Professor Sean Tweedy
Professor

Sean Tweedy

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 56638

Background

Professor Sean Tweedy leads the Para Sport and Adapted Physical Activity Research Group in the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland. Through his applied research program he aims to generate the knowledge required to empower people with disabilities to pursue self-directed goals through safe, effective engagement in sport and physical activity. Sean’s research addresses three main areas of need:

  • People with disabilities are among the most inactive people in society and consequently have a disproportionately high incidence of preventable diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes mellitus. Sean’s research program aims to develop evaluate and translate evidence-based methods for increasing physically active behaviour among community dwelling adults with disabilities.
  • Para athletes have impairments which adversely affect sports performance, but the extent to which performance is affected varies greatly with some athletes having impairments that cause severe disadvantage in sport and others that cause relatively minor disadvantage. To ensure that competition is fair and that athletes who succeed are not simply those that have less severe impairments, Para athletes compete in classes, each comprising athletes who have impairments that cause a similar amount of disadvantage in sport. Methods for allocating class are not well established and Sean is Principal Investigator for the International Paralympic Committee’s Classification Research and Development Centre (physical impairments) which aims to develop best practice and evidence-based methods for allocating athletes to classes;
  • In Australia, the right of people with disability to participate in sport and recreation is protected but only if the accommodations they require - equipment and/or expertise - are deemed to be "reasonable”. Unfortunately people with severe disabilities and high support needs often require equipment and/or expertise which cannot reasonably be expected of community sport and recreation providers. Sean’s research program aims to develop, evaluate and translate methods for safe, effective engagement in physically demanding, competitive sport for people with severe disabilities and high support needs. ParaSTART is his flagship program in this area - https://habs.uq.edu.au/parastart

Availability

Professor Sean Tweedy is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Health Sciences Sports science and exercise

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Human Movement Science, The University of Queensland
  • Masters (Coursework), The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research impacts

Professor Tweedy developed the Adapted Physical Activity Program (APAP), a theory-driven physical activity promotion program for community dwelling people disabilities. A controlled clinical trial demonstrated its efficacy in people with acquired brain injury, providing impetus for its implementation into the Acquired Brain Injury-Transitional Rehabilitation Service, Queensland’s primary rehabilitation service for people with brain injury. APAP also runs on a cost recovery basis from UQ and each year more than 100 community dwelling adults with a wide range of disabilities are referred. To refer a client visit - https://hmns.uq.edu.au/apap/.

Our research group developed the Maximum Allowable Standing Height (MASH) rule for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) which is the international standard used to ensure the prosthetics used by bilateral lower limb amputees are anatomically proportional. In 2019 Mr Blake Leeper (USA), a bilateral transtibial amputee and elite 400 m sprinter, applied to World Athletics (WA, Previously IAAF)to run at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games (i.e., against non-disabled runners). In support of his application Mr Leeper provided a scientific report which claimed to show that his prosthetics did not provide him with a competitive advantage. Our group were engaged by WA to evaluate the scientific merit of Mr Leeper's application. We assessed Mr Leepers report and a range of other scientific evidence and advised WA that, on the balance of probabilities, Mr Leepers prosthetics did confer an advantage his application should be rejected. Mr Leeper contested the decision but on 26.10.21 the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in support of our assessment (CAS2020/A/6807). In December 2020 Mr Leeper challenged the CAS decision on the grounds that the scientific evidence provided by our group was racially discriminatory. However, on 11.6.21, CAS once again ruled in our favour and found our methods were not racially discriminatory (decision announced, grounds pending).

