Brendon Roxburgh, Academic staff, School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences

Lecturer
BPhEd(Otago), MSc(Auckland), PhD(Otago)

Contact

Email brendon.roxburgh@otago.ac.nz
ResearchGate Brendon Roxburgh

Background

Brendon Roxburgh is a Lecturer in Clinical Exercise Physiology at the School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences. Brendon obtained his BPhED (2008) at Otago before completing an MSc (Sport and Exercise Science) at the University of Auckland.

He worked as a clinical exercise physiologist for more than 10 years, specialising in cardiopulmonary exercise testing and exercise-based rehabilitation for people with cardiovascular disease. In 2018 he returned to the University of Otago to complete a PhD on prehabilitation – optimising patient fitness before surgery.

Brendon has been awarded a Lottery Health Postdoctoral Fellowship and a Health Research Council Emerging Researcher Grant. He has also received research funding from Pūtahi Manawa, Arthritis New Zealand, Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust, the National Heart Foundation, HeartOtago, Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, and the University of Otago.

Teaching

SPEX 205 Physical Activity and Health
SPEX 310 Exercise for Clinical Populations
SPEX 316 Practicum
SPEX 440 Advanced Topics in Physical Education, Activity and Health (Clinical skills and assessment I & Clinical exercise physiology I)
SPEX 441 Advanced Topics in Physical Education, Activity and Health (Clinical skills and assessment II & Clinical exercise physiology II
SPEX 480 Independent project

Research

Brendon’s research interests include:

The role of exercise during presurgical cancer treatment (neoadjuvant therapy) to improve patients’ tolerance to chemotherapy, reduce treatment-related side effects, and enhance tumour shrinkage before surgery.
The role of hot-water immersion for improving health. Brendon has a number of ongoing studies looking at the effect of hot-water bathing on blood pressure, as a therapy for people with hypertension. He is also looking at the effect of hot-water bathing on joint pain in people with arthritis.
The role of fitness in patients scheduled for surgery. Fitter patients are more resilient to the stress of surgery and therefore have better outcomes and recovery following surgery. Brendon’s research looks at novel ways for improving fitness before surgery, to optimise postoperative recovery.
Thermoregulatory responses and strategies in athletes, with a particular focus on motorsport athletes and open-water swimmers. His work examines how heat stress affects performance, safety, and recovery in these unique sporting environments.
Other research interests include:
1. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing and other forms of fitness assessment
2. Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation
3. High-intensity interval training
4. Isometric exercise training for lowering resting blood pressure

Postgraduate students

Chloé Beach (PhD): Fit for Treatment: Evaluating the feasibility of exercise during chemotherapy
Dr Brendon Roxburgh, Dr Kate Thomas
Mary-Ann Moller (PhD): Lagoon bathing as an ecologically valid therapy for improving heart health among Cook Islands Māori
Dr Brendon Roxburgh, Associate Professor Jesse Kokaua, Professor Jim Cotter and Dr Kate Thomas
Tasha Burton (PhD): Intersecting Wisdom: Investigating the cardiovascular impact of heat (sauna) and cooling therapy through Māori and Western science perspectives
Professor Jim Cotter, Dr Anna Rolleston (Centre for Health), Dr Brendon Roxburgh
Nic Daniels (PhD): Heat Acclimation and Climate Adaptation
Professor Jim Cotter, Dr Brendon Roxburgh
Jennifer Duffy (PhD): Outdoor physical activity in a warming world: investigating the interplay of solar radiation, heat, and fitness
Professor Jim Cotter, Dr Brendon Roxburgh
Maxine McIvor (MSc): Using exercise to detect cardiovascular risk in pregnancy: can vascular responses predict preeclampsia?
Dr Lara Vliestra, Dr Brendon Roxburgh, Dr Kassia Beetham (Australian Catholic University)
Aliya Mottus (MSc): The effects of flat and incline walking training on exercise capacity for people with peripheral artery disease

Completed students

Emma Sutherland (MSc): Investigating the efficacy of plant-derived supplements for enhancing athletic performance
Professor Alison Heather, Dr Brendon Roxburgh, Associate Professor Alexander Tups

Publications

Roxburgh, B. H., Edgar, D. T., & Cotter, J. D. (2026). Prolonged stable hypothermia during a 10-hour cold open-water marathon swim. Experimental Physiology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1113/ep093270 Journal - Research Other

