Dr Jack Hickey
Assistant Professor in Sport Science
Biography
Jack joined Maynooth University in April 2023 as the inaugural academic staff member in the Department of Sport Science and Nutrition. Before joining Maynooth University, Jack was a Senior Lecturer in Exercise Science and Exercise Physiology at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) in Melbourne, Australia, from February 2019 to April 2023. Jack has been a member of ACU's Sports Performance, Recovery, Injury and New Technology (SPRINT) Research Centre since it's inception in 2020 and he currently remains an affiliate member.
Between 2015 and 2018, Jack completed his PhD thesis titled 'Hamstring strain injury: objective assessment tools and exercise progression during pain-threshold rehabilitation' under the supervision of Professor David Opar at ACU. 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 clinical assessment tools and exercise interventions that can be applied in practice for the prevention and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal sports injuries, including hamstring injury and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Peer Reviewed Journal
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Anthis, M.; Gourd, S.; Kim, B.; Ruddy, J.D.; Whiteley, R.; Timmins, R.; Maniar, N.; Hickey, J.; Opar, D.A. (2024) 'The Fragility Index of Risk Factors for Hamstring Injuries'. The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 54 . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2024 | Hulm, S.; Timmins, R.G.; Hickey, J.T.; Maniar, N.; Lin, Y.C.; Knaus, K.R.; Heiderscheit, B.C.; Blemker, S.S.; Opar, D.A. (2024) 'The Structure, Function, and Adaptation of Lower-Limb Aponeuroses: Implications for Myo-Aponeurotic Injury'. Sports Medicine - Open, 10 . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 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] | |
| 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] | |
| 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'. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 52 . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 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] | |
| 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] | |
| 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'. Sports Medicine, 51 . [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'. Sports Medicine, 51 . [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'. Sports Medicine, 51 . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 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 | 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'. Sports Medicine, 47 . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 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] |
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 |
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] |
Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2025) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.
Teaching Interests
Module coordinator for SN152 Introduction to Anatomy and Biomechanics and SN253 Sports Injuries.