Alex Breen

Alex Breen

  • alexbreen at bournemouth dot ac dot uk
  • Visiting Associate
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Biography

I am a visiting associate of Bournemouth University undertaking research into the mechanical aggravation of musculoskeletal conditions such as Spine Biomechanics, Back pain. More over i am an external Post-graduate supervisor to PhD students who currently study at BU.

Beyond Bournemouth University i work full time as a researcher and lecturer at the nearby AECC Univerity College as a Senior Research Fellow and Technology Lead.

Favourites

  • Breen, A. and Breen, A., 2020. Dynamic interactions between lumbar intervertebral motion segments during forward bending and return. Journal of Biomechanics, 102.
  • De Carvalho, D.E., Breen, A. et al., 2020. Association of Exposures to Seated Postures With Immediate Increases in Back Pain: A Systematic Review of Studies With Objectively Measured Sitting Time. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 43 (1), 1-12.
  • Zanjani-Pour, S., Meakin, J.R., Breen, A. and Breen, A., 2018. Estimation of in vivo inter-vertebral loading during motion using fluoroscopic and magnetic resonance image informed finite element models. Journal of Biomechanics, 70, 134-139.
  • Breen, A. and Breen, A., 2018. Uneven intervertebral motion sharing is related to disc degeneration and is greater in patients with chronic, non-specific low back pain: an in vivo, cross-sectional cohort comparison of intervertebral dynamics using quantitative fluoroscopy. European Spine Journal, 27 (1), 145-153.
  • Breen and Breen, A., 2017. Disc degeneration and uneven lumbar intervertebral motion sharing are related in patients with chronic back pain.
  • Breen, A.C., Teyhen, D.S., Mellor, F.E., Breen, A.C., Wong, K.W.N. and Deitz, A., 2012. Measurement of intervertebral motion using quantitative fluoroscopy: report of an international forum and proposal for use in the assessment of degenerative disc disease in the lumbar spine. Adv Orthop, 2012, 802350.