Roxburgh, B. H., Cotter, J. D., Fujii, N., Masodsai, K., & Thomas, K. N. (2026). Hot-water immersion: A (not so) new therapy for the primary and secondary prevention of hypertension? Journal of Applied Physiology, 140, 439-450. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00846.2025 Journal - Research Other

Roxburgh, B., Cunningham, M., Campbell, M., Cotter, J., Williams, M., & Thomas, K. (2025). Te Waiora: Thermal therapy for cardiovascular health. Heart, Lung & Circulation, 34(Suppl. 3), O28. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2025.05.029 Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Roxburgh, B. H., Campbell, H. A., Cotter, J. D., Reymann, U., Williams, M. J. A., Gwynne-Jones, D., & Thomas, K. N. (2025). Three practical methods for estimating preoperative cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with severe hip or knee osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional study. Arthritis Care & Research. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1002/acr.25703 Journal - Research Article

Roxburgh, B. H., Campbell, H. A., Cotter, J. D., Reymann, U., Williams, M. J. A., Gwynne-Jones, D. P., & Thomas, K. N. (2025). The effect of pre-operative cardiorespiratory fitness on functional and subjective outcomes following total hip and knee arthroplasty: A single centre, observational study. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 138(1614), 19-41. doi: 10.26635/6965.6855 Journal - Research Article

2026

Journal - Research Other

2025

Journal - Research Article

Roxburgh, B. H., Campbell, H. A., Cotter, J. D., Williams, M. J. A., & Thomas, K. N. (2025). Both hot- and thermoneutral-water immersion reduce 24-h blood pressure in people with hypertension: A randomized crossover study. Temperature, 12(2), 166-178. doi: 10.1080/23328940.2025.2465025

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

2024

Journal - Research Article

Roxburgh, B. H., Campbell, H. A., Goodman, R., Cotter, J. D., Reymann, U., Gwynne-Jones, D., & Thomas, K. N. (2024). Acute and adaptive analgesic effects of passive heat therapy or high- intensity interval exercise in patients with severe lower-limb osteoarthritis: A mixed-methods exploratory study. International Journal of Research in Exercise Physiology, 19(2), 19-41. Retrieved from https://ijrep.org/

Roxburgh, B. H., Campbell, H. A., Cotter, J. D., Reymann, U., Gwynne-Jones, D., & Thomas, K. N. (2024). Maintenance of preoperative fitness by home-based prehabilitation following supervised prehabilitation in patients awaiting total hip or knee arthroplasty. International Journal of Research in Exercise Physiology, 19(2), 57-77. Retrieved from https://ijrep.org/

Roxburgh, B. H., Campbell, H. A., Cotter, J. D., Reymann, U., Williams, M. J. A., Gwynne-Jones, D., & Thomas, K. N. (2024). Upper-limb high-intensity interval training or passive heat therapy to optimise cardiorespiratory fitness prior to total hip or knee arthroplasty: A randomised controlled trial. Arthritis Care & Research, 76(3), 393-402. doi: 10.1002/acr.25238

Journal - Research Other

Roxburgh, B. H. (2024). Simulated altitude for prehabilitation: Alternatives await in less rarified air. Anaesthesia, 79, 1378-1379. doi: 10.1111/anae.16385

2023

Journal - Research Article

Roxburgh, B. H., Campbell, H. A., Cotter, J. D., Reymann, U., Williams, M. J. A., Gwynne-Jones, D., & Thomas, K. N. (2023). Acute and adaptive cardiovascular and metabolic effects of passive heat therapy or high-intensity interval training in patients with severe lower-limb osteoarthritis. Physiological Reports, 11, e15699. doi: 10.14814/phy2.15699

Roxburgh, B. H., Cotter, J. D., Campbell, H. A., Reymann, U., Wilson, L. C., Gwynne-Jones, D., van Rij, A. M., & Thomas, K. N. (2023). Physiological relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and fitness for surgery: A narrative review. British Journal of Anaesthesia, 130(2), 122-132. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2022.10.039

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Roxburgh, B. (2023, November). Heat therapy and high-intensity interval training in patients with lower-limb osteoarthritis. Verbal presentation at the Osteoarthritis Aotearoa New Zealand Research Network (Te Anga Kaikōiwi o Aotearoa) Annual Conference & the Taumata Osteoarthritis Aotearoa New Zealand Osteoarthritis Summit, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2022

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Roxburgh, B. H., Campbell, H., Cotter, J. D., Reymann, U., Gwynne-Jones, D., Williams, M. J. A., & Thomas, K. N. (2022). The effect of high-intensity interval training and heat therapy on cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with severe lower-limb osteoarthritis. Journal of Sport & Exercise Science, 6(4), (pp. 36-37). doi: 10.36905/jses.2022.04.01

