Research interests
Dr Saunders completed her PhD in neuromuscular and biomechanical characteristics of the female landing pattern in netball. Her research interests include:
- understanding eccentric lower limb neuromuscular control and loading for the purpose of understanding and preventing sporting injuries and improving functional outcomes in pathological populations.
- translating evidence based research into practice in the wider community.
- women in sport and exercise
Affiliations
Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA)
International Society of Biomechanics (ISB)
Teaching interests
Bridging the gap between knowledge and practice in clinical exercise physiology
Musculoskeletal rehabilitation
Clinical exercise
Biomechanics and Anatomy
Units taught
Unit Chair HSE711 Pre Clinical Practice 1
Unit Chair HSE711 Pre Clinical Practice 2
Unit Chair HSE706 Research in Clinical Exercise Physiology
Academic clinician in Clinical Exercise Learning Centre
Knowledge areas
Clinical Exercise Physiology
Biomechanics
Anatomy
Women in Sport
Conferences
Fox A, Bonacci J, McLean S, Spittle M & Saunders N (2015). ‘The relationship between performance on a single-leg squat and leap landing task: Moving towards a netball-specific ACL injury risk screening method.’ Paper presented at the XXV Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics, 12th – 16th July, Glasgow, Scotland.
Fox A, Bonacci J, McLean S, Spittle M & Saunders N (2015). ‘Assessing the effectiveness of field-based ACL injury risk screening methods in identifying high-risk landing patterns during a sport-specific task.’ Paper presented at the XXV Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics, 12th – 16th July, Glasgow, Scotland.
Fox A, Bonacci J, McLean S, Spittle M & Saunders N (2015). ‘The influence of muscular activation profiles on lower limb biomechanics during a sport-specific task.’ Paper presented at the 33rd International Conference on Biomechanics in Sports, 29th June– 3rd July, Poitiers, France.
Fox A, Bonacci J, McLean S, Spittle M & Saunders N (2015). ‘Detecting biomechanical adaptations in sport-specific landing patterns using field-based ACL injury risk screening methods.’ Paper presented at the 2015 Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport, 21st – 24th October, Sanctuary Cove, Queensland, Australia.
Saunders N, Fox A & Bonacci J (2015). ‘Examining the association between unilateral versus bilateral drop vertical jump landings and a sport-specific task.’ Paper presented at the 2015 Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport, 21st – 24th October, Sanctuary Cove, Queensland, Australia.
Research groups
Centre for Sport Research
Awards
2005 Awarded an International Society of Biomechanics Congress travel
grant to travel to, and present at the ISB 05 Congress in Cleveland, Ohio
Publications
Gait biomechanics do not differ between adolescents with and without patellofemoral pain
Natalie Mazzella, Danielle Trowell, Aaron Fox, Natalie Saunders, Bill Vicenzino, Jason Bonacci
(2024), Vol. 34, pp. 1-8, Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, London, Eng., C1
N Mazzella, A Fox, N Saunders, D Trowell, B Vicenzino, J Bonacci
(2023), Vol. 16, pp. 26-, Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, England, C1
Natalie Mazzella, Danielle Trowell, Aaron Fox, Natalie Saunders, Bill Vicenzino, Jason Bonacci
(2023), pp. 1-30, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, Indianapolis, IN, C1
Natalie Mazzella, Aaron Fox, Danielle Trowell, Natalie Saunders, Bill Vicenzino, Jason Bonacci
(2023), Vol. 9, pp. 1-8, BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine, London, Eng., C1
D Trowell, A Fox, N Saunders, B Vicenzino, J Bonacci
(2022), Vol. 32, pp. 543-558, Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, Denmark, C1
A comparison of plantarflexor musculotendon unit output between plyometric exercises and running
D Trowell, A Fox, N Saunders, B Vicenzino, J Bonacci
(2022), Vol. 25, pp. 334-339, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Australia, C1
Epidemiology of injuries sustained in professional Australian netball: A three season cohort study
L Toohey, A Antcliff, M Drew, F Wells, N Saunders, L Piromalli, S West, S White, A Fox
(2022), Vol. 25, pp. 294-299, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Australia, C1
T Rolley, N Saunders, J Bonacci, M Keast, A Fox
(2022), Vol. 7, pp. 106-123, Science and Medicine in Football, London, Eng, C1
N Mazzella, A Fox, N Saunders, D Trowell, B Vicenzino, J Bonacci
(2022), Vol. 15, Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, England, C1
Aaron Fox, Jason Bonacci, Natalie Saunders
(2020), Vol. 19, pp. 493-509, Sports biomechanics, Abingdon, Eng., C1
D Trowell, B Vicenzino, N Saunders, A Fox, J Bonacci
(2020), Vol. 50, pp. 133-150, Sports medicine, Cham, Switzerland, C1
