JCU > Research Portfolio > A/Prof Anthony Leicht

About

Associate Professor Anthony Leicht is a senior academic within Sport and Exercise Science at James Cook University. He is an experienced exercise scientist/researcher with an international reputation and expertise in the responses to exercise with a particular emphasis on autonomic cardiac control. He has over 25 years of experience as an exercise science academic and enjoys teaching undergraduates within the areas of exercise physiology and exercise testing. He has published extensively, been involved in the successful reception of funding and awards, a member of several national/international exercise science and physiological organisations, an editorial board member for numerous international journals, and a regular invited reviewer for >50 international journals within the areas of Sport and Exercise Science, Cardiovascular Function and Physiology.

Teaching

SP2007: Physiological Basis for Exercise and Sport (Level 2; CNS & TSV)
SP2200: Exercise and Sports Testing (Level 2; CNS & TSV)

Interests

Professional

Research Ethics

Research

Cardiovascular function of humans during rest, exercise and recovery.
Assessment of exercise and physical activity capacity in healthy adults and those with chronic diseases/conditions.

Teaching

Assessment

Experience

2010 to present - Associate Professor, James Cook University (Townsville)
2014 to 2019 - Deputy Chair of Human Research Ethics Committee, James Cook University (Townsville)
2011 to 2019 - Human Research Ethics Committee Member, James Cook University (Townsville)
2014 to 2018 - JCU Council Member, James Cook University (Townsville)
2011 to 2013 - Research Committee Member, James Cook University (Townsville)
2008 to 2011 - Director - Institute of Sport and Exercise Science, James Cook University (Townsville)
2006 to 2009 - Senior Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville)
2002 to 2005 - Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville)
1999 to 2001 - Associate Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville)

Research Disciplines

Honours

Awards

2018 - The Leoni Warne Memorial Award. Defence Human Sciences Symposium, Perth, November 29-30
2014 - Heikki Pekkarinen Memorial Award. The International 22nd Puijo Symposium, Physical Exercise in Clinical Medicine – Critical Appraisal of Scientific Evidence, Kuopio, Finland, June 24-28
2013 - USQ Alumnus of the Year Faculty Award (Sciences)
2012 - Best Scientific Paper Presentation – Exercise Science (ESSA National Conference, Gold Coast, Australia)
2006 - Best Poster Presentation (AAESS National Conference, Sydney, Australia)

Fellowships

2010 - European College of Sport Science (ECSS)
2007 - Australian Association for Exercise and Sports Science (AAESS) - Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA)

Memberships

2008 - Australian Physiological Society
2006 - American College of Sports Medicine
2006 - European College of Sport Science
2004 - Queensland College of Teachers
2004 - American Physiological Society
2000 - Sports Medicine Australia
2000 - Australian Association for Exercise and Sports Science (AAESS) - Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA)
2000 to 2018 - Australian Society for Medical Research
2009 to 2017 - International Society of Autonomic Neuroscience
1998 to 2017 - International Society for Heart Research

Other

2000 to 2007 - International Basketball Referee
1994 to 2007 - National Basketball League Referee
1988 to 2007 - Australian/Continental Basketball Association (A/CBA) Northern Conference Referee

Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

Medeiros A, Leicht A, Michael S and Boullosa D (in press) Weekly vagal modulations and their associations with physical fitness and physical activity. European Journal of Sport Science, , DOI:10.1080/17461391.2020.1838619.
Ahmadian M, Dabidi Roshan V, Rezvan K and Leicht A (2020) Impact of exercise in high-humidity on heart rate variability and salivary oxidative stress in obese and lightweight asthmatic children. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 60 (5), pp. 779-785, DOI:10.23736/S0022-4707.20.10312-8.
Connor J, Mann D, Gomez M, Leicht A and Doma K (2020) Performance advantages of left-handed cricket batting talent. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, Article: 1654, DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01654.
Doma K, Leicht A, Boullosa D and Woods C (2020) Lunge exercises with blood-flow restriction induces post-activation potentiation and improves vertical jump performance. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 120, pp. 687-695, DOI:10.1007/s00421-020-04308-6.
Gasperi L, Conte D, Leicht A and Gómez-Ruano M (2020) Game related statistics discriminate national and foreign players according to playing position and team ability in the women's basketball EuroLeague. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (15), Article: 5507, DOI:10.3390/ijerph17155507.
Giménez J, Jiménez-Linares L, Leicht A and Gómez M (2020) Predictive modelling of the physical demands during training and competition in professional soccer players. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 23 (6), pp. 603-608, DOI:10.1016/j.jsams.2019.12.008.
Golledge J, Leicht A, Yip L, Rowbotham S, Pinchbeck J, Jenkins J, Clapperton R, Dally-Watkins M, Fiatarone Singh M, Mavros Y, Noble Y, Haghighi M, Hollings M, Parmenter B and Burton N (2020) Relationship between disease specific quality of life measures, physical performance, and activity in people with intermittent claudication caused by peripheral artery disease. European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, 59 (6), pp. 957-964, DOI:10.1016/j.ejvs.2020.02.006.
Gomez M, Medina R, Leicht A, Zhang S and Vaquera A (2020) The performance evolution of match play styles in the Spanish professional basketball league. Applied Sciences, 10 (20), Article: 7056, DOI:10.3390/app10207056.
Gomez M, Rivas F, Leicht A and Buldu J (2020) Using network science to unveil badminton performance patterns. Chaos Solitons and Fractals, 135, Article: 109834, DOI:10.1016/j.chaos.2020.109834.
Gomez M, Leicht A, Rivas F and Furley P (2020) Long rallies and next rally performances in elite men's and women's badminton. PLoS One, 15 (3), Article: e0229604, DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0229604.
Huppertz N, Beetham K, Howden E, Leicht A, Isbel N and Coombes J (2020) A 12-month lifestyle intervention does not improve cardiac autonomic function in patients with chronic kidney disease. Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical, 224, Article: 102642, DOI:10.1016/j.autneu.2020.102642.
Leicht A, Ahmadian M and Nakamura F (2020) Influence of lower body compression garments on cardiovascular autonomic responses prior to, during and following submaximal cycling exercise. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 120 (7), pp. 1601-1607, DOI:10.1007/s00421-020-04391-9.

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 223+ research outputs authored by A/Prof Anthony Leicht from 2002 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Australian Army - Contract Research

Quantifying the acute physical, cognitive and physiological responses of various training modalities in Australian Soldiers

Indicative Funding: $21,655 over 6 years
Summary: The project sets out to answer the following research question: What is the degree of stress, fatigue and recovery experienced by Australian Soldiers after bouts of occupationally specific physical activities? To answer this question, the project will develop an evidence-based assessment protocol to assess levels of fatigue and stress in Soldiers after bouts of occupationally related strenuous activities across various periods of employment. This will inform the chain of command on appropriate recovery times for different modalities of training, ensuring that soldiers remain combat-ready throughout their training cycles and minimise symptoms overtraining.
Investigators: Brian Heilbronn, Kenji Doma, Wade Sinclair and Anthony Leicht in collaboration with Jace Drain (College of Healthcare Sciences and Defence Science and Technology Organisation)
Keywords: Sport Science; Military; Injury Prevention; Tactical Athlete; Army

Rugby Australia Ltd - Contract Research

Examining playing performance in Rugby Union via static and dynamic approaches

Indicative Funding: $24,750 over 2 years
Summary: Innovative technology within elite sport has provided high performance staff with an abundance of player and team performance metrics ? `big rugby data?. Despite the availability of this information, the crucial keys to match success in rugby union remain unknown, possibly due to the complexity of match play. This project will evaluate the complexity of elite rugby union matches by examining teams? performance via novel sport analytics considering static and dynamic approaches. Outcomes will identify the keys to success from a micro to macro level and assist coaching staff to optimise strategies for enhanced success within rugby union.
Investigators: Wade Sinclair, Anthony Leicht, Jonathan Connor and Miguel Gomez Ruano in collaboration with Mikaela Callinan (College of Healthcare Sciences)
Keywords: Athletes; Sports & Exercise; Analysis

Cowboys Rugby League Football Limited - Contract Research

Game, Training and Individual Performance Analytics of Elite Rugby League Players

