Ms Kat Allott

Kat is a Lecturer in Sports Biomechanics on the Sport, Fitness and Coaching and Sport and Exercise Science qualifications at The Open University, specialising in musculoskeletal biomechanics of human movement. She is currently undertaking her PhD in biomechanics and neuromuscular function at Loughborough University. Kat’s research focuses on better understanding muscle and tendon function during maximum effort sports movements. Kat combines measured data from athletes with musculoskeletal modelling and simulation to predict muscle function during dynamic activities, with the aim of providing insights into injury prediction and limits to sports performance.

Research interests

As an international level trampoline gymnast, Kat is interested in the biomechanics of sports techniques, particularly aerial sports. Kat has applied experience in high performance sport and is interested in integrating knowledge from across sports science disciplines as part of an interdisciplinary approach to supporting athletes with injury prevention, rehabilitation, and performance.

Kat has presented her PhD research at the 30^th International Society of Biomechanics conference in Stockholm, Sweden, in July 2025, and the 44^th International Society of Biomechanics in Sports conference at Loughborough University in July 2026, where she was also involved in the organisation of the conference.

Teaching interests

Kat is interested in how mechanical principles are applied to inform coaching practice in sport, and she embeds this applied perspective in the curriculum development and module production of E239 (Applied sport and exercise physiology and biomechanics) on the Sport and Exercise Science programme. Kat is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and is currently module co-chair on E235 (Sport and exercise psychology in action). 

To find out more about the Sport and Exercise qualifications available at The Open University please click here.