-respiratory and metabolic health complications. Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine. 23(2) 1530-6550.
- Ryan, D., Hardwicke, J. and Kay, T. (2022) Evaluation Report Delapre Cycling and Walking Social Prescription – Baseline Phase. University of Northampton.
- Bayes, T., Simons, E., Jones, P., Kay, T. and Ryan, D. (2022) Evaluation Report Holiday Activities and Food Programme 2022 – Northamptonshire. University of Northampton.
- Bayes, N., Stringer, A., Bradley, S., Kay, A. D., Jones, P. and Ryan, D. (2022) Evaluation Report, Holiday Activities & Food Programme for Northamptonshire Sport, Executive Summary & Key Findings. University of Northampton.
- Bayes, N., Stringer, A., Bradley, S., Kay, A. D., Jones, P. and Ryan, D. (2022) Evaluation Report, Holiday Activities & Food Programme for Northamptonshire Sport, Full Report. University of Northampton.
- Ryan, D. and Hill, K. (2022) Public perceptions on the role of wayfinding in the promotion of recreational walking routes in greenspace – cross-sectional survey. Wellbeing, Space and Society. 3 2666-5581.
- Ryan, D., Tonkin, T. and Hardwicke, J. (2022) Report Active Quarter: Brackmills Industrial Estate 2022 – Active Travel and Physical Activity Infrastructure. University of Northampton.
- Stringer, A., Bayes, T., Bradley, S., Kay, T., Jones, P. and Ryan, D. (2022) A mixed-method process evaluation of an East Midlands county summer 2021 Holiday Activities and Food Programme highlighting the views of Programme Co-ordinators, Providers, and Parents. Frontiers in Public Health. 10 2296-2565.
2021
- Ryan, D. and Hill, K. (2021) Increasing community engagement in greenspace physical activity through wayfinding – Public survey responses from Northamptonshire residents.
- Ryan, D., Elliott-King, J. and Ward, A. (2021) Influence of COVID-19 Building Restrictions on Physical Activity Promotion Through Increased Stair Use and Limited Elevator Access: A Quasi-Experimental Study—Sport and Physical Activity Group Active Campus Project. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. , pp. 1-8. 1543-5474.
2019
- Degens, H., Doody, C., Wullems, J., Ryan, D. J., Morse, C. and Onambele-Pearson, G. (2019) Influence of Habitual Physical Behavior – Sleeping, Sedentarism, Physical Activity – On Bone Health in Community-Dwelling Older People. Frontiers in Physiology. 10(408), pp. 1-15. 1664-042X.
- Degens, H., Doody, C., Wullems, J., Ryan, D. J., Morse, C. and Onambele-Pearson, G. (2019) Influence of Habitual Physical Behavior – Sleeping, Sedentarism, Physical Activity – On Bone Health in Community-Dwelling Older People. Frontiers in Physiology. 10(408), pp. 1-15. 1664-042X.
- Ryan, D., Wullems, J., Stebbings, G., Morse, C., Stewart, C. and Onambele-Pearson, G. (2019) Using isotemporal substitution to predict the effects of changing physical behaviour on older adults’ cardio-metabolic profiles. PLoS ONE. 14(10) 1932-6203.
- Ryan, D., Wullems, J., Stebbings, G., Morse, C., Stewart, C. and Onambele-Pearson, G. (2019) The difference in sleep, sedentary behaviour, and physical activity between older adults with ‘healthy’ and ‘unhealthy’ cardiometabolic profiles: a cross-sectional compositional data analysis approach. European Review of Aging and Physical Activity. 16, pp. 1-12. 1813-7253.
This list was generated from NECTAR on Sun Jun 22 03:41:46 2025 BST. -
2018
- Reliability and validity of the international physical activity questionnaire compared to calibrated accelerometer cut-off points in the quantification of sedentary behaviour and physical activity in older-old adults. – Ryan, D. J., Wullems, J., Stebbings, G., Morse, C., Stewart, C. & Onambele-Pearson, G., 19 Apr 2018, In : PLoS ONE. 13, 4, p. 1-17 17 p.
- Segregating the distinct effects of sedentary behaviour and physical activity on older adults’ cardiovascular profile: Part 1- Regression model approach. – Ryan, D. J., Wullems, J., Stebbings, G., Morse, C., Stewart, C. & Onambele-Pearson, G., 1 Jul 2018, In : Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 15, 7, p. 499-509 11 p.
- Segregating the distinct effects of sedentary behaviour and physical activity on older adults’ cardiovascular profile: Part 2- Isotemporal substitution approach. – Ryan, D. J., Wullems, J., Stebbings, G., Morse, C., Stewart, C. & Onambele-Pearson, G., 1 Jul 2018, In : Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 15, 7, p. 537-542 6 p., 7.
2015
- The emergence of sedentary behaviour physiology and its effects on the cardiometabolic profile in young and older adults. – Ryan, D. J., Stebbings, G. & Onambele, G., 28 Aug 2015, In : Age. 37, 5