Journal Articles

  • Frey, M., Breen, A., Rix, J. and De Carvalho, D., 2025. Concurrent validity of skin-based motion capture systems in measuring dynamic lumbar intervertebral angles. Journal of Biomechanics, 180.
  • Schuermans, V.N.E., Smeets, A.Y.J.M., Breen, A., Branney, J., Curfs, I., van Santbrink, H. and Boselie, T.F.M., 2024. An observational study of quality of motion in the aging cervical spine: sequence of segmental contributions in dynamic fluoroscopy recordings. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 25 (1).
  • Nematimoez, M., Haddas, R. and Breen, A., 2024. Effect of asymptomatic intervertebral flexion patterns on lumbar disc pressure: A finite element analysis study. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering, 40 (11).
  • Breen, A., Nematimoez, M., Branney, J. and Breen, A., 2024. Passive intervertebral restraint is different in patients with treatment-resistant chronic nonspecific low back pain: a retrospective cohort study and control comparison. European Spine Journal, 33 (6), 2405-2419.
  • Branney, J., Breen, A., du Rose, A., Mowlem, P. and Breen, A., 2024. Disc Degeneration and Cervical Spine Intervertebral Motion: A Cross-Sectional Study in Patients with Neck Pain and Matched Healthy Controls. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 9 (1).
  • Nematimoez, M., Breen, A. and Breen, A., 2023. Spatio-temporal clustering of lumbar intervertebral flexion interactions in 127 asymptomatic individuals. Journal of Biomechanics, 154.
  • Breen, A., Carvil, P., Green, D.A., Russomano, T. and Breen, A., 2023. Effects of a microgravity SkinSuit on lumbar geometry and kinematics. European Spine Journal, 32 (3), 839-847.
  • Williams, J.M., Frey, M., Breen, A. and De Carvalho, D., 2022. Systematic analysis of different low-pass filter cut-off frequencies on lumbar spine kinematics data and the impact on the agreement between accelerometers and an optoelectronic system. Journal of Biomechanics, 145.
  • Hartvigsen, J., Breen, A. et al., 2021. Leadership and capacity building in chiropractic research: report from the first CARL cohort. Chiropractic and Manual Therapies, 29 (1).
  • Hartvigsen, J., Breen, A. et al., 2021. Correction to: Leadership and capacity building in chiropractic research: report from the first CARL cohort (Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, (2021), 29, 1, (9), 10.1186/s12998-021-00363-8). Chiropractic and Manual Therapies, 29 (1).
  • Lindstrøm, R., Breen, A., Qu, N., du Rose, A., Andersen, V.B. and Breen, A., 2021. Novel assessment of the variation in cervical inter-vertebral motor control in a healthy pain-free population. Scientific Reports, 11 (1).
  • Rix, J., Docherty, S., Breen, A.C., Sewell, P. and Branney, J., 2021. A public and patient consultation process as an aid to design a person-centred randomized clinical trial. Health Expectations, 24 (5), 1639-1648.
  • Rix, J., Branney, J., Breen, A.C., Sewell, P. and Docherty, S., 2021. Stakeholder involvement in the development of trial material for a clinical trial. Health Expectations, 24 (2), 399-410.
  • Funabashi, M., Breen, A.C., De Carvalho, D., Pagé, I., Nougarou, F., Descarreaux, M. and Kawchuk, G.N., 2021. Force Distribution Within Spinal Tissues During Posterior to Anterior Spinal Manipulative Therapy: A Secondary Analysis. Front Integr Neurosci, 15, 809372.
  • To, D., Breen, A., Breen, A., Mior, S. and Howarth, S.J., 2020. Investigator analytic repeatability of two new intervertebral motion biomarkers for chronic, nonspecific low back pain in a cohort of healthy controls. Chiropractic and Manual Therapies, 28 (1).
  • Breen, A., Mellor, F., Morris, A. and Breen, A., 2020. An in vivo study exploring correlations between early-to-moderate disc degeneration and flexion mobility in the lumbar spine. European Spine Journal, 29 (10), 2619-2627.
  • Brownhill, K., Mellor, F., Breen, A. and Breen, A., 2020. Passive intervertebral motion characteristics in chronic mid to low back pain: A multivariate analysis. Medical Engineering and Physics, 84, 115-125.
  • Funabashi, M., Breen, A., De Carvalho, D., Henry, A., Murnaghan, K., Pagé, I., Wong, A.Y.L. and Kawchuk, G., 2020. Center of rotation locations during lumbar spine movements: a scoping review protocol. JBI Evidence Synthesis.
