Dr Jack Hickey

Sport Science and Nutrition

Assistant Professor in Sport Science

Callan Building
1.36

Biography

Jack joined Maynooth University in April 2023 as the first academic staff member appointed to the Department of Sport Science and Nutrition, as a permanent Assistant Professor/Lecturer. Prior to joining Maynooth University, Jack was a permanent academic staff member at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) in the School of Behavioral and Health Sciences, originally appointed as a Lecturer in February 2019, before being promoted to Senior Lecturer in January 2023. Jack remains an affiliate member of ACU's Sports Performance, Recovery, Injury and New Technology (SPRINT) Research Centre.

Prior to the above academic appointments, Jack completed his PhD thesis titled 'Hamstring strain injury: objective assessment tools and exercise progression during pain-threshold rehabilitation' at ACU under the supervision of Professor David Opar. Jack received the 2019 Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA) Medal for best PhD thesis in the field of Exercise and Sport Science. Jack was also awarded as Best Young Investigator in Sport Science at the 2018 ESSA Conference and won the ASICS Medal for Best Overall Scientific Paper at the 2017 Sports Medicine Australia Conference.

In addition to his academic career, Jack has been an ESSA Accredited Exercise Physiologist since 2012, specialising in clinical assessment and exercise rehabilitation for sports injuries and musculoskeletal conditions. Jack continues to provide consultancy services for athletes from elite to recreational levels recovering from hamstring injuries and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery.

Research Interests

Developing objecting clinical assessment tools and pragmatic exercise interventions that can be applied to prevention and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal conditions and sports injuries, such as hamstring injury, anterior cruciate ligament rupture and orthopedic surgery.

Book Chapter

Year Publication
2020 Wangensteen, A.; Askling, C.; Hickey, J.; Purdam, C.; van der Made, A.D.; Thorborg, K. (2020) 'Rehabilitation of hamstring injuries' In: Prevention and Rehabilitation of Hamstring Injuries. [Link]