Sean is first author on the IPC Position Stand – Background and Scientific Principles of Classification in disability sport which is among the most highly cited scientific papers in the field (263 citations) and which has also been incorporated verbatim into the IPC Handbook (Chapter 4.4), the common repository for all guiding documents for the Paralympic movement

Search Professor Sean Tweedy’s works on UQ eSpace

124 works between 1999 and 2025
All (124) Journal Article (78) Book Chapter (11) Conference Publication (31) Other Outputs (4)

61 - 80 of 124 works

2016

Journal Article

Advancing paralympic classification through science

Connick, Mark, Beckman, Emma and Tweedy, Sean (2016). Advancing paralympic classification through science. Coaching Life

Advancing paralympic classification through science

2016

Journal Article

Assessing muscle strength for the purpose of classification in paralympic athletics: a review and recommendations

Beckman, Emma, Connick, Mark and Tweedy, Sean (2016). Assessing muscle strength for the purpose of classification in paralympic athletics: a review and recommendations. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 20 (4), 391-396. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2016.08.010

Assessing muscle strength for the purpose of classification in paralympic athletics: a review and recommendations

2016

Journal Article

Should Markus Rehm be permitted to compete in the long jump at the Olympic Games?

Emma M Beckman, Mark J Connick, Mike J McNamee, Richard Parnell and Sean M Tweedy (2016). Should Markus Rehm be permitted to compete in the long jump at the Olympic Games?. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 51 (14), 1048-1049. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2016-096621

Should Markus Rehm be permitted to compete in the long jump at the Olympic Games?

2016

Journal Article

Performance-focussed sport - An avenue to gold-medal clinical outcomes for people with neurological impairments?

Tweedy, Sean M., Beckman, Emma M., Johnston, Leanne M. and Connick, Mark J. (2016). Performance-focussed sport - An avenue to gold-medal clinical outcomes for people with neurological impairments?. Brain Impairment, 17 (1), 99-110. doi: 10.1017/BrImp.2016.5

Performance-focussed sport - An avenue to gold-medal clinical outcomes for people with neurological impairments?

2016

Journal Article

How much does lower body strength impact Paralympic running performance?

Beckman, E. M., Connick, M. J. and Tweedy, S. M. (2016). How much does lower body strength impact Paralympic running performance?. European Journal of Sport Science, 16 (6), 669-676. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2015.1132775

How much does lower body strength impact Paralympic running performance?

2016

Journal Article

Developing tests of impaired coordination for Paralympic classification: normative values and test–retest reliability

Connick, Mark, Beckman, Emma, Deuble, Rebecca and Tweedy, Sean M. (2016). Developing tests of impaired coordination for Paralympic classification: normative values and test–retest reliability. Sports Engineering, 19 (3), 147-154. doi: 10.1007/s12283-016-0199-5

Developing tests of impaired coordination for Paralympic classification: normative values and test–retest reliability

2016

Journal Article

Response to letter to the editor re: Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) Position Statement on Exercise and Spinal Cord Injury

Tweedy, Sean, Beckman, Emma, Geraghty, Tim J., Theisen, Daniel, Perret, Claudio, Harvey, Lisa A. and Vanlandewijck, Yves C. (2016). Response to letter to the editor re: Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) Position Statement on Exercise and Spinal Cord Injury. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 20 (5), 422-423. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2016.10.004

Response to letter to the editor re: Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) Position Statement on Exercise and Spinal Cord Injury

2016

Book Chapter

Research needs for the development of evidence-based systems of classification for physical, vision and intellectual impairments

Tweedy, Sean M., Mann, David and Vanlandewijck, Yves C. (2016). Research needs for the development of evidence-based systems of classification for physical, vision and intellectual impairments. Training and coaching the paralympic athlete. (pp. 122-149) edited by Yves C. Vanlandewijck and Walter R. Thompson. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/9781119045144.ch7

Research needs for the development of evidence-based systems of classification for physical, vision and intellectual impairments

2015

Journal Article

Evaluation of methods for calculating maximum allowable standing height in amputees competing in Paralympic athletics

Connick, M. J., Beckman, E., Ibusuki, T., Malone, L. and Tweedy, S. M. (2015). Evaluation of methods for calculating maximum allowable standing height in amputees competing in Paralympic athletics. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 26 (11), 1353-1359. doi: 10.1111/sms.12586

Evaluation of methods for calculating maximum allowable standing height in amputees competing in Paralympic athletics

2015

Journal Article

Relative age affects marathon performance in male and female athletes

Connick, Mark J., Beckman, Emma M. and Tweedy, Sean M. (2015). Relative age affects marathon performance in male and female athletes. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 14 (3), 669-674.