Gait retraining versus foot orthoses for patellofemoral pain: a pilot randomised clinical trial
J Bonacci, M Hall, N Saunders, B Vicenzino
(2018), Vol. 21, pp. 457-461, Journal of science and medicine in sport, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
J Bonacci, M Hall, A Fox, N Saunders, T Shipsides, B Vicenzino
(2018), Vol. 21, pp. 574-578, Journal of science and medicine in sport, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Gait Kinematics in Individuals with Acute and Chronic Patellofemoral Pain
A Fox, R Ferber, N Saunders, S Osis, J Bonacci
(2018), Vol. 50, pp. 502-509, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, United States, C1
Exploring individual adaptations to an anterior cruciate ligament injury prevention programme
A Fox, J Bonacci, S McLean, N Saunders
(2018), Vol. 25, pp. 83-98, Knee, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
A Fox, J Bonacci, S McLean, N Saunders
(2017), Vol. 27, pp. 525-534, Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, Denmark, C1
A Fox, J Bonacci, S McLean, M Spittle, N Saunders
(2016), Vol. 46, pp. 715-735, Sports Medicine, New Zealand, C1
S Talpey, W Young, N Saunders
(2016), Vol. 11, pp. 736-745, International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, C1
The acute effects of conventional, complex, and contrast protocols on lower-body power
S Talpey, W Young, N Saunders
(2014), Vol. 28, pp. 361-366, Journal of strength and conditioning research, Philadelphia, PA, C1
Neuromuscular dysfunction that may predict ACL injury risk: a case report
N Saunders, S McLean, A Fox, L Otago
(2014), Vol. 21, pp. 789-792, Knee, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
A Fox, J Bonacci, S McLean, M Spittle, N Saunders
(2014), Vol. 44, pp. 815-832, Sports medicine, New Zealand, C1
Offensive agility techniques performed during international netball competition
A Fox, M Spittle, L Otago, N Saunders
(2014), Vol. 9, pp. 543-552, International journal of sports science and coaching, Essex, England, C1
P White, L Otago, N Saunders, M Romiti, A Donaldson, S Ullah, C Finch
(2013), pp. 1-5, BJSM Online, London, England, C1-1
A Fox, M Spittle, L Otago, N Saunders
(2013), Vol. 31, pp. 1588-1595, Journal of sports sciences, London, Eng., C1
A Fox, M Spittle, L Otago, N Saunders
(2013), Vol. 13, pp. 690-702, International journal of performance analysis in sport, Cardiff, Wales, C1
Encouraging junior community netball players to learn correct safe landing technique
P White, S Ullah, A Donaldson, L Otago, N Saunders, M Romiti, C Finch
(2012), Vol. 15, pp. 19-24, Journal of science and medicine in sport, Chatswood, N.S.W., C1-1
Clegg hammer measures and human external landing forces : is there a relationship?
N Saunders, D Twomey, L Otago
(2011), Vol. 5, pp. 231-236, International journal of sports science and engineering, Liverpool, England, C1
D Twomey, L Otago, N Saunders
(2011), Vol. 13, pp. 145-151, Sports engineering, London, England, C1
Challenges in the development of standards for synthetic turf for Australian football and cricket
D Twomey, L Otago, N Saunders
(2011), Vol. 225, pp. 93-101, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part P, Journal of sports engineering and technology, London, England, C1
N Saunders, L Otago, M Romiti, A Donaldson, P White, C Finch
(2010), Vol. 44, pp. 1128-1132, British journal of sports medicine, London, England, C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Industry and Other Funding
What does it take to be an elite athlete in Athletics ? (Sprint)
A/Prof Natalie Saunders, Miss Kirstie Jodie Turner
Athletics Australia
- 2024: $6,250
- 2023: $15,000
- 2022: $10,000
- 2021: $8,346
What does it take to be an elite athlete in Athletics ? (Endurance)
A/Prof Natalie Saunders, Ms Tarryn Elvish
Athletics Australia
- 2024: $6,250
- 2023: $15,000
- 2022: $10,000
- 2021: $10,000
Exploring the scope to inform feasibility of a clinic based Patellofemoral pain (PFP) intervention to improve clinical outcomes.
Dr Jason Bonacci, Miss Natalie Mazzella, A/Prof Natalie Saunders
The Trustee for TM Cole Trust
- 2022: $6,214
Supervisions
Aaron Samuel Fox
Thesis entitled: Neuromechanics of the Lower Limb: Implications for ACL Injury Prevention
Doctor of Philosophy (Nutrition & Exercise) (Low Cost), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences
Simon John Moule
Thesis entitled: The role of an external focus of attention on lower limb landing postures Examination of Heart Rate Variability (HRV) through smartphone technology.
Master of Applied Science (Nutrition & Exercise) (High Cost), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences
Danielle Anne Trowell
Thesis entitled: Biomechanics and Adaptations of Strength Training Exercises in Distance Runners
Doctor of Philosophy (Nutrition & Exercise) (High Cost), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences