Miss Natalia Neophytou

Natalia Neophytou is a South African researcher affiliated with the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand. With a background in biokinetics and sports medicine, her work centres on physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and musculoskeletal health across clinical, athletic, and community populations. Her scholarship reflects a strong commitment to preventive health and functional assessment.

Her research explores physical activity behaviours among medical students and employees, workplace wellness interventions, and the use of digital platforms to support exercise participation. She has contributed important insights into barriers to engagement in health promotion programmes, particularly within South African contexts, highlighting the need for culturally and environmentally responsive interventions.

In addition, her work examines core stability, shoulder strength in overhead athletes, anthropometric trends in children, and motor assessment in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. This diverse portfolio demonstrates expertise in applied human movement science, injury prevention, and assessment tool development, with an emphasis on translating evidence into practical strategies for health improvement.