Liam Humphreys

Liam Humphreys BSc, MSc

Research Fellow


Summary

Liam Humphreys is a Research Fellow with over 7 years' experience of working in the fitness industry, research and consultancy. Liam's main area of interest is the role of exercise in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease.

About

Liam completed his BSc (hons) from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2006,which led him to pursue further study, achieving MSc Physical Activity for Health from Sheffield Hallam University. Liam began his research and consultancy career working on the SHU Wellness service; an award winning workplace health programme.

He has developed his professional skills through intervention design and the management of research using a variety of methods including; pilot studies, large randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews, qualitative research, and public health evaluations.

Liam's specific areas of interest are the role of physical activity in the prevention and management of chronic disease, and health behaviour change, specialising in motivational interviewing.

As a Research Fellow, Liam's role involves the design and management of several exercise-related research studies for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), cardiovascular disease, intermittent claudication and cancer. Liam's latest work has focused on the design of innovative physical activity interventions for the management and rehabilitation of multiple sclerosis and the design and implementation of a physical activity referral scheme for people affected by cancer.

Liam's professional qualifications include; advanced (level 3) fitness instructor and level three award In Exercise Programming with Disabled People (IFI), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Health Fitness Specialist and Cancer Exercise Specialist.

Specialist areas of interest

Physical Activity

Chronic disease

Qualitative research

Clinical exercise trials

Public health evaluations

Accelerometers

Research

Active Everyday: Macmillan physical activity programme for people living with and beyond cancer.

Developing a physical activity intervention for people with higher levels of multiple sclerosis disability.

Feasibility and Safety of high intensity interval training for people with low levels of multiple sclerosis disability.

Development of an integrated approach to promoting and sustaining recover in cancer patients through exercise in Sheffield.

The effects of exercise on health related quality of life and immune function in persons diagnosed with mild to moderate multiple sclerosis.

Development and pilot randomised trial of a group education programme for promoting walking in people with intermittent claudication.

SHU Wellness

Exploring the impact of the 'Active Woodlands' programme on physical activity attitudes, behaviour and education in primary school children.

An effectiveness evaluation of 'booster' interventions to sustain increases in physical activity in middle aged adults.

Publications

Journal articles

Moore, J., Beaney, A., Humphreys, L., Merchant, Z., Parmar, K.K., & Levett, D. (2025). Optimisation of the patient having oncological surgical through prehabilitation: a narrative review. Anaesthesia, 80 Suppl 2, 85-94. http://doi.org/10.1111/anae.16513

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

Rosenthal, K., Frith, G., Keen, C., Myers, A., Phillips, G., Pickering, K., ... Copeland, R. (2024). 158 Evaluation of a multi-modal rehabilitation programme for people affected by cancer: the Active Together service [abstract only]. European Journal of Public Health, 34 (Supple). http://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckae114.134

Myers, A., Humphreys, L., Thelwell, M., Pickering, K., Frith, G., Phillips, G., ... _, _. (2024). Embedding Multimodal Rehabilitation Within Routine Cancer Care in Sheffield—The Active Together Service Evaluation Protocol. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 1-12. http://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2023-0622

Fish, R., Blackwell, S., Knight, S.R., Daniels, S., West, M.A., Pearson, I., ... DiSCO Study Group, (2024). Defining standards and core outcomes for clinical trials in prehabilitation for colorectal surgery (DiSCO): modified Delphi methodology to achieve patient and healthcare professional consensus. The British journal of surgery, 111 (6). http://doi.org/10.1093/bjs/znae056

Keen, C., Phillips, G., Thelwell, M., Humphreys, L., Evans, L., Myers, A., ... Copeland, R. (2024). Correction: Keen et al. Establishing Innovative Complex Services: Learning from the Active Together Cancer Prehabilitation and Rehabilitation Service. Healthcare 2023, 11, 3007. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 12 (12), 1175. http://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12121175

Humphreys, L., Myers, A., Frith, G., Thelwell, M., Pickering, K., Mills, G.H., ... Copeland, R. (2024). The Development of a Multi-Modal Cancer Rehabilitation (Including Prehabilitation) Service in Sheffield, UK: Designing the Active Together Service. Healthcare, 12 (7). http://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12070742

Myers, A., Barlow, R., Baldini, G., Campbell, A., Carli, F., Carr, E., ... Copeland, R. (2024). International consensus is needed on a core outcome set to advance the evidence of best practice in cancer prehabilitation services and research. British Journal of Anaesthesia. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2024.02.021

Keen, C., Phillips, G., Thelwell, M., Humphreys, L., Evans, L., Myers, A., ... Copeland, R. (2023). Establishing Innovative Complex Services: Learning from the Active Together Cancer Prehabilitation and Rehabilitation Service. Healthcare, 11 (23). http://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11233007

Humphreys, L., Frith, G., Humphreys, H., Crank, H., Dixey, J., Greenfield, D.M., & Reece, L.J. (2023). Evaluation of a city-wide physical activity pathway for people affected by cancer: the Active Everyday service. Supportive Care in Cancer, 31 (2). http://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-07560-y