Peer Reviewed Journal

Year Publication
2024 Sim, A.; Timmins, R.G.; Ruddy, J.D.; Shen, H.; Liao, K.; Maniar, N.; Hickey, J.T.; Williams, M.D.; Opar, D.A. (2024) 'Hamstring Strain Injury Risk Factors in Australian Football Change over the Course of the Season'. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 56 . [Link] [DOI]
2024 Timmins, R.G.; Filopoulos, D.; Giannakis, J.; Nguyen, V.; Ruddy, J.D.; Hickey, J.T.; Maniar, N.; Pollard, C.W.; Morgan, N.; Weakley, J.; Opar, D.A. (2024) 'The Effect of Eccentric or Isometric Training on Strength, Architecture, and Sprinting across an Australian Football Season'. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 56 . [Link] [DOI]
2023 Lin, Y.C.; Price, K.; Carmichael, D.S.; Maniar, N.; Hickey, J.T.; Timmins, R.G.; Heiderscheit, B.C.; Blemker, S.S.; Opar, D.A. (2023) 'Validity of Inertial Measurement Units to Measure Lower-Limb Kinematics and Pelvic Orientation at Submaximal and Maximal Effort Running Speeds'. Sensors, 23 . [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2023 Maniar, N.; Carmichael, D.; Hickey, J.; Timmins, R.; San Jose, A.J.; Dickson, J.; Opar, D. (2023) 'Incidence and prevalence of hamstring injuries in field-based team sports: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 5952 injuries from over 7 million exposure hours'. British Journal Of Sports Medicine, 57 :109-116. [Link] https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2021-104936
2023 Lazarczuk, SL; Headrick, J; Hickey, JT; Timmins, RG; Leva, FA; Bourne, MN (2023) 'Hamstring strain injury prevention: current beliefs and practices of practitioners working in Major League Baseball'. Journal of Athletic Training, . [DOI]
2023 Crawford, S.K.; Hickey, J.; Vlisides, J.; Chambers, J.S.; Mosiman, S.J.; Heiderscheit, B.C. (2023) 'The effects of hip- vs. knee-dominant hamstring exercise on biceps femoris morphology, strength, and sprint performance: a randomized intervention trial protocol'. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 15 . [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2022 Collings, T.J.; Diamond, L.E.; Barrett, R.O.D.S.; Timmins, R.G.; Hickey, J.T.; Du Moulin, W.S.; Williams, M.D.; Beerworth, K.A.; Bourne, M.N. (2022) 'Strength and Biomechanical Risk Factors for Noncontact ACL Injury in Elite Female Footballers: A Prospective Study'. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 54 . [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2021 Dutaillis, B.; Opar, D.A.; Pataky, T.; Timmins, R.G.; Hickey, J.T.; Maniar, N. (2021) 'Trunk, pelvis and lower limb coordination between anticipated and unanticipated sidestep cutting in females'. Gait and Posture, 85 . [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2022 Hickey, J.T.; Rio, E.; Best, T.M.; Timmins, R.G.; Maniar, N.; Hickey, P.F.; Williams, M.D.; Pitcher, C.A.; Opar, D.A. (2022) 'Early introduction of high-intensity eccentric loading into hamstring strain injury rehabilitation'. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 25 . [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2022 Whiteley, R.; Hickey, J.T.; Vermeulen, R.; Timmins, R.; Best, T.M.; Rio, E.; Opar, D. (2022) 'Biceps Femoris Fascicle Lengths Increase after Hamstring Injury Rehabilitation to a Greater Extent in the Injured Leg'. Translational Sports Medicine, 2022 . [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2022 Carmichael, DS; Hickey, JT; Tofari, PJ; Bourne, MN; Ward, MR; Timmins, RG (2022) 'Effect of an Isometric or Eccentric Hip Extension Exercise Intervention on Hamstring Strength, Architecture, and Morphology'. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 54 (12). [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2022 Opar, D.A.; Ruddy, J.D.; Williams, M.D.; Maniar, N.; Hickey, J.T.; Bourne, M.N.; Pizzari, T.; Timmins, R.G. (2022) 'Screening Hamstring Injury Risk Factors Multiple Times in a Season Does Not Improve the Identification of Future Injury Risk'. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 54 . [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2022 Heiderscheit, B.C.; Blemker, S.S.; Opar, D.; Stiffler-Joachim, M.R.; Bedi, A.; Hart, J.; Mortensen, B.; Kliethermes, S.A.; Baer, G.; Buckley, C.; Costigan, K.; Drew, S.; Eberhardt, D.; Fabian, K.; Feller, H.; Hammer, E.; Heidt, D.; Lee, K.; Lund, B.; Martin, J.; Moll, M.; Sanfilippo, J.; Snee, S.; Tanaka, C.; Taylor, T.; Wilson, J.; Woodhouse, D.; Lin, Y.C.; Hickey, J.; Maniar, N.; Taylor, F.; Timmins, R.; Cousins, M.; DuCharme, O.; Feng, X.; Magargee, S.; Meyer, C.; Nguyen, A.; Riem, L.; West, R.; Allen, S.; Allred, D.; Beutler, A.; Bruening, D.; Campbell, D.; Johnson, A.W.; Nguyen, C.; Remington, E.; Smedley, A.A.; Sponbeck, J.K.; Berkoff, D.; Berkowitz, J.; Birchmeier, T.; Blackburn, T.; Choudhari, M.; Ciocca, M.; Lennon, A.; Lisee, C.; McCoy, N.; Mincberg, D.; Oliaro, S.; Pietrosimone, B.; Ross, L.; Titter, J.; Sund, S. (2022) 'The development of a HAMstring InjuRy (HAMIR) index to mitigate injury risk through innovative imaging, biomechanics, and data analytics: protocol for an observational cohort study'. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 14 . [Link] [DOI]
2022 Hickey, J.T.; Opar, D.A.; Weiss, L.J.; Heiderscheit, B.C. (2022) 'Hamstring Strain Injury Rehabilitation'. Journal of Athletic Training, 57 . [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2021 Lee Dow, C.; Timmins, R.G.; Ruddy, J.D.; Williams, M.D.; Maniar, N.; Hickey, J.T.; Bourne, M.N.; Opar, D.A. (2021) 'Prediction of Hamstring Injuries in Australian Football Using Biceps Femoris Architectural Risk Factors Derived From Soccer'. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 49 . [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2021 Collings, T.J.; Diamond, L.E.; Barrett, R.S.; Timmins, R.G.; Hickey, J.T.; du Moulin, W.S.; Gonçalves, B.A.M.; Cooper, C.; Bourne, M.N. (2021) 'Impact of prior anterior cruciate ligament, hamstring or groin injury on lower limb strength and jump kinetics in elite female footballers'. Physical Therapy in Sport, 52 . [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2021 Timmins, R.G.; Filopoulos, D.; Nguyen, V.; Giannakis, J.; Ruddy, J.D.; Hickey, J.T.; Maniar, N.; Opar, D.A. (2021) 'Sprinting, Strength, and Architectural Adaptations Following Hamstring Training in Australian Footballers'. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 31 . [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2020 Timmins, R.G.; Shamim, B.; Tofari, P.J.; Hickey, J.T.; Camera, D.M. (2020) 'Differences in lower limb strength and structure after 12 weeks of resistance, endurance, and concurrent training'. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 15 . [Link] [DOI]
2020 Hickey, J.T.; Timmins, R.G.; Maniar, N.; Rio, E.; Hickey, P.F.; Pitcher, C.A.; Williams, M.D.; Opar, D.A. (2020) 'Pain-free versus pain-threshold rehabilitation following acute hamstring strain injury: A randomized controlled trial'. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 50 . [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2020 Presland, J.D.; Opar, D.A.; Williams, M.D.; Hickey, J.T.; Maniar, N.; Lee Dow, C.; Bourne, M.N.; Timmins, R.G. (2020) 'Hamstring strength and architectural adaptations following inertial flywheel resistance training'. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 23 . [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2018 Hickey, J.T.; Hickey, P.F.; Maniar, N.; Timmins, R.G.; Williams, M.D.; Pitcher, C.A.; Opar, D.A. (2018) 'A Novel Apparatus to Measure Knee Flexor Strength During Various Hamstring Exercises: A Reliability and Retrospective Injury Study'. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 48 . [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2018 Ruddy, J.D.; Shield, A.J.; Maniar, N.; Williams, M.D.; Duhig, S.; Timmins, R.G.; Hickey, J.; Bourne, M.N.; Opar, D.A. (2018) 'Predictive Modeling of Hamstring Strain Injuries in Elite Australian Footballers'. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 50 . [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2017 Timmins, R.G.; Bourne, M.N.; Hickey, J.T.; Maniar, N.; Tofari, P.J.; Williams, M.D.; Opar, D.A. (2017) 'Effect of prior injury on changes to biceps femoris architecture across an australian football league season'. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 49 . [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2015 Opar, D.A.; Williams, M.D.; Timmins, R.G.; Hickey, J.; Duhig, S.J.; Shield, A.J. (2015) 'Eccentric hamstring strength and hamstring injury risk in Australian footballers'. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 47 . [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2015 Opar, D.A.; Williams, M.D.; Timmins, R.G.; Hickey, J.; Duhig, S.J.; Shield, A.J. (2015) 'The effect of previous hamstring strain injuries on the change in eccentric hamstring strength during preseason training in elite Australian footballers'. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 43 . [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
2014 Hickey, J.; Shield, A.J.; Williams, M.D.; Opar, D.A. (2014) 'The financial cost of hamstring strain injuries in the Australian Football League'. British Journal Of Sports Medicine, 48 . [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]