Miller, B., Thomas, K., Cocker, K., Roxburgh, B., Campbell, H., & Cotter, J. (2022). Variability of three core temperature measurement techniques in cool water swimming. Journal of Sport & Exercise Science, 6(4), (pp. 25). doi: 10.36905/jses.2022.04.01

Roxburgh, B., Campbell, H., Cotter, J., Reymann, U., Gwynne-Jones, D., Williams, M., & Thomas, K. (2022). The effect of heat therapy and high-intensity interval training on cardiometabolic health in patients with severe lower-limb osteoarthritis. Heart, Lung & Circulation, 31(Suppl. 3), (pp. S42). doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2022.06.012

Awarded Doctoral Degree

Roxburgh, B. H. (2022). Optimisation of cardiorespiratory fitness prior to total joint arthroplasty (PhD). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/13493

2021

Journal - Research Article

Roxburgh, B. H., Campbell, H. A., Cotter, J. D., Reymann, U., Williams, M. J. A., Gwynne-Jones, D., & Thomas, K. N. (2021). The absolute and relative reliability of hand-held dynamometry in patients with severe lower-limb osteoarthritis scheduled for total joint replacement surgery. International Journal of Research in Exercise Physiology, 16(2), 81-91. Retrieved from https://ijrep.org

Roxburgh, B. H., Campbell, H. A., Cotter, J. D., Reymann, U., Williams, M. J. A., Gwynne-Jones, D., & Thomas, K. N. (2021). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in severe osteoarthritis: A crossover comparison of four exercise modalities. Anaesthesia, 76, 72-81. doi: 10.1111/anae.15162

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Roxburgh, B. H., Campbell, H. A., Cotter, J. D., Reymann, U., Gwynne-Jones, D., Williams, M. J. A., & Thomas, K. N. (2021). The effect of heat therapy and high-intensity interval training on fitness, blood pressure and osteoarthritis impact in patients with severe lower-limb osteoarthritis. New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1547), (pp. 136). Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

2020

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Roxburgh, B. H., Campbell, H. A., Cotter, J. D., Reymann, U., Gwynne-Jones, D., Williams, M. J. A., & Thomas, K. N. (2020). A crossover comparison of four cardiopulmonary exercise testing modalities in severe lower-limb osteoarthritis patients. New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1527), (pp. 127). Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Roxburgh, B. H., Campbell, H., Cotter, J. D., Reymann, U., Gwynne-Jones, D., Williams, M. J. A., & Thomas, K. N. (2020). The effect of passive heat therapy on body composition and isometric muscle strength in patients with severe lower-limb osteoarthritis. Journal of Sport & Exercise Science, 4(3), (pp. 32). doi: 10.36905/jses.2020.03.01

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Roxburgh, B. H., Campbell, H., Cotter, J. D., Reymann, U., Gwynne-Jones, D., Williams, M. J. A., & Thomas, K. N. (2020, December). The effect of passive heat therapy on body composition and isometric muscle strength in patients with severe lower-limb osteoarthritis. Verbal presentation at the School of Physiotherapy Postgraduate Research Symposium, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2019

Journal - Research Article

Turk-Adawi, K., Supervia, M., Lopez-Jimenez, F., Pesah, E., Ding, R., Britto, R. R., … Roxburgh, B., … Grace, S. L. (2019). Cardiac rehabilitation availability and density around the globe. eClinicalMedicine, 13, 31-45. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2019.06.007

Supervia, M., Turk-Adawi, K., Lopez-Jimenez, F., Pesah, E., Ding, R., Britto, R. R., … Roxburgh, B., … Grace, S. L. (2019). Nature of cardiac rehabilitation around the globe. eClinicalMedicine, 13, 46-56. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2019.06.006

Roxburgh, B. H., Supervia, M., Turk-Adawi, K., Benatar, J. R., Lopez Jimenez, F., & Grace, S. L. (2019). Nature and delivery of cardiac rehabilitation in New Zealand: Are services equitable to other high-income countries? New Zealand Medical Journal, 132(1496), 47-58. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Roxburgh, B. H., Campbell, H., Cotter, J. D., Reymann, U., Gwynne-Jones, D., Williams, M. J. A., & Thomas, K. N. (2019). A crossover comparison of four cardiopulmonary exercise testing modalities in severe lower-limb osteoarthritis patients. Journal of Sport & Exercise Science, 3(1), (pp. 32). doi: 10.36905/jses.2019.01.01