Humphreys, L., Carter, A., Sharrack, B., & Copeland, R. (2022). High-intensity interval training in people with mild multiple sclerosis: a mixed-methods feasibility study. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 29 (5). http://doi.org/10.12968/ijtr.2021.0073

Lavín-Pérez, A.M., Collado-Mateo, D., Mayo, X., Liguori, G., Humphreys, L., & Jimenez Gutierrez, A. (2021). Can Exercise Reduce the Autonomic Dysfunction of Patients With Cancer and Its Survivors? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. http://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.712823

Lavín-Pérez, A.M., Collado-Mateo, D., Mayo, X., Liguori, G., Humphreys, L., Copeland, R.J., & Jimenez Gutierrez, A. (2021). Effects of high-intensity training on the quality of life of cancer patients and survivors: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Scientific Reports, 11 (1). http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-94476-y

Lavín‐Pérez, A.M., Collado‐Mateo, D., Mayo, X., Humphreys, L., Liguori, G., Copeland, R., ... Jimenez Gutierrez, A. (2020). High‐intensity exercise to improve cardiorespiratory fitness in cancer patients and survivors: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. http://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13861

Humphreys, L., Crank, H., Dixey, J., & Greenfield, D.M. (2020). An integrated model of exercise support for people affected by cancer: consensus through scoping. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1-10. http://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2020.1795280

Humphreys, L., Crank, H., Frith, G., Speake, H., & Reece, L. (2017). Bright spots, physical activity investments that work: Active Everyday, Sheffield’s physical activity service for all people living with and beyond cancer. British Journal of Sports Medicine. http://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-098672

Crank, H., Carter, A., Humphreys, L., Snowdon, N., Daley, A., Woodroofe, N., ... Saxton, J.M. (2017). A qualitative investigation of exercise perceptions and experiences in people with multiple sclerosis before, during and after participation in a personally-tailored exercise program. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 98 (12), 2520-2525. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2017.05.022

Flint, S., Scaife, R., Kesterton, S., Humphreys, L., Copeland, R., Crank, H., ... Carter, A. (2016). Sheffield Hallam Staff Wellness Service: four year follow-up of the impact on health indicators. Perspectives in Public Health, 136 (5), 295-301. http://doi.org/10.1177/1757913916630009

Copeland, R.J., Horspool, K., Humphreys, L., & Scott, E. (2016). Recruiting to a large-scale physical activity randomised controlled trial – experiences with the gift of hindsight. Trials, 17, 104. http://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-016-1229-0

Carter, A., Humphreys, L., Snowdon, N., Sharrack, B., Daley, A., Petty, J., ... Saxton, J. (2015). Participant recruitment into a randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for people with multiple sclerosis. Trials, 16 (1). http://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-015-0996-3

Tew, G.A., Humphreys, L., Crank, H., Hewitt, C., Nawaz, S., Al-Jundi, W., ... Gorely, T. (2015). The development and pilot randomised controlled trial of a group education programme for promoting walking in people with intermittent claudication. Vascular Medicine, 20 (4), 348-357. http://doi.org/10.1177/1358863X15577857

Gorely, T., Crank, H., Humphreys, L., Nawaz, S., & Tew, G.A. (2015). “Standing still in the street”: Experiences, knowledge and beliefs of patients with intermittent claudication—A qualitative study. Journal of Vascular Nursing, 33 (1), 4-9. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvn.2014.12.001

Carter, A., Daley, A., Humphreys, L., Snowdon, N., Woodroofe, N., Petty, J., ... Saxton, J. (2014). Pragmatic intervention for increasing self-directed exercise behaviour and improving important health outcomes in people with multiple sclerosis : a randomised controlled trial. Multiple Sclerosis, 20 (8), 1112-1122. http://doi.org/10.1177/1352458513519354

Kesterton, S., Till, S., Carter, A., Scaife, R., Humphreys, L., Breckon, J., ... Maynard, I. (2014). Effect of a pilot NHS worksite health promotion programme on staff health and cost savings, Sheffield, 2012. European Journal of Public Health, 24 (suppl2). http://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/cku151.122

Tew, G.A., Gorely, T., Crank, H., Humphries, L., Trender, H., Michaels, J., & Nawaz, S. (2014). Development And Piloting Of SEDRIC (Structured EDucation For Rehabilitation In Intermittent Claudication). Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 46, 372. http://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000494289.76653.e6

Goyder, E., Hind, D., Dimairo, M., Minton, J., Everson-Hock, E., Reade, S., ... Cooper, C. (2014). A randomised controlled trial and cost-effectiveness evaluation of 'booster' interventions to sustain increases in physical activity in middle-aged adults in deprived urban neighbourhoods. Health technology assessment, 18 (13), 1-210. http://doi.org/10.3310/hta18130

Tew, G.A., Nawaz, S., Humphreys, L., Ouedraogo, N., & Abraham, P. (2014). Validation of the English version of the Walking Estimated-Limitation Calculated by History (WELCH) questionnaire in patients with intermittent claudication. Vascular Medicine, 19 (1), 27-32. http://doi.org/10.1177/1358863X14520870

Conference papers

Humphreys, L., Frith, G., Speake, H., Crank, H., & Reece, L. (2018). Active Everyday: A physical activity referral scheme for people affected by cancer. JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY & HEALTH, 15 (10), S232.