Other Publication

Year Publication
2021 Collings, T.J.; Bourne, M.N.; Barrett, R.S.; du Moulin, W.; Hickey, J.T.; Diamond, L.E. (2021) Risk Factors for Lower Limb Injury in Female Team Field and Court Sports: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Best Evidence Synthesis. [Link] [DOI]
2022 Breed, R.; Opar, D.; Timmins, R.; Maniar, N.; Banyard, H.; Hickey, J. (2022) Poor Reporting of Exercise Interventions for Hamstring Strain Injury Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review of Reporting Quality and Content in Contemporary Applied Research. [Link] [DOI]
2021 Dutaillis, B.; Maniar, N.; Opar, D.A.; Hickey, J.T.; Timmins, R.G. (2021) Lower Limb Muscle Size after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. [Link] [DOI]
2021 Opar, D.A.; Timmins, R.G.; Behan, F.P.; Hickey, J.T.; van Dyk, N.; Price, K.; Maniar, N. (2021) Is Pre-season Eccentric Strength Testing During the Nordic Hamstring Exercise Associated with Future Hamstring Strain Injury? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. [Link] [DOI]
2017 Hickey, J.T.; Timmins, R.G.; Maniar, N.; Williams, M.D.; Opar, D.A. (2017) Criteria for Progressing Rehabilitation and Determining Return-to-Play Clearance Following Hamstring Strain Injury: A Systematic Review. [Link] [DOI]

