Prof Paul Comfort

School of Health & Society

Photo of Prof Paul Comfort

Contact Details

Room C701
Allerton Building
Frederick Road
Salford
Greater Manchester
M6 6PU

Current positions

Professor of Strength & Conditioning

Biography

Dr Paul Comfort is a Professor of Strength and Conditioning at the University of Salford. He is also an adjunct professor at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia. Paul has applied experience across a range of sports and consults with numerous professional and semi-professional sports teams across the world.
Professor Comfort is a founder member and accredited member with the United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association. His is a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach in which he has recertified with Distinction (CSCS*D). Paul also served on the Board of Directors for the NSCA from July 2020- July 2023.
Professor Comfort is a senior associate editor for the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, an associate editor for the European Journal of Sport Science, the Strength and Conditioning Journal and Sports Biomechanics. He has co-authored >200 peer reviewed journal articles along with numerous book chapters and is co-editor of the textbooks, ‘Advanced Strength and Conditioning: an evidence-based approach’, ‘Performance Assessment for strength and Conditioning’ and 'Laboratory Manual for Strength and Conditioning.'

Areas of Research

Paul's research interests include all areas of Strength and Conditioning. More specifically he is interested in exercise programming to enhance muscle mass and force production to enhance function (e.g., sports performance, occupation specific function, activities of daily living). To support intervention studies Paul has also extensively researched the assessment of force production characteristics during isometric and dynamic tasks, to ensure appropriate test standardization to enhance reliability and reduce measurement error.

Areas of Supervision

Resistance Training to Enhance Muscle Function; Strength and Conditioning; Weightlifting for Sports Performance; Assessment of Force Production Characteristics

Teaching

Injury Prevention and Performance Measurement
Strength and Conditioning
Research Project

Qualifications and Recognitions

Qualifications
  • PhD via Published Works

    2014 - 2015
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice

    2001 - 2002
  • MSc Exercise and Nutrition Science

    2000 - 2003
  • Sport & Exercise Science

    1996 - 1999

Recognitions
  • Editorial Excellence Award - The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

  • Editorial Excellence Award - Strength and Conditioning Journal

  • United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association - Coach of the Year for Education and Research

  • Educator of the Year - The National Strength and Conditioning Association

  • Vice Chancellors Distinguished Teaching Award

Publications

Publications