Relative age affects marathon performance in male and female athletes

2015

Journal Article

Using Fitts Law’ to detect intentional misrepresentation

Deuble, Rebecca L., Connick, Mark J., Beckman, Emma M., Abernethy, Bruce and Tweedy, Sean M. (2015). Using Fitts Law’ to detect intentional misrepresentation. Journal of Motor Behavior, 48 (2), 164-171. doi: 10.1080/00222895.2015.1058744

Using Fitts Law’ to detect intentional misrepresentation

2015

Journal Article

How much do range of movement and coordination affect Paralympic sprint performance?

Connick, Mark. J., Beckman, Emma, Spathis, Jemima, Deuble, Rebecca and Tweedy, Sean M. (2015). How much do range of movement and coordination affect Paralympic sprint performance?. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 47 (10), 2216-2223. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000643

How much do range of movement and coordination affect Paralympic sprint performance?

2014

Journal Article

Reliability and validity of a talent identification test battery for seated and standing Paralympic throws

Spathis, Jemima Grace, Connick, Mark James, Beckman, Emma Maree, Newcombe, Peter Anthony and Tweedy, Sean Michael (2014). Reliability and validity of a talent identification test battery for seated and standing Paralympic throws. Journal of Sports Sciences, 33 (8), 863-871. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2014.969294

Reliability and validity of a talent identification test battery for seated and standing Paralympic throws

2014

Journal Article

Paralympic classification: conceptual basis, current methods, and research update

Tweedy, Sean M., Beckman, Emma M. and Connick, Mark J. (2014). Paralympic classification: conceptual basis, current methods, and research update. PM and R: Paralympic Sports Medicine and Science, 6 (8 (Supplement)), S11-S17. doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2014.04.013

Paralympic classification: conceptual basis, current methods, and research update

2014

Journal Article

Novel strength test battery to permit evidence-based paralympic classification

Beckman, Emma M., Newcombe, Peter, Vanlandewijck, Yves, Connick, Mark J. and Tweedy, Sean M. (2014). Novel strength test battery to permit evidence-based paralympic classification. Medicine, 93 (4) e31, e31.1-e31.8. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000000031

Novel strength test battery to permit evidence-based paralympic classification

2012

Journal Article

What throwing frame configuration should be used to investigate the impact of different impairment types on Paralympic seated throwing?

Tweedy, Sean M., Connick, Mark J., Burkett, Brendan, Sayers, Mark, Meyer, Christophe and Vanlandewijck, Yves C. (2012). What throwing frame configuration should be used to investigate the impact of different impairment types on Paralympic seated throwing?. Sports Technology, 5 (1-2), 56-64. doi: 10.1080/19346182.2012.749832

What throwing frame configuration should be used to investigate the impact of different impairment types on Paralympic seated throwing?

2011

Journal Article

Trunk strength impact of track wheelchair start: Implications for classification

Vanlandewijck, Yves, C., Verellen, Joeri, Beckman, Emma, Connick, Mark and Tweedy, Sean M. (2011). Trunk strength impact of track wheelchair start: Implications for classification. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 43 (12), 2344-2351. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e318223af14

Trunk strength impact of track wheelchair start: Implications for classification

2011

Journal Article

Validity of accelerometry in ambulatory children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

Clanchy, Kelly M., Tweedy, Sean M., Boyd, Roslyn N. and Trost, Stewart G. (2011). Validity of accelerometry in ambulatory children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 111 (12), 2951-2959. doi: 10.1007/s00421-011-1915-2

Validity of accelerometry in ambulatory children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

2011

Journal Article

Is increased residual shank length a competitive advantage for elite transtibial amputee long jumpers?

