Staff profile

Matthew joined the department in August 2024. Matthew's PhD, at Northumbria University examined the role of physical activity counselling alongside pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This work investigated the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of combining pulmonary rehabilitation, designed to improve exercise capacity, with comprehensive physical activity behavioural modification support, designed to translate improvements in exercise capacity into improved daily physical activity, in COPD patients with low functional reserve. Matthew moved to Durham after spending three years as a Senior Lecturer at Bournemouth University. Matthew's research interests are driven towards giving patients with chronic respiratory conditions the opportunity to regain activities of daily living and live with an improved quality of life. Matthew has a particular interest in interventions that support improving symptom management, physical activity and mental health and how this can be embedded within rehabilitation. 

 

PhD Supervision

Matthew welcomes expressions of interest from students interested in PhD study in the following areas: 

• Chronic disease and exercise/physical activity rehabilitation 
• Digital tools for rehabilitation 
• Physiological and psychological impact of exercise 
• Physical activity promotion 
• Exercise testing in chronic disease 

If you're interested in pursuing postgraduate research in any of these areas, please email Matthew directly at matthew.g.armstrong@durham.ac.uk 

Research Interests

• Chronic Respiratory Disease
• Exercise Rehabilitation 
• Physical Activity Promotion 
• Digital Self-Management 
• Inequalities and Rehabilitation 

Journal Article

• Hui, C. Y., Condon, K., Kolekar, S., Roberts, N., Sreter, K. B., Simons, S. O., Figueiredo, C., McKeough, Z., Salim, H., Gawlik-Lipinski, A., Gonsard, A., Aral, A. Ö., Vanoverschelde, A., Armstrong, M., Kohlbrenner, D., Paixão, C., Stafler, P., Papadopoulou, E., Rabe, A. P., Mohammad, M., …Chan, A. H. Y. (2024). Implementing digital respiratory technologies for people with respiratory conditions: A protocol for a scoping review. PLoS ONE, 19(12), Article e0314914. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314914
• Armstrong, M., Owen, R., Van Niekerk, K. S., & Saynor, Z. L. (2024). Personalised Health Behaviour Support Programme in Adults With Post‐COVID Syndrome: A Randomised, Controlled Pilot Feasibility Trial. Health Expectations, 27(5), Article e70079. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70079
• Kiyak, C., Ijezie, O. A., Ackah, J. A., Armstrong, M., Cowen, J., Cetinkaya, D., Burianová, H., & Akudjedu, T. N. (2024). Topographical Distribution of Neuroanatomical Abnormalities Following COVID-19 Invasion: A Systematic Literature Review. Clinical Neuroradiology, 34(1), 13-31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00062-023-01344-5
• Armstrong, M., Hume, E., McNeillie, L., Chambers, F., Wakenshaw, L., Burns, G., Heslop Marshall, K., & Vogiatzis, I. (2023). Cognitive behavioural therapy combined with physical activity behavioural modification strategies during pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD. ERJ Open Research, 9(5), Article 00074-2023. https://doi.org/10.1183/23120541.00074-2023
• Gille, T., Sivapalan, P., Kaltsakas, G., Kolekar, S. B., Armstrong, M., Tuffnell, R., Evans, R. A., Vagheggini, G., Degani-Costa, L. H., Vicente, C., Das, N., Poberezhets, V., Rolland-Debord, C., Bayat, S., Vogiatzis, I., Franssen, F. M. E., Pinnock, H., & Vanfleteren, L. E. (2022). European Respiratory Society International Congress 2021: Highlights from the Respiratory clinical care and physiology assembly. ERJ Open Research, 8(2), Article 00710-2021. https://doi.org/10.1183/23120541.00710-2021
• Manifield, J., Winnard, A., Hume, E., Armstrong, M., Baker, K., Adams, N., Vogiatzis, I., & Barry, G. (2021). Inspiratory muscle training for improving inspiratory muscle strength and functional capacity in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Age and Ageing, 50(3), 716-724. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afaa221
• Armstrong, M., Hume, E., McNeillie, L., Chambers, F., Wakenshaw, L., Burns, G., Marshall, K. H., & Vogiatzis, I. (2021). Behavioural modification interventions alongside pulmonary rehabilitation improve COPD patients’ experiences of physical activity. Respiratory Medicine, 180, Article 106353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2021.106353
• Alexiou, C., Ward, L., Hume, E., Armstrong, M., Wilkinson, M., & Vogiatzis, I. (2021). Effect of interval compared to continuous exercise training on physiological responses in patients with chronic respiratory diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Chronic Respiratory Disease, 18, https://doi.org/10.1177/14799731211041506
• Armstrong, M. (2020). Increasing physical activity in people with COPD. Practice Nursing, 31(11), 461-466. https://doi.org/10.12968/pnur.2020.31.11.461
• Hume, E., Armstrong, M., Manifield, J., McNeillie, L., Chambers, F., Wakenshaw, L., Burns, G., Heslop Marshall, K., & Vogiatzis, I. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 shielding on physical activity and quality of life in patients with COPD. Breathe, 16(3), Article 200231. https://doi.org/10.1183/20734735.0231-2020
• Chynkiamis, N., Armstrong, M., Hume, E., Alexiou, C., Snow, L., Lane, N. D., Hartley, T., Bourke, S. C., & Vogiatzis, I. (2020). Effect of portable non-invasive ventilation on exercise tolerance in COPD: One size does not fit all. Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, 277, Article 103436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resp.2020.103436
• Armstrong, M., Winnard, A., Chynkiamis, N., Boyle, S., Burtin, C., & Vogiatzis, I. (2019). Use of pedometers as a tool to promote daily physical activity levels in patients with COPD: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Respiratory Review, 28(154), Article 190039. https://doi.org/10.1183/16000617.0039-2019
• Chynkiamis, N., Armstrong, M., Manifield, J., Hume, E., Reilly, C., Aliverti, A., O'Doherty, A. F., & Vogiatzis, I. (2019). Hemodynamic effects of portable non-invasive ventilation in healthy men. Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, 268, Article 103248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resp.2019.06.005
• Armstrong, M., & Vogiatzis, I. (2019). Personalized exercise training in chronic lung diseases. Respirology, 24(9), 854-862. https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.13639
• Vogiatzis, I., Chynkiamis, N., Armstrong, M., Lane, N. D., Hartley, T., Gray, W. K., & Bourke, S. C. (2019). Intermittent Use of Portable NIV Increases Exercise Tolerance in COPD: A Randomised, Cross-Over Trial. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 8(1), Article 94. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8010094

Other (Digital/Visual Media)

• Welch, L., Williams, S., Sgroi, E., Barker, R., Pritchard, A., Graham, L., Loughran, K., Armstrong, M., Clifton, H., & Roberts, N. (2025). Valuing and Integrating PPIE in Research: Recommendations for researchers. [BMJ: Evidence-Based Nursing]