Conference Contribution

Year Publication
2024 Timmins, R.; Filopoulos, D.; Giannakis, J.; Nguyen, V.; Ruddy, J.; Hickey, J.; Pollard, C.; Morgan, N.; Weakley, J.; Opar, D. (2024) International Olympic Committee World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport Undertaking an eccentric or isometric training program alongside a periodised sprinting intervention alters strength, architecture and sprint performance in Australian Footballers during a competitive season Monaco, . [Link] https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-IOC.34
2024 SIm, A.; Timmins, R.; Ruddy, J.; Shen, H.; Liao, K.; Maniar, N.; Hickey, J.; Williams, M.; Opar, D. (2024) Hamstring strain injury risk factors in Australian football change over the course of the season Monaco, . [Link] https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-IOC.56
2024 Timmins, R.; Maniar, N.; Prince, C.; Hickey, J. (2024) International Olympic Committee World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport From the lab to the field: addressing the challenge of hamstring injury prevention and performance in sport (60-minute symposium) Monaco, . [Link]
2023 Hickey, J. (2023) Gaelic Games Sports Medicine and Sports Science Scientific Conference Hamstring injury rehabilitation and return to play (keynote presentation) Athlone, Ireland, . [Link]
2023 Ryan, S.; Ju, W.; Hulm, S.; Tofari, P.; Hickey, J. (2023) Sports Medicine Australia Conference Unilateral tests of explosive hip extension and horizontal force production: reliability and associations with sprinting performance Twin Waters, Australia, . [Link] [DOI]
2022 Carmichael, D.; Hickey, J.; Tofari, P.; Ward, M.; Timmins, R. (2022) Impact of an isometric or eccentric hip extension exercise intervention on hamstring strength, architecture, and morphology: a randomised intervention trial Gold Coast, . [Link] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2022.09.046
2021 Barrett, R.; Bourne, M.; Collings, T.; Cooper, C.; Diamond, L.; du Moulin, W.; Hickey, J.; Timmins, R. (2021) Impact of prior ACL, hamstring or groin injury on lower limb strength and jump kinetics in elite female footballers Melbourne, Australia, . [Link] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2021.09.171
2021 Barrett, R.; Beerworth, K.; Bourne, M.; Collings, T.; Diamond, L.; du Moulin, W.; Hickey, J.; Timmins, R. (2021) Risk factors for ACL, hamstring strain, and hip/groin injuries in elite Australian female footballers: A prospective study Melbourne, Australia, . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2021.09.072
2019 Hickey, J.; Opar, D.; Timmins, R.; Behan, F.; Beerworth, K.; Hulm, S. (2019) Hamstring strain injury prevention, rehabilitation and sports performance Twin Waters, . [Link] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2019.08.049
2018 Timmins, R.; Filopoulos, D.; Ruddy, J.; Maniar, N.; Hickey, J.; Giannakis, J.; Nguyen, V.; Opar, D. (2018) Eccentric hamstring training in elite AFL athletes promotes improvements in lower limb strength Perth, Australia, . [Link] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2018.09.079
2017 Ruddy, J.; Shield, A.; Maniar, N.; Williams, M.; Duhig, S.; Timmins, R.; Hickey, J.; Opar, D. (2017) Predicting hamstring strain injury incidence in elite Australian footballers Langkawi, Malaysia, . [Link] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2017.09.210
2017 Hickey, J.; Hickey, P.; Maniar, N.; Timmins, R.; Opar, D. (2017) Sports Medicine Australia Conference Novel and clinically practical measures of hamstring strength: The HamSling reliability and retrospective study Melbourne, Australia, . [Link] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2017.01.218
2017 Hickey, J.; Timmins, R.; Maniar, N.; Rio, E.; Williams, M.; Opar, D. (2017) Pain-free vs pain-threshold rehabilitation for acute hamstring strain injury: A randomised controlled trial Langkawi, Malaysia, . [Link] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2017.09.212
2017 Presland, J.; Opar, D.; Lee Dow, C.; Bourne, M.; Williams, M.; Hickey, J.; Timmins, R. (2017) Eccentrically overloaded flywheel training increases biceps femoris long head fascicle length Langkawi, Malaysia, . [Link] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2017.09.211
2014 Opar, D.; Williams, M.; Timmins, R.; Hickey, J.; Duhig, S.; Shield, A. (2014) Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Nordic hamstring exercise weakness is a risk factor for hamstring strain injury in elite Australian football: A prospective cohort study Sports Medicine Australia Conference, Phuket, Thailand, . [Link] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2014.11.139

Invited Review Articles

Year Publication
2018 Timmins, R.; Hickey, J. (2018) Optimal load for the prevention and rehabilitation of Hamstring injuries. [Invited Review Articles] [Link] [DOI]
Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2024) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

Professional Associations

Description Function From / To
Exercise and Sport Science Australia Accredited Exercise Physiologist 01/07/2012 - 31/01/2023

Honors and Awards

Date Title Awarding Body
25/02/2019 Exercise and Sports Science Australia Medal Exercise and Sports Science Australia
30/03/2018 Best Young Investigator in Sport Science Exercise and Sports Science Australia
28/10/2017 ASICS Medal Sports Medicine Australia

Employment

Employer Position From / To
Australian Catholic University Senior Lecturer 01/01/2023 - 31/03/2023
Australian Catholic University Lecturer 04/02/2019 - 31/12/2022
Australian Catholic University Associate Lecturer 01/07/2018 - 01/02/2019

Teaching Interests

Musculoskeletal anatomy, biomechanics, motor control, exercise rehabilitation and sports injury prevention.