Book chapters

Carter, A., Humphreys, L., & Sharrack, B. (2017). Exercise in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. In Watson, R.R., & Killgore, W.D.S. (Eds.) Nutrition and lifestyle in neurological autoimmune diseases. Multiple sclerosis. (pp. 179-187). London: Academic Press: http://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-805298-3.00018-9

Reports

Carter, A., Carter, E., Bugg, A., & Humphreys, L. (2024). Covid Insights Summary Report.

Humphreys, L., Frith, G., Kudiersky, N., Rosenthal, K., Myers, A., & Copeland, R. (2024). Active Together Service Evaluation Report.

Carter, A., Humphreys, L., Bugg, A., & Copeland, R. (2024). Interim Evaluation Report For the Strategic Impact Areas of Workforce Wellbeing and Living Well, NHS Charities Together.

Carter, A., Humphreys, L., Bugg, A., Beswick, A., Kesterton, S., & Platts, K. (2023). Acceptability of using the Ventriject Seismofit® system during workforce health screening: A qualitative approach.

Carter, A., Humphreys, L., & Breckon, J. (2015). Models of excellence literature reviews, Final report: Physical activity in people with MS.

Theses / Dissertations

Humphreys, L. (2023). Exploration of the Physical Activity Guidelines for People with Multiple Sclerosis. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Copeland, R., Carter, A., & Sharrack, B. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00537

Internet Publications

Humphreys, L. (2024). The keys to managing chemotherapy: exercise, nutrition and mental health. https://theconversation.com/the-keys-to-managing-chemotherapy-exercise-nutrition-and-mental-health-238842

Presentations

Humphreys, L., Frith, G., Rosenthal, K., Copeland, R., & Myers, A. (2024). Evaluation of the Active Together multi-modal cancer rehabilitation service embedded within clinical care. Presented at: HEPA: Optimising health enhancing physical activity: the importance of inclusion, Leuven, Belgium

Humphreys, L., Frith, G., Rosenthal, K., Copeland, R., & Myers, A. (2024). Evaluation of the Active Together multi-modal cancer rehabilitation service embedded within clinical care. Presented at: HEPA: Optimising health enhancing physical activity: the importance of inclusion, Leuven, Belgium

Humphreys, L. (2024). Importance of Multi-disciplinary Prehabilitation. Presented at: Stand Up to Cancer: Cancer Strategy Launch, Doncaster, UK

Humphreys, L. (2023). Behavioural Change vs Psychological Interventions Which is Key in Prehabilitation? Presented at: World Congress of Prehabilitation Medicine, London, UK

Humphreys, L. (2022). The Evaluation of the Access to Exercise Programme. Presented at: Neurosciences Network Programme Board, Liverpool, UK

Humphreys, L., & Myers, A. (2022). Delivering multi-disciplinary rehab for people with lung cancer. Presented at: Yorkshire NSCLC Patient & Pathway Optimisation webinar, Online

Humphreys, L. (2022). Supporting patient engagement in preparing for surgery. Presented at: Anaesthetic Updates: Hearts and Minds, Online

Humphreys, L. (2021). Case study on setting up the specialist prehab/rehab service in Sheffield. Presented at: Virtual UK Oncology Forum, Online

Humphreys, L. (2021). Integrating Rehabilitation Into Cancer Care. Presented at: NHS Optimal Personalised Care webinar series, Online

Humphreys, L. (2020). Active Together – A rehabilitation referral pathway for people affected by cancer. Presented at: Virtual Showcase for the South Yorkshire & Bassetlaw ICS Cancer Alliance, Online

Humphreys, L., & Frith, G. (2017). Experiences of delivering a physical activity pathway for people affect by cancer. Presented at: HEPA Europe 2017, Zagreb, Croatia

Carter, A., Crank, H., Humphreys, L., snowdon, N., Sharrack, B., Petty, J., ... Saxton, J. (2014). Experiences of exercise in people with mild to moderate multiple sclerosis: a qualitative study. Presented at: BASES Conference, St Georges Park, Burton-on-Trent, UK

Carter, A., & Humphreys, L. (2012). Sheffield Exercise Trial: Research and practical tips. Presented at: MS Life Event, Manchester, UK

Carter, A., & Humphreys, L. (2010). Exercise and Multiple Sclerosis (Workshop). Presented at: Exercise and MS: Living with MS day, Leeds, UK

Posters

Humphreys, L., & Carter, A. (2019). Perspectives of people with MS following participation in a high intensity trial. Presented at: MS Frontiers, Bath

Other publications

Carter, A., & Humphreys, L. (2022). Improving health outcomes for people with multiple sclerosis through exercise. Research Excellence Framework 2021: https://results2021.ref.ac.uk/impact/2ee1d03e-06c5-4ecd-b319-4c2661555c65?page=1

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