  • Funabashi, M., Breen, A., De Carvalho, D., Henry, A., Murnaghan, K., Pagé, I., Wong, A.Y.L. and Kawchuk, G., 2020. Center of rotation locations during lumbar spine movements: a scoping review protocol. JBI Evid Synth, 18 (6), 1305-1312.
  • Breen, A. and Breen, A., 2020. Dynamic interactions between lumbar intervertebral motion segments during forward bending and return. Journal of Biomechanics, 102.
  • De Carvalho, D.E., Breen, A. et al., 2020. Association of Exposures to Seated Postures With Immediate Increases in Back Pain: A Systematic Review of Studies With Objectively Measured Sitting Time. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 43 (1), 1-12.
  • Breen, A., Claerbout, E., Hemming, R., Ayer, R. and Breen, A., 2019. Comparison of intra subject repeatability of quantitative fluoroscopy and static radiography in the measurement of lumbar intervertebral flexion translation. Scientific Reports, 9 (1).
  • Breen, A., Hemming, R., Mellor, F. and Breen, A., 2019. Intrasubject repeatability of in vivo intervertebral motion parameters using quantitative fluoroscopy. European Spine Journal, 28 (2), 450-460.
  • Kawchuk, G.N., Miazga, S., Pagé, I., Swain, M., De Carvalho, D., Funabashi, M., Breen, A. and Wong, A., 2019. Clinicians’ Ability to Detect a Palpable Difference in Spinal Stiffness Compared With a Mechanical Device. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 42 (2), 89-95.
  • du Rose, A., Breen, A. and Breen, A., 2018. Relationships between muscle electrical activity and the control of inter-vertebral motion during a forward bending task. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 43, 48-54.
  • Breen, A., Mellor, F. and Breen, A., 2018. Aberrant intervertebral motion in patients with treatment-resistant nonspecific low back pain: a retrospective cohort study and control comparison. European Spine Journal, 27 (11), 2831-2839.
  • Pagé, I., Swain, M., Wong, A., Breen, A., De Carvalho, D., Descarreaux, M., Funabashi, M. and Kawchuk, G., 2018. Correlations Between Individuals’ Characteristics and Spinal Stiffness in Individuals With and Without Back Pain: A Combined Analysis of Multiple Data Sets. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 41 (9), 734-752.
  • Zanjani-Pour, S., Meakin, J.R., Breen, A. and Breen, A., 2018. Estimation of in vivo inter-vertebral loading during motion using fluoroscopic and magnetic resonance image informed finite element models. Journal of Biomechanics, 70, 134-139.
  • Adams, J., Breen, A. et al., 2018. Leadership and capacity building in international chiropractic research: Introducing the chiropractic academy for research leadership (CARL). Chiropractic and Manual Therapies, 26 (1).
  • Breen, A. and Breen, A., 2018. Uneven intervertebral motion sharing is related to disc degeneration and is greater in patients with chronic, non-specific low back pain: an in vivo, cross-sectional cohort comparison of intervertebral dynamics using quantitative fluoroscopy. European Spine Journal, 27 (1), 145-153.
  • Breen, A. and Breen, A., 2016. Accuracy and repeatability of quantitative fluoroscopy for the measurement of sagittal plane translation and finite centre of rotation in the lumbar spine. Medical Engineering and Physics, 38 (7), 607-614.
  • Breen, A.C., Dupac, M. and Osborne, N., 2015. Attainment rate as a surrogate indicator of the intervertebral neutral zone length in lateral bending: An in vitro proof of concept study. Chiropractic and Manual Therapies, 23 (1).
  • Mellor, F.E. and Breen, A.C., 2013. Ionizing radiation exposure and the development of intervertebral disc degeneration - No case to answer. Spine Journal, 13 (3), 224-226.
  • Breen, A.C., Teyhen, D.S., Mellor, F.E., Breen, A.C., Wong, K.W.N. and Deitz, A., 2012. Measurement of intervertebral motion using quantitative fluoroscopy: report of an international forum and proposal for use in the assessment of degenerative disc disease in the lumbar spine. Adv Orthop, 2012, 802350.
  • van Loon, I.H.M., Mellor, F.E. and Breen, A., 2012. Accuracy and repeatability of sagittal translation of lumbar vertebrae in vitro and in vivo using quantitative fluoroscopy. Clinical Chiropractic.

