Dr Koulla Parpa FHEA
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE, COURSE LEADER OF MSC SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCES AND DEPUTY COURSE LEADER OF BSC (HONS) SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE
[email protected]
+357 24694000
Qualifications
PhD Exercise Science (University of Arkansas, 2008)
MSc Exercise Science (University of Arkansas, 2004)
BSc Kinesiology with Specialization in Physiotherapy (Semmelweis University, 2001)
Graduate Certificate in Educational Statistics and Research (University of Arkansas, 2008)
Fellow of Higher Education Academy (2020) PR181612
Specialization
Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics, Rehabilitation
Employment Track
Assistant Professor in Sport and Exercise Science (2022-now)
Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science, UCLan Cyprus (2014 – 2022)
External Examiner for the University of Bolton (Sports Science and Coaching) (Effective November 2021).
Lecturer at the University of Nicosia, Departments of Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Pre-Medicine and Sports Science (2011 – 2014)
Lecturer at Intercollege – Larnaca (2013 – 2014)
Health and Wellness Program Coordinator, Intern supervisor, University of Arkansas (2004 -2010)
Physical Education Teacher, Springdale Elementary Schools, Arkansas, USA (2002-2003)
Memberships (Academic/Professional)
- European College of Sports Science member since 2011
Research Interests
- The development, implementation, and testing of intervention strategies for 1) injury prevention in different sports modalities, 2) performance enhancement in elite and sub-elite athletes, and 3) health promotion/disease prevention in clinical and healthy populations.
- 2D:4D ratio and its implications in medicine and sports.
Roles and Responsibilities (including past roles and responsibilities)
Teaching and Course Leadership
- Course Leader of MSc Sport and Exercise Sciences and Deputy Course Leader of BSc Sport and Exercise Science (2020 – Present)
- Deputy Course Leader of MSc Sport and Exercise Sciences (2018 – 2020)
- Course Leader of BSc Sport and Exercise Science (2014 – 2020)
- Module Leadership/Delivery: Introduction to Biology, Sports Biomechanics, Applied Anatomy for Sport and Exercise Science, Applied Physiology for Sport and Exercise Science, Health and Fitness, Advanced Methods in Performance Assessment and Conditioning, Research Methods for Sports, Exercise and Nutritional Sciences
Administrative Roles
- Representative of the school for the ERASMUS committee
Selective Publications (Full manuscript)
Parpa K, Michaelides M, Petrov D, Kyrillou C, Paludo AC. Relationship between Physical Performance, Anthropometric Measurements and Stroke Velocity in Youth Tennis Players. Sports. 2023, 11(1):7.
Parpa K, Paludo AC, Christodoulides E, Kobus M, Michaelides M. Physical Literacy in Female Youth: A Pilot Study Examining Its Association with Physical Activity, Sports Participation, and Physical Fitness. Youth. 2023; 3(1):392-400.
Kobus, M.; Zadzinska, E.; Michaelides, M.; Parpa, K. Primary Headaches and Physical Performance: A Professional Youth Female Soccer Team Study. Brain Sci. 2022, 12, 1702.
Parpa K, Michaelides M. The effect of COVID-19 infection on aerobic capacity of soccer players. Scientific Reports. 2022, 12, 11850 doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16031-7.
Parpa K, Michaelides M. Age-related differences in the anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics of young soccer players: A cross-sectional study. Children. 2022, 9(5):650. DOI: 10.3390/children9050650.
Parpa K, Michaelides M. Comparison of ventilatory and blood lactate thresholds in elite soccer players. Sport Mont. 2022, Vol.20, No. 3, pp.3-7.
Petrov D, Michaelides M, Parpa K. External load seasonal variations and positional differences in elite soccer player. Sport Mont. 2022, Vol. 20, No 3, pp.113.188.
Parpa K, Michaelides M. Anterior–Posterior and Inter-Limb Lower Body Strength Asymmetry in Soccer, Basketball, Futsal, and Volleyball players. Medicina, 2022, 58, 1080.
Parpa K, Michaelides MA. Maximal Aerobic Power Using the Modified Heck Protocol: Prediction Models. Int J Sports Med. 2022, 43:694-700.