Indicative Funding: $110,000 over 4 years
Summary: Evaluating training and game performances I elite sport is an information-rich environment particularly with the additional of data analytic companies providing real-time and post-competition analyses for coaching staff. Additionally, the inclusion of wearable technology and in particular, the inclusion of global positioning systems in to the elite training environment have empowered high performance personnel with an overabundance of performance data through which evidence-based evaluations can be made. However, with the inclusion of such technology in to the contemporary elite training environment, coaching staff are now faced with interpretative decisions pertaining to what metrics are suitable and under what constraints.
Investigators: Wade Sinclair, Anthony Leicht and Carl Woods in collaboration with Paul Bowman (College of Healthcare Sciences and Cowboys Rugby League Football Ltd)
Keywords: Performance Analytics; Machine Learning

National Rugby League - Rugby League Research Committee

Identifying the impact of cognitive fitness on decision-making capacity of elite NRL officials

Indicative Funding: $11,369 over 1 year
Summary: Officiating team sport matches requires engagement of complex physical and mental/cognitive processes. Superior cognitive fitness may assist with management of match stresses for greater decision-making. This project will: 1) identify the current cognitive fitness levels of elite NRL officials; and 2) examine the impact of cognitive and/or physical stress on elite NRL official?s decision-making proficiency; 3) clarify how cognitive fitness level moderates elite NRL officials? decision-making proficiency. This project will provide recommendations to enhance the decision-making capacity of elite NRL officials with reference to cognitive fitness.
Investigators: Jonathan Connor, Anthony Leicht, Anne Swinbourne, Kenji Doma and Wade Sinclair (College of Healthcare Sciences)
Keywords: referee; Elite Athlete; Rugby League; Decision Making

National Rugby League - Rugby League Research Committee

Identifying the impact of cognitive fitness on decision-making capacity of elite NRL officials

Indicative Funding: $11,369 over 1 year
Summary: Officiating team sport matches requires engagement of complex physical and mental/cognitive processes. Superior cognitive fitness may assist with management of match stresses for greater decision-making. This project will: 1) identify the current cognitive fitness levels of elite NRL officials; and 2) examine the impact of cognitive and/or physical stress on elite NRL official?s decision-making proficiency; 3) clarify how cognitive fitness level moderates elite NRL officials? decision-making proficiency. This project will provide recommendations to enhance the decision-making capacity of elite NRL officials with reference to cognitive fitness.
Investigators: Jonathan Connor, Anthony Leicht, Anne Swinbourne, Kenji Doma and Wade Sinclair (College of Healthcare Sciences)
Keywords: referee; Elite Athlete; Rugby League; Decision-making

National Health & Medical Research Council - Project Grant

Assessment of the Efficacy of a Brief Behaviour Intervention Designed to Improve Physical Activity in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease

Indicative Funding: $662,912 over 6 years
Summary: The primary aim of the current study is to assess the efficacy of a Brief Behavioural Intervention (BBI) delivered by allied health workers in health facilities to improve physical activity in patients with PAD over 24 months. Secondary aims of this study are to examine the effect of the BBI on participants functional capacity, revascularisation rate, resource use, and to perform an economic evaluation of the BBI compared to usual care.
Investigators: Jon Golledge, Nicola Burton, Paul Norman, Anthony Leicht and Zanfina Ademi in collaboration with Richard Holdsworth, Ronan O'Carroll, Belinda Parmenter, Christopher Reid and Jason Jenkins (College of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Queensland, The University of Western Australia, College of Healthcare Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Forth Valley Royal Hospital, University of Stirling, The University of New South Wales, Monash University and Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital)
Keywords: Peripheral Arterial Disease; Physical Activity; Intermittent Claudication; Behavioural Medicine

Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

Quantifying the Acute Physical, Cognitive and Physiological Responses of various Training Modalities in Australian Soldiers (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Prediction of lung function and health-related quality of life using handgrip strength in cardiac patients. (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Investigating the Impact of Neuromuscular Fatigue and Exercise Induced Muscle Damage on Motor Skills (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Use of Performance Analytics to Enhance Success within an Elite Rugby League Environment (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Examining playing performance in Rugby Union via static and dynamic approaches (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Novel strategies for athlete preparation in elite rugby league players. (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Use of Rugby League Specific Activities to assess effects of Training (PhD , Advisor Mentor)

Completed

Quantifying the physical, technical, and tactical qualities discriminant of development level in the Queensland Rugby League talent pathway (2020, PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)

Data

These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit Research Data Australia.

Leicht, A. (2016) Data set for quality of life and physical activity of adults within a regional workplace. James Cook University

Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.