Chapters

  • Breen, A.C., 2022. Measurement of joint kinematics utilising video-fluoroscopy. Human Orthopaedic Biomechanics Fundamentals Devices and Applications. 623-635.

Conferences

  • Schuermans, V., Smeets, A., Breen, A., Branney, J., Curfs, I., van Santbrink, H. and Boseliie, T., 2023. Quality of motion in the ageing cervical spine: Sequence of segmental contributions in dynamic fluoroscopy recordings. In: Eurospine 2023 4-6 October 2023 Messe Frankfurt, Germany. Brain and Spine, 3 Elsevier.
  • Breen, A., De Carvalho, D., Funabashi, M., Kawchuk, G., Pagé, I., Wong, A.Y.L. and Breen, A., 2021. A Reference Database of Standardised Continuous Lumbar Intervertebral Motion Analysis for Conducting Patient-Specific Comparisons. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 9.
  • Breen, A., Haig, L. and Breen, A., 2019. Retrospective kinematic analysis of intervertebral stability in 10 patients with lytic spondylolisthesis. In: Physiotherapy UK 1-2 November 2019 Birmingham.
  • Breen, A. and Breen, A., 2019. Dynamic lumbar intervertebral motion sharing in back pain patients and controls. In: 10th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Girdle Pain 28 October 2018-31 October 2020 Antwerp.
  • Breen, A. and Breen, A., 2019. Dynamic interactions between lumbar intervertebral motion segments during forward bending. In: 2nd International Workshop on Spine Loading and Deformation 4-6 July 2019 Berlin.
  • Breen, A., Watts, M., Claerbout, E., Merifield, J. and Breen, A., 2019. Evidence-based lumbar spine biomechanics for assessment of treatment-resistant low back pain. In: World Federation of Chiropractic Bienniel Conference 8-11 May 2019 Berlin.
  • Breen, A., Hemming, R., Claerbout, E. and Breen, A., 2018. A comparison of plain radiographs and quantitative fluoroscopy for the measurement of translatory slip in the lumbar spine. In: Society for Back Pain Research Annual Meeting 15-16 November 2018 Groningen.
  • Breen, A., de Carvalho, D., Wong, A., Kawchuk, G., Funabashi, M., Swain, M. and Breen, A., 2018. Apportionment of lumbar intervertebral motion in a standardised flexion and return protocol using fluoroscopy: basic data to improve current spine models. In: 8th Work Conference of Biomechanics 20-23 June 2018 Dublin.
  • Breen, A., Carvil, P., Jones, M., Horne, D., Ayer, R., Osborne, N., Breen, A., Russomano, T. and Green, D., 2017. The effect of 4-hour partial axial reloading via the Mk VI SkinSuit upon recumbent lumbar geometry and kinematics after 8-hour hyper-buoyancy flotation. In: 2nd Human Physiology Workshop 9 December 2017 DLR, Colgne, Germany.
  • Carvil, P., Jones, M., Horne, D., Ayer, R., Osbourne, N., Breen, A., Breen, A., Russpomano, T. and Green, D., 2017. The effect of 4-hour partial axial reloading via the Mk VI SkinSuit upon recumbent lumbar geometry and kinematics after 8-hour hyper-buoyancy flotation. In: 2nd Human Physiology Workshop 9 December 2017 Cologne.
  • Zanji_Pour, S., Meakin, J., Breen, A. and Breen, A., 2017. Estimation of in vivo inter-vertebral loading during motion using fluoroscopic and magnetic resonance image informed finite element models. In: 2nd International workshop on spine loading and deformation 18-20 May 2017 Berlin.
  • Du Rose, A., Breen, A. and Breen, A., 2017. Spinal muscle electrical activity and the stabilisation of lumbar motion segments during flexion. In: International Back and Neck Research Forum 2017 14-15 September 2017 Oslo 2017.
  • Breen, A., Breen, A.C. and Mellor, F., 2017. Intra subject repeatability of intervertebral motion parameters for clinical studies. In: International Back and Neck Pain Research Forum 12-17 September 2017 Oslo.
  • Breen, A. and Dupac, M., 2016. Passive Control of Intervertebral Motion in Unilateral Transtibial Amputees. In: 9th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back & Pelvic Girdle Pain 31 October-3 November 2016 Singapore.
  • Breen, A.C. and Dupac, M., 2016. Evaluation of angular kinematics of lower limb amputees using quantitative fluoroscopic imaging. Eccomas Congress 2016 Proceedings of the 7th European Congress on Computational Methods in Applied Sciences and Engineering, 4, 6539-6546.
  • Breen, A.C. and Dupac, M., 2015. Evaluation of stump and socket kinematics of lower limb amputees using quantitative fluoroscopic imaging: a case study. In: Öztürk, B., ed. BIOENG'15, Bioengineering Congerence 25-26 November 2015 Istanbul - Turkey. BIOENG ’15/ II. INTERNATIONAL BIOENGINEERING CONFERENCE, 114-122 DAKAM PUBLISHING.
  • Breen, A.C., Dupac, M. and Osborne, N., 2015. Measuring Intervertebral Stability In Vivo: Exploring the Criterion Validity of the Initial Attainment Rate. In: The Society for Back Pain Research (SBPR) Annual General Meeting: Biological Factors in Nonspecific Back Pain 5-6 November 2015 Bournemouth.
  • Breen, A., Breen, A., Mellor, F., du Rose, A. and Bentman, S., 2015. Control of intervertebral motion: A critical element of spine control and a target for treatment. In: State of the Art in Spine Control, Expert Forum 16-18 October 2015 Chicago.
  • Breen, A.C., Dupac, M., Noroozi, S. and Osborne, N., 2014. A pre-operational study magnification measurement and error estimation of residual tibia kinematics within below knee prosthetics. , 927-930 CRC Press/Balkema.
  • Breen, A., Breen, A.C. and Mellor, F., 2013. Lumbar intervertebral motion in vivo: a preliminary comparison of recumbent and weight bearing motion patterns in adult males. In: Society of Back Pain Research 9-11 November 2012 Douglas, Isle of Man. Bone & Joint Journal Orthopaedic Proceedings Supplement, 95 (SUPP 17), 20 British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery.