Roxburgh, B., Turk-Adawi, K., Supervia, M., Lopez Jimenez, F., & Grace, S. (2019). Nature of community-based cardiac rehabilitation in New Zealand. Heart, Lung & Circulation, 28(Suppl. 4), (pp. S369). doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2019.06.549

Roxburgh, B., Supervia, M., Turk-Adawi, K., Lopez Jimenez, F., & Grace, S. (2019). Delivery of core components in New Zealand cardiac rehabilitation programs, compared to other high-income countries. Heart, Lung & Circulation, 28(Suppl. 4), (pp. S361). doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2019.06.531

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Roxburgh, B. H. (2019, December). A comparison of four cardiopulmonary exercise testing modalities in severe lower-limb osteoarthritis patents. Verbal presentation at the School of Physiotherapy Postgraduate Research Symposium: Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2017

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Roxburgh, B. H., & Reading, S. (2017). Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation improves physical health and quality of life in elderly women. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 49(Suppl. 5), (pp. S594). doi: 10.1249/01.mss.0000518553.69553.42

Roxburgh, B., & Reading, S. (2017). The effect of age on cardiorespiratory fitness changes in women following 12 weeks' exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation. Heart, Lung & Circulation, 26(Suppl. 2), (pp. S349). doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2017.06.711

2016

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Roxburgh, B., Elliott, T., & Reading, S. (2016). Community-based cardiac rehabilitation led by ceps improves physical and mental health of phase 2 patients. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 48(Suppl. 5), (pp. S658-S359). doi: 10.1249/01.mss.0000486974.57648.c2

van den Ende, S., Reading, S., & Roxburgh, B. (2016). A community-based exercise rehabilitation programme improves physical and psychological health in breast cancer survivors. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 48(Suppl. 5), (pp. S333). doi: 10.1249/01.mss.0000486008.79927.77

Elliott, T., Roxburgh, B., & Reading, S. (2016). Improved physical and mental health in patients with cardiovascular disease following participation in a community-based exercise rehabilitation program led by clinical exercise physiologists. Heart, Lung & Circulation, 25(Suppl. 1), (pp. S35). doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2016.05.092

Roxburgh, B., Meder, T., Elliott, T., Carrick-Ranson, G., & Reading, S. (2016). A novel form of high intensity interval training for improving cardiorespiratory fitness in CAD patients. Heart, Lung & Circulation, 25(Suppl. 1), (pp. S5). doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2016.05.012

2015

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Roxburgh, B. H., Reading, S., & Dalleck, L. C. (2015). HIIT plus CMIET improves the cardiovascular risk profile in those with a moderate CVD risk. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 47(Suppl. 5), (pp. S165). doi: 10.1249/01.mss.0000476864.45324.16

Elliott, T., Roxburgh, B., & Reading, S. (2015). The effect of exercise based cardiac rehabilitation on self-reported quality of life and psychological measures in a community setting. Heart, Lung & Circulation, 24(Suppl. 2), (pp. S80). doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2015.04.075

Roxburgh, B., Reading, S., & Dalleck, L. (2015). A novel form of high intensity interval training on CVD risk factors in sedentary and moderate risk individuals. Heart, Lung & Circulation, 24(Suppl. 2), (pp. S80). doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2015.04.076

2014

Journal - Research Article

Roxburgh, B. H., Nolan, P. B., Weatherwax, R. M., & Dalleck, L. C. (2014). Is moderate intensity exercise training combined with high intensity interval training more effective at improving cardiorespiratory fitness than moderate intensity exercise training alone? Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 13, 702-707. Retrieved from http://www.jssm.org

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Nolan, P. B., Carrick-Ranson, G., Johnstone, L., Roxburgh, B., & Dalleck, L. (2014). The dose-response relationship between energy expenditure and transitioning from unfit to fit in cardiac rehabilitation. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 46(Suppl. 5), (pp. S438-S439). [Abstract]

Contact

Background

Teaching

Research

Postgraduate students

Completed students

Publications

2026

Journal - Research Other

2025

Journal - Research Article

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

2024

Journal - Research Article

Journal - Research Other

2023

Journal - Research Article

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

2022

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Awarded Doctoral Degree

2021

Journal - Research Article

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

2020

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

2019

Journal - Research Article

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

2017

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

2016

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

2015

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

2014

Journal - Research Article

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Was this page useful?