Nolan, Lee, Patritti, Benjamin L., Stana, Laura and Tweedy, Sean M. (2011). Is increased residual shank length a competitive advantage for elite transtibial amputee long jumpers?. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 28 (3), 267-276. doi: 10.1123/apaq.28.3.267

Is increased residual shank length a competitive advantage for elite transtibial amputee long jumpers?

2011

Journal Article

Towards evidence-based classification in wheelchair sports: Impact of seating position on wheelchair acceleration

Vanlandewijck, Yves, C., Verellen, Joeri and Tweedy, Sean (2011). Towards evidence-based classification in wheelchair sports: Impact of seating position on wheelchair acceleration. Journal of Sports Sciences, 29 (10), 1089-1096. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2011.576694

Towards evidence-based classification in wheelchair sports: Impact of seating position on wheelchair acceleration

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2027
    AI-Empowered and Video-Based uplift of Paralympic classification systems (AQIRP project administered by Follow Me AI)
    Follow Me AI Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2029
    Implementation of the Australian Physical Activity Clinical Practice Guideline for people with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (an MRFF TBI grant administered by University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2026
    Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a consumer co-designed exercise program in paediatric survivors of sarcoma
    World Cancer Research Fund International
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    Implementation and scale-up of a consumer co-designed physical activity promotion program for people with moderate-to-profound disabilities
    NHMRC MRFF PPHR - Effective Treatments and Therapies
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Transforming the World Para Swimming Classification System with sEMG.
    Manchester Metropolitan University
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024
    The safety, feasibility and acceptability of a performance focused sports training program for previously able-bodied athletes with recently acquired spinal cord injuries
    Queensland Academy of Sport
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    From injury to long-term physical activity for people living with traumatic brain injury (MRFF Traumatic Brain Injury Mission Grant administered by University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Classification in wheelchair tennis
    Loughborough University
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Classification of runners with hypertonia, axtaxia or athetosis - improving the current system and evaluation of new methods
    International Paralympic Committee
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Towards evidence-based classification for sprinters with neurological impairment in World Para Athletics
    Exercise and Sports Science Australia Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Evaluating the effects of a performance-focused swimming training program on health, fitness, and functioning in people with moderate-to-severe cerebral palsy
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    Does a high-volume, performance-focused swimming program elicit meaningful, therapeutic change in people with cerebral palsy? A proof-of-concept study
    Swimming Australia Limited
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2022
    A longitudinal intervention study evaluating physical and psychosocial responses to performance focused sports training for people with moderate-to-severe cerebral palsy
    Queensland Academy of Sport
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2020
    Does a high-volume, performance-focused swimming program elicit meaningful, therapeutic change in people with cerebral palsy? A proof-of-concept study
    Australian Paralympic Committee
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2018
    Evaluation of training responses of patients following megaprosthesis bone replacement surgery
    Queensland Orthopaedic Research Trust
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Improving reliability and validity of current classification methods in classes FT5-FT8 and t35-T38
    The Agitos Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2021
    IPC Classification Research and Development Centre
    International Paralympic Committee
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Evaluation of the impact of neuromusculoskeletal impairment on running performance in Kenyan Athletes
    International Paralympic Committee
    Open grant
  • 2012
    An instrumented treadmill for understanding the forces responsible for walking and running under different conditions in both normal and clinical populations.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Towards Evidence-based classification in Paralympic Athletics: Methods for assessing level of training and intentional misrepresentation of abilities in Paralympic athletes
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2015
    Longitudinal growth, nutrition and physical activity in young children with Cerebral Palsy
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2007
    Evaluating the impact of neuromusculoskeletal impairment on the execution of athletic skills
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2004
    Development and Evaluation of a Unified Classification System disability athletics (running, wheelchair racing, throws and jumps)
    Australian Sports Commission
    Open grant
  • 2003
    Mobile Exercise Science Laboratory
    Australian Sports Commission
    Open grant
  • 2001
    Reliability of a community based protocol for measurement of oxygen cost of locomotion in people with acquired brain injury (ABI)
    GF Finch Bequest
    Open grant
  • 2001
    The efficacy of a community based physical activity intervention in improving the health of people with acquired brain injury
    Princess Alexandra Hospital R&D Foundation
    Open grant
  • 1997 - 2019
    Motor Accident Insurance Commission Queensland Teaching and Community Service Rehabilitation Research Fellowship in Physical Activity and Disability
    Motor Accident Insurance Commission
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Sean Tweedy is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Does a high-volume, performance-focused swimming program elicit meaningful, therapeutic change in people with cerebral palsy? A proof-of-concept study

