Patria’s research focuses on improving sport performance using sports biomechanics and sports anthropometry, and focuses on reducing sporting injuries by investigating injury mechanisms and injury prevention methods and using sports epidemiology analyses. Patria’s research focuses on rugby union, rugby league, rowing, gymnastics, and triathlon.

Patria received the 2016 International Society of Biomechanics in Sports Geoffrey Dyson Award.  This is the most prestigious award of ISBS because it is a recognition of individuals who embody and carry out the primary purposes of the Society.

Novel solutions as a result of Patria’s collaborative research have emerged to address coaches’ questions. Examples include the gymnastics vaulting feedback system, rowing technique analysis using boat instrumentation and the AUT goggles training system, netball shooting analysis, grinding biomechanics of Team New Zealand sailors, shinguard and mouthguard impact testing. Patria was lead researcher for the Sydney 2000 Olympics anthropometry project, the 2014 2015 projects for World Rugby on long term player health outcomes including the effects of concussion, and on player protective equipment and prosthetic devices and hearing aid development for rugby. She led the development of the New Zealand Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) SportSmart injury prevention programme in 1999 and in 2014/15 provided a national review of this injury prevention programme.

Patria has 598 publications in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, full papers in conference proceedings, or technical reports.  She has supervised 22 PhD students and 11 Masters theses students to completion and is currently supervising five PhD students.  Topics have ranged from injury prevention strategies for rugby leagues such as instruments mouth guards and ear patches, to the cause and possible prevention of Achilles tendon injuries in triathletes, to finding ways to improve performance in defence personnel via 3D body scanning and ergonomics approaches.

Patria has a PhD in Biomechanics (Otago), MSc (Hons) with a double major in Sports Physiology and Sports Psychology (Auckland), BSc with a double major in Physiology and Psychology (Auckland), Postgraduate Certificate in Epidemiology (Rollins School of Public Health), Criterion Certification in Anthropometry (ISAK level 4), and ISAK Certification in Photoscopic Anthropometry. Patria had post-doctorate studies 1994- 1996 in sports injury biomechanics and sports injury prevention at the University of Calgary, in Zurich at ETHZ and at the University of Wollongong.