Understanding Tendon Response to Sport and Exercise: Implications for Optimising Training, Injury Prevention and Accelerated Rehabilitation. This research will use frontier technologies to establish the effect of physical activity on tendon adaptation and injury. It will address National Research Priorities and lead to contemporary evidence-based physical activity practices to optimise health and fitness, prevent injury, and expedite rehabilitation after injury. Given the significant national in ....Understanding Tendon Response to Sport and Exercise: Implications for Optimising Training, Injury Prevention and Accelerated Rehabilitation. This research will use frontier technologies to establish the effect of physical activity on tendon adaptation and injury. It will address National Research Priorities and lead to contemporary evidence-based physical activity practices to optimise health and fitness, prevent injury, and expedite rehabilitation after injury. Given the significant national investment in sport, the rise in obesity, and the immense cost of sedentary behaviour and sport-related injuries, this research will have applications for enhancing physical activity recommendations that maintain health for all Australians. It will enhance Australia's leading position in international sport and sport science research and have beneficial applications for occupational health.Read moreRead less
Playing it Safe: Psychological Safety and Mental Health for Community Sport. At a time when over half of all Australians participate in organised sports it is critical to ensure that these environments are psychologically safe. The problem is that community sports clubs have no clear guidance on how to fulfil this substantial responsibility. There have been urgent calls for the development of psychological safety and mental health guidelines which have yet to be answered. This project will deliv ....Playing it Safe: Psychological Safety and Mental Health for Community Sport. At a time when over half of all Australians participate in organised sports it is critical to ensure that these environments are psychologically safe. The problem is that community sports clubs have no clear guidance on how to fulfil this substantial responsibility. There have been urgent calls for the development of psychological safety and mental health guidelines which have yet to be answered. This project will deliver the knowledge to underpin effective psychological safety and mental health guidelines for community sports with national impact. When implemented, this knowledge will help sports clubs to provide a psychologically safe environment, and promote the mental health and wellbeing of all Australians involved in organised sports.Read moreRead less
A Prospective Investigation Of Musculoskeletal And Vestibular Deficits Post-concussion In Adolescent Rugby Players
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$66,746.00
Summary
The primary aim of this thesis will be to investigate deficits in the musculoskeletal and vestibular systems in the acute and subacute periods following sport-related concussion injury in school level rugby union players.
Preventing Sports Injuries Through Better Targetting Of Effective Interventions And Monitoring Of Safety Practices And Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$756,962.00
Summary
Injuries such as concussion and muscle/joint sprains/strains are a recognised sports medicine issue globally. They are a major barrier towards sustained physical activity participation and a public health concern. Much information about their causes and prevention is yet to be fully disseminated to the community and adopted as standard safety practice. This fellowship will provide a strong evidence-base for sports injury prevention and monitoring, as well as sports safety promotion strategies.
Tracking the musculoskeletal health and performance of talented adolescent female athletes. The vision is to gain an innovative understanding of risk factors for the early detection or prevention of injury, and to identify factors that promote participation longevity in young athletes. The biomechanics explored in this study will provide a basis for larger studies in future years. Large economic and social benefits can be gained from increased knowledge of injury prevention early in life. Lowere ....Tracking the musculoskeletal health and performance of talented adolescent female athletes. The vision is to gain an innovative understanding of risk factors for the early detection or prevention of injury, and to identify factors that promote participation longevity in young athletes. The biomechanics explored in this study will provide a basis for larger studies in future years. Large economic and social benefits can be gained from increased knowledge of injury prevention early in life. Lowered injury costs provide immediate cost benefits to the nation. Ultimately, in a nation familiar with the high costs of cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases, the health sector of Australia will be the greatest benefactor of this project.Read moreRead less
Evaluating the impact of neuromusculoskeletal impairment on athletic performance. Sufficient physical activity is required for good health. Competitive sport is a culturally significant physical activity in Australia and the prospect of participating in fair competition is known to drive participation. In Paralympic sport, fair competition is enabled by classification, which aims to minimise the impact of impairments on competition outcome. Unfortunately classification methods are not evidence-b ....Evaluating the impact of neuromusculoskeletal impairment on athletic performance. Sufficient physical activity is required for good health. Competitive sport is a culturally significant physical activity in Australia and the prospect of participating in fair competition is known to drive participation. In Paralympic sport, fair competition is enabled by classification, which aims to minimise the impact of impairments on competition outcome. Unfortunately classification methods are not evidence-based, reducing confidence in the process and discouraging participation. This project will inform the development of the first evidence-based classification system, creating the possibility that, in the future, the prospect of truly fair competition may motivate sports participation among Australians, regardless of disability.Read moreRead less
WHY YOUNG PEOPLE DEVELOP OLD KNEES: PREDICTORS OF EARLY JOINT CHANGES FOLLOWING KNEE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,218.00
Summary
My research investigates how muscles & movement patterns (i.e. biomechanics) contribute to early adverse knee cartilage & bone changes in young individuals at risk of developing premature knee osteoarthritis (OA): a debilitating disease causing pain & diminished quality of life. Biomechanical measures selected can be modified with interventions such as exercise & gait retraining. Ultimately, my research could reduce future risk of knee OA & its resultant personal & societal costs.
Towards Better Detection And Management Of Sports Concussion In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,027.00
Summary
The proposed program, in partnership with the AFL, will constitute the cornerstone of a foundation of research into current guidelines for the detection and management of sports concussion. The recent development of non-helmeted accelerometer technology has enabled real-time detection of head impact biomechanics in male and female Australian footballers. Outcomes will inform game day and long term management of sports concussion nationally (elite & amateur), and inform other similar sports