Dr Kassia Beetham
Lecturer
Sports Performance, Recovery, Injury and New Technologies (SPRINT) Research Centre
Areas of expertise: pregnancy; postpartum, cardiovascular, haemodynamics, clinical exercise physiology; high intensity interval training
Phone: +61 7 3861 6141
Email: kassia.beetham@acu.edu.au
Location: ACU Banyo Campus
HDR Supervisor accreditation status: Provisional
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4657-7668
Dr Kassia Beetham is an accredited exercise physiologist, and is the course coordinator for the Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology at ACU’s Brisbane Campus. Dr Beetham research investigates the effects of high intensity exercise in lifestyle-related cardiometabolic diseases. She is extending this research into the effects of higher intensity exercise during pregnancy, in particular the effects of higher intensity exercise on foetal outcomes, the effect of high-impact exercise on post-partum pelvic floor dysfunction, and the prevalence and effects of higher intensity exercise and resistance training in pregnant athletes. Dr Beetham is also investigating cardiovascular changes in response to exercise from conception through to birth.
Select publications
- Beetham K, Giles C, Noetel M, Clifton V, Jones J, Naughton G. The effects of vigorous intensity exercise in the third trimester of pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 19(1). August 2019. DOI: 1186/s12884-019-2441-1
- Beetham K, Howden E, Fassett R, Petersen A, Trewin A, Isbel N, Coombes J. High-intensity interval training in chronic kidney disease: A randomized pilot study. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sport. 29(8): 1197-1204. August 2019. DOI: 1111/sms.13436
- Ramos J, Dalleck L, Beetham K, Coombes The impact of high-intensity interval training versus moderate-intensity continuous training on vascular function: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine. March 2015. 45(5):679-692. DOI: 10.1007/s40279-015- 0321-z
- Weston K, Wisloff U, Coombes High-intensity interval training in patients with lifestyle-induced cardiometabolic disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine. August 2014. 48(16):1227-1234. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2013-092576
- Taylor J, Holland D, Spathis J, Beetham K, Wisloff U, Keating S, Coombes J. Guidelines for the delivery and monitoring of high intensity interval training in clinical populations. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases. 62(2): 140-146. March 2019. DOI: 1016/j.pcad.2019.01.00
Projects
- The effects of vigorous intensity interval training throughout pregnancy on haemodynamics and foetal heart rate
- The effects of exercise volume during pregnancy on placenta composition
- The effects of exercise volume during pregnancy maternal and foetal outcomes.
Accolades and awards
- Finalist for Early Career Researcher Award, 8th Exercise and Sports Science Australia Conference 2018
- Runner up for Young Investigators Award, Clinical Science, Australia and New Zealand Society of Nephrology 2015
- Finalist for Young Investigators Award, 6th Exercise and Sports Science Australia Conference 2014
- Winner of Exercise and Sports Science Australia Tom Penrose Community Research grant
- Runner Up Sports Medicine Australia QLD conference 2013
- Nominated by UQ to attend Inspire Summer School in Perth, Western Australia 2013
- 2011 Exercise and Sports Science Australia, Exercise Physiologist Graduate of the Year
- Young Investigators Award for presentation “Contribution of autonomic dysfunction to abnormal exercise blood pressure in type 2 diabetes mellitus” at the Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport 2011
- 2010 recipient of the Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) undergraduate award for the University of Queensland.
Grants
- 2020 Beetham KS. The effects of exercise volume in each trimester on placental mitochondrial content. Research Award for Women Academic Staff 2021
- 2018 Beetham KS. The effects of exercise intensity through each pregnancy trimester on birth weight: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Faculty of Health Science, Australian Catholic University, Research Project Grant Scheme
- 2013 Weston KS, Coombes JS. Effects of high intensity interval training on exercise capacity, mitochondrial function and muscle atrophy in patients with chronic kidney disease. Exercise and Sports Science Australia Tom Penrose Research and Community Service Grant
- 2013 Coombes JS, Weston KS, Isbel N, Fassett, R. Effects of high intensity interval training on exercise capacity, mitochondrial function and muscle atrophy in patients with chronic kidney disease. Kidney Health Australia
- 2013 Weston KS. Effects of high intensity interval training on exercise capacity, mitochondrial function and muscle atrophy in patients with chronic kidney disease. School of Human Movement Studies, Alf Howard Travel Scholarship.
Appointments and affiliations
- Lecturer, School of Exercise Science, Australian Catholic University (2017 – current)Research Fellow, Discipline of Occupational Therapy, University of Sydney (2014 – 2017)
- Research Fellow, Department of Educational Studies, Macquarie University
- Research Fellow, Sydney Playground Project
- Exercise and Sports Science Australia- Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) and Accredited Exercise Scientist (AES)
Applied experience/roles
Founder ‘Baby Steps’ program – a group exercise program for pregnant and postpartum women at the ACU Exercise Lifestyle Clinic
Current and prior consultancy roles
Exercise and Sports Science Australia committee member on multiple committee groups
Public Engagement
The Conversation- Expert articles
