Dr Malika Felton
- 01202 961845
- mfelton at bournemouth dot ac dot uk
- http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4675-6076
- Senior Lecturer in Health and Exercise Physiology
- Bournemouth Gateway Building BG504, St Pauls Lane, Bournemouth, BH8 8GP
Biography
Malika joined BU in 2017 to complete her PhD in Health Sciences and joined the Department of Rehabilitation and Sport Sciences in February 2021 as a Lecturer in Health and Exercise Science. In September 2023, she was promoted to Senior Lecturer and she is currently the Programme Leader for BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy and teaches physiology and innovation units on this programme. Her research interests are in women's health, especially related to maternal health, and in the areas of physical activity and non-pharmacological treatment methods. She won the Early Career Researcher Award at the Women in Sport & Exercise Academic Network (WiSEAN) Conference in June 2023.
Malika is continuing to research in the field of her PhD area and has received internal Faculty pump-priming to run a feasibility trial investigating the feasibility of using slow and deep breathing to manage high blood pressure during pregnancy (pregnancy-induced hypertension).
After submitting her PhD in 2021, Malika joined the University of Exeter as a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the Moving Through Motherhood research team... The GW4 Alliance funded project supported a multi-disciplinary team and Malika's role was to organise and run a series of virtual workshops. Using a co-design methodology the workshops aimed to discuss how we can improve the information, resources and services that women receive regarding physical activity during and after pregnancy. The workshops were attended by pregnant women, new mothers and key stakeholders including healthcare professionals from maternity care, physios, local government, public health and physical activity providers from across the South West of England and South Wales. Malika remains part of the Moving Through Motherhood research team within her role at Bournemouth University.
Malika is also an ISAK Level Two Anthropometrist, trained as a technician in the measurement of body composition, and assists in teaching Level One ISAK courses in the UK and Ireland. She has previously worked as a sport and exercise science lab technician, and also as a PTHP lecturer at the University of Winchester.
moreResearch
Malika is part of the Moving Through Motherhood research group, which is a multi-disciplinary team from University of Exeter, University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University and King's College London. Their aim is to improve information and resources for women related to physical activity during and after pregnancy. Using a co-design methodology, pregnant women, mother's and other stakeholders contribute as collaborators in the research process. Malika won the Early Career Researcher Award at the WiSEAN Conference (Women in Sport and Exercise Academic Network) in Liverpool in June 2023, for presenting this work. The award is given for outstanding work in the field of women in sport and exercise science and Malika was selected for the award by members of the WiSEAN scientific committee and fellow Early Career Researchers.
Based on this post-doc work, Malika is also working with the Active Pregnancy Foundation on creating a national physical activity directory for pregnant women and new mothers. She is looking to become a This Mum Moves Ambassador in 2024 to share physical activity and guidance with the next generation of healthcare professionals at Bournemouth University. She is also part of the Reproductive Health and Outdoor Swimming group, looking to build an evidence base for cold water swimming during/after pregnancy, and researching the cold water benefits related to women's health such as menstrual and perimenopausal symptoms.
Continuing her PhD research, Malika is working with a group of cross-faculty researchers to develop an app to support the early (latent) phase of labour... The breathing exercises and graphic created during her PhD are being utilised in this app, alongside content from other BU PhDs including use of a birth birth, co-designed early labour information and pain catastrophisation.
Malika is working with the Nepal Family Cohort Study group of researchers to utilise large data sets of health data collected in rural and urban Nepal, with a focus on women's health.
Malika is open to supervising students in the areas of women's or maternal health in the areas of physiology and physical activity. Projects using co-design methodology and technology or non-pharmacological interventions are particularly welcome.
moreExpertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person's work contributes towards the following SDGs:
Good health and well-being
"Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages"
Journal Articles
- Felton, M., Hundley, V.A., Grigsby, S. and McConnell, A.K., 2021. Effects of slow and deep breathing on reducing obstetric intervention in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension: a feasibility study protocol. Hypertension in Pregnancy, 40 (1), 81-87.
