Sports student punches above his weight with strength research

Now aged 22, Harrison based his study on whether an individual’s sense of effort could be used to predict how much weight she or he can lift. The issue of ‘perceived exertion’ is a hot topic in sports science but very little research has looked at this in relation to resistance training. Harrison’s research found that an individual’s sense of how hard she or he was working when lifting a weight could be used to predict their maximum strength. This suggests that individuals are good at assessing their own limits and potential when it comes to resistance training. This could help fitness instructors develop individual training programmes to help each individual realise his or her potential.

A member of the university football team and a keen cyclist, surfer, golfer and tennis player, Harrison hopes to study for a PhD so he can continue to make new discoveries in the field of sport and exercise science.

Harrison Evans said: I’m very proud to have my study published; it reflects a lot of hard work and the exceptional standard of teaching here at the school of sport and health sciences in Exeter. I believe this finding adds a fast, accurate and reliable tool for predicting maximal strength with a real practical application in many settings, making it an exciting area to study.

Professor Roger Eston, Head of the Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Exeter, who co-authored the paper with Harrison said: “It is extremely rare for an undergraduate student to have work published in an academic journal – most of us have to get to PhD level before we achieve this! Harrison is a rising star in the School and we are really proud of his achievements. His research will be read by academics all over the world and may well make an impact on the fitness industry.”

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