Parpa K, Michaelides M. The effectiveness of an isokinetic training protocol on muscular imbalances in professional soccer players following an ACL surgery. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 2022, 10(4).
Parpa K, Michaelides M. Anthropometric, Strength, and Aerobic Fitness of Higher and Lower-Level Soccer Referees. International Journal of Sports Science. 2022, 12(1): 8-13.
Parpa K, Michaelides M. Relationship of Pre-season Intra- and Inter-limb Strength Asymmetry, Flexibility, and Aerobic Capacity with In-Season Lower Body non-contact Injuries in Soccer Players. Sport Mont. 2022, 22(2):3-8.
Parpa K, Michaelides M. Anthropometric characteristics and aerobic performance of professional soccer players based on playing position and age. Human Movement. 2022, 23(4).
Parpa K, Michaelides M. The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on professional soccer players’ body composition and physical fitness. Biol Sport. 2021, 38(4):733–740.
Parpa KM, Michaelides MM. The Effect of Full Turnout Gear and
Weighted Vest on Firefighter’s Responses During an Ability Test. European Journal of Experimental Biology. 2021, 11(5):136.
Parpa K, Michaelides M. The effect of the transition period on performance parameters in elite female soccer players. International Journal of Sports Medicine. 2020, 1(8):528-532.
Parpa K, Michaelides M. Differences in anthropometric measures and performance profiles between Cypriot and foreign players participating in first division in Cyprus. International Journal of Sport, Exercise and Health Research. 2018, 2(2):106-110.
Parpa K, and Michaelides M. Peak Isokinetic Torques of Football Players Participating in Different Levels in Cyprus and Lower Limb Asymmetries Journal of Sports Science. 2017, (5): 250-255.
Parpa K, Michaelides M, Brown B. Effect of high-intensity interval training on heart rate variability in type 2 diabetic patients. Journal of Exercise Physiology Online. 2009; 12(4):23-29.
Selective Conference and Seminar Presentations
- Parpa, K., Paludo, C.A., Michaelides, M. Heart rate variability and its association with training and match load in female soccer players. ECSS 2023, Paris, France.
- Parpa, K., Giannou, E., Michaelides, M. Bilateral and ipsilateral asymmetries in lower body strength: A comparison of professional and Under-17 female soccer players. ECSS 2022, Sevilla, Spain.
- Parpa, K, Michaelides, M, Ioannou, Christopher. Peak torques of quadriceps and hamstring muscles of soccer players participating in different levels in Cyprus and detection of lower limb asymmetries. ECSS 2017, MetropolisRuhr, Germany.
- Parpa, K., Michaelides, M., Nikolaou, S., Zacharia, A. Differences in performance parameters between Cypriot and foreign players participating in first division in Cyprus. ECSS 2018, Dublin.
- Parpa, K., Michaelides, M. The effect of transition period on the anthropometric and performance parameters in elite female soccer players. ECSS 2019, Prague.
- Parpa, K., Michaelides, M Peak torques and hamstring to quadriceps ratio in professional soccer, futsal and basketball players, ECSS, Vienna, Austria, 2016.
- BeACTIVE conference presentation: Women and Exercise, 2015.
- Parpa, K., Michaelides, M Age-related differences in Countermovement Vertical Jump in basketball players 13-18 Years Old: comparison with elite basketball players ECSS, Malmo, Sweden, 2015.
- Parpa, K.Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training on Older Women with Diabetes. Association for Gerontology in Higher Education’s 36th Annual Meeting and Educational Leadership Conference, Cincinnati, USA, 2011.
- Parpa, K., Michaelides, M., Hadjicharalambous, M. Peak torques of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles of professional soccer players participating in different levels. ECSS, Liverpool, July 2011.
- Parpa, K,; Michaelides, Marcos A.; and Brown, Barry Interval Training and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) in Type 2 Diabetic Patients. International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Abstract Submissions, 2009.
Selective Research Funding/ Grant Capture
Personal grant from the Ministry of Energy, Commerce Industry and Tourism (34.000 Euro), Support the development of a Physiotherapy and Ergophysiology Center in Larnaca, Cyprus, 2013
Other Scholarly and Outreach Activities
- Cyprus representative in the management committee of COST Action TD 1304, 2017