    In the general population, the dose-response relationship between exercise volume and relative disease-risk is curvilinear with an inflection at 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week: below this volume (i.e., lower frequency, intensity and/or duration) relative disease-risk increases rapidly; and above this volume, disease-risk continues to decrease, but less rapidly. Importantly, there is no obvious upper threshold. This dose-response relationship is believed to apply to people with cerebral palsy (CP), although research in this population to date has focused almost exclusively on low-volume exercise. The benefits of high-volume exercise have not been investigated and anecdotal evidence indicates that high-volume exercise, such as is undertaken by Paralympic swimmers, elicits clinical outcomes that significantly exceed those conferred by lower volumes. This proof-of-concept study will apply Talent Identification/Talent Development methods from elite sport to identify untrained, people with CP with moderate-to-severe impairments, but with physical and psychological attributes known to be advantageous in competitive swimming. Half of the sample will complete a 12-week, high-volume, performance-focused swimming program. The effect of this exercise dose on participants’ health, fitness and functioning will be compared with the effects of a 12-week intervention aimed at assisting a control-group to accrue 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development and Evaluation of Medical Screening and Management Procedures for People with Disabilities and High Support Needs Commencing Competitive Sport

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Emma Beckman, Dr Jessica Hill

  • Doctor Philosophy

    an evaluation of the impact of performance focused sports training on clinical outcomes in individuals with high support needs

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Emma Beckman

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Physical and Psychosocial Responses of Adolescents with Moderateto- Severe Cerebral Palsy to a Performance-Focused Frame Running Program

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Emma Beckman

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Human-Centered Independent Living for People with Paraplegia

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Dhaval Vyas

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Enduring policy conundrums in the education of young people with disabilities: The case of Health, Sport and Physical Education

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Leigh Sperka

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Prospective analysis of para swimming- investigating talent identification, talent development and the impact on impairment and performance.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Emma Beckman

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Neurophysiological measurements in Paralympic Sport Classification

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Timothy Carroll, Associate Professor Emma Beckman

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Developing a Motor Assessment Tool that is Feasible for Autistic Children with High Support Needs

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Emma Beckman, Professor John Cairney

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding and influencing sedentary time in workers with a disability

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Ana Goode, Dr Jessica Hill, Professor Genevieve Healy

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Human Posture Recognition Applied to Physical Activity

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Xin Yu

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Examining the Efficacy of Attentional Focus Instruction on Typically and Atypically Developing Young Learners Performing a Postural Control Task

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Gregore Iven Mielke, Professor John Cairney

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Implementation and scale-up of ParaSTART, a performance focused sports training and applied research program for people with high support needs disabilities.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Emma Beckman

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Para Sport coach development- a prospective longitudinal study

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Steven Rynne, Associate Professor Emma Beckman

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Sean Tweedy directly for media enquiries about:

  • Careers - exercise science
  • Disability and health
  • Disability and sport
  • Exercise science
  • Health and disability
  • Human movement studies
  • Paralympics
  • Physical activity
  • Physical activity and disability
  • Sport and disability
  • Wheelchair sports

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