Theses

  • Breen, A., 2016. A quantitative fluoroscopic study of the relationship between lumbar inter-vertebral and residual limb/socket kinematics in the coronal plane in adult male unilateral amputees. (Exploring the spine and lower limb kinematics of trans-tibial amputees). PhD Thesis. Bournemouth University, Faculty of Science and Technology.

Posters

  • Breen and Breen, A., 2017. Disc degeneration and uneven lumbar intervertebral motion sharing are related in patients with chronic back pain.
  • Breen and Breen, A., 2017. Uneven lumbar Inter vertebral motion sharing accompanied by disc degeneration is a pathomechanism in chronic, nonspecific low back pain.
  • Breen, mellor, F. and Breen, 2017. Intra subject repeatability of intervertebral motion parameters for clinical studies.
  • Breen and Breen, A., 2017. Intervertebral motion sharing in the lumbar spine and chronic back pain.

PhD Students

  • Jacqueline Rix. Project title Biomechanical Effects of Spinal Manipulation - a Feasibility Study
  • Terence McSweeney. Quantitative imaging biomarkers for nonspecific low back pain

Grants

  • Radiological Research Trust Travel grant (Radiological Research Trust, 31 Oct 2016). Completed
  • Research Travel Fellowship to the Society For Back Pain Research. (Society For Back Pain Research, 01 Oct 2016). In Progress

External Responsibilities

Journal Reviewing/Refereeing

  • Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, Anonymous peer review, 04 May 2020
  • Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, Anonymous peer review, 15 Feb 2020
  • Hong Kong Physiotherapy Journal, Anonymous peer review, 28 Mar 2019
  • The Spine Journal, Anonymous peer review, 28 Mar 2019
  • BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, Anonymous peer review, 18 Apr 2018
  • Clinical Biomechanics, Anonymous peer review, 06 Mar 2018
  • BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, Anonymous peer review, 15 Nov 2017
  • HIP International, Anonymous peer review, 10 Aug 2017

Qualifications

  • PhD in Prosthetics and Biomechanics (Bournemouth University, 2016)
  • MSc in Medical Physics (Open University, 2012)
  • BSc (Hons) in Physics with Medical Applications (Exeter University, 2005)

Memberships

  • Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM), Member (2012-),
  • European Society of Biomechanics, Member,
  • North American Spine Society (NASS), Member,
  • Society for Back Pain Research, Member,