Theses
- Felton, M., 2021. The influence of pregnancy upon acute cardiovascular responses to slow and deep breathing. PhD Thesis. Bournemouth University, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences.
Posters
- Felton, M., 2023. Moving Through Motherhood: Supporting physical activity during and after pregnancy. In: Women in Sport & Exercise Academic Network (WiSEAN) Conference.
- Felton, M., Hundley, V. and McConnell, A.K., 2022. Acute cardiovascular responses to slow and deep breathing in normotensive non-pregnant and pregnant women. In: EuroPhysiology 2022.
- Felton, M., Hundley, V. and McConnell, A., 2019. Acute cardiovascular responses to slow and deep breathing in healthy women. In: Physiology 2019.
- Brock, K., Felton, M., Stone, K., Fryer, S., Brown, H., Cotterill, S. and Faulkner, J., 2018. Within day reliability of single position near infra-red spectroscopy probes varies dependent on position. In: British Psychological Society Cognitive Section Conference.
- Ryan-Stewart, H., Felton, M., Crane, A., Cotterill, S. and Jobson, S., 2016. Reliability of the Terason ultrasound for measurement of muscle thickness and pennation angle. In: BASES Conference.
- Felton, M., 2015. The frequency effect of carbohydrate mouth rinse on cycling performance. In: BASES Conference.
- Batten, J., Felton, M. and Stevens, M., 2014. An exploration of the informational cues individuals utilise to form an initial impression of fitness professional. In: BASES Conference.
PhD Students
- Aung Hein. MRes - Blood pressure variability and major adverse cardiovascular events
- Kate Rattley. The physiological responses to exercise of women throughout the menopause stages
Grants
- Effects of slow and deep breathing on reducing obstetric intervention in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension: A feasibility study (Bournemouth University, 01 Oct 2022). In Progress
- Consultancy Research: Xim Lifelight app and blood pressure waveform (Xim, 16 May 2022). Completed
- Early Career Conference Grant (Association of Commonwealth Universities, 09 Mar 2022). Completed
- Travel Grant (Physiological Society, 19 Jun 2019). Completed
External Responsibilities
- The Physiological Society, Rep for Bournemouth University
Internal Responsibilities
- PGR Representative, University Research Ethics Committee (Feb 2020 - June 2021)
- iWell steering group PGR member, iWell Research Centre (Integrative Wellbeing), (2017 - 2019)
Public Engagement & Outreach Activities
- Deep breathing to lower blood pressure (Cafe Scientifique) (01 Jan 2022)
- Seafront stand promoting BU and research (Bournemouth Airshow) (01 Jan 2019)
- Science not magic: Breathe your way to better health (Pint of Science) (01 Jan 2018)
- Breathe your way to lower blood pressure (Festival of Learning) (01 Jan 2018)
Attended Training
- International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry Level Two Anthropometrist, 01 Jan 2023, Level Two Anthropometrist (Technician - Full Profile)
- NIHR Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Refresher E-Learing, 02 Sep 2022
- Automatic External Device (AED) First Aid Training, 01 Aug 2019
Qualifications
- BU Certificate in Programme Leadership (Bournemouth University, 2022)
- PhD in Health Sciences (Bournemouth Unviersity, 2021)
- PgCert in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (University of Winchester, 2016)
- MSc in Applied Sport and Exercise Science (University of Winchester, 2014)
- BSc (Hons) in Sport Science (University of Brighton, 2009)
Honours
- Early Career Researcher Award (Women in Sport & Exercise Academic Network (WiSEAN) Conference, 2023)
- Gold BU Researcher Development Award
Memberships
- American Physiological Society, Member,
- British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), Member,
- Higher Education Academy (HEA), Fellow,
- International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK), Level Two Anthropometrist,
- The Physiological Society, Member,