Faculty of Medicine and Health
Sport and Physical Activity Research and Teaching Network (SPARTAN)
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SPARTAN Newsletter, 1 June 2022, Issue 1.
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Dear ,
Welcome to the Sport and Physical Activity Research and Teaching Network (SPARTAN), a cool name, isn’t it? We are an FMH network that is designed to bring researchers and professionals who are interested in sports and physical activity together. Here at SPARTAN, we are united by our passion for human movement, anything from getting coach potatoes off their seats to pushing the limits of elite athletes. We are committed to fostering collaborations and enhancing research, training and teaching opportunities because we believe that we have much in common but lots to learn from each other.
Congratulations on becoming a part of a unique community. Please watch this spot; we can not wait to share with you exciting events and opportunities. As we continue to grow this fantastic community, we would love for you to share any exciting news, ideas or content suggestions with us. You can get into contact with us here.
Best wishes,
Melody & Kieron
Co-Convenor's of SPARTAN
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Let's grow the SPARTAN community!
Feel free to share this email with others who may be interested in seeing what SPARTAN is all about! We encourage new members to join below.
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Sports-related subjects were the standout in latest QS subject ranking resultA big congratulations to our SPARTAN members involved in sports-related subjects! Encompassing physical therapy, sports therapy and rehabilitation, sports-related subjects were University of Sydney's strongest performer ranked third in the world, up from fourth place last year. Our strong research in this subject includes developing WHO guidelines on physical activity and improving health on long haul-flights. You can read more about the QS rankings here.
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World Day for Physical ActivityThank you to all who helped us celebrate #WDPA2022 in April! We braved the rainy weather on a 30-minute walk around campus, shots were flying on the basketball court and bodies were moving at the dance class!
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National Biomechanics DayOn the 5th of April, SPARTAN researchers from the disciplines of Exercise and Sport Science and Physiotherapy hosted a group of 30 students from Kambala Girls’ High School. Dr Alycia Fong Yan, co-director of the Sydney Biomechanics Laboratory in the Susan Wakil Health Building, designed an afternoon of engaging and interactive activities showcasing biomechanics research and technology with a sports science focus. Dr Kerry Peek and Dr Fong Yan gave presentations of their research and tips for being a strong female presence in the field of biomechanics and sports science. The students were able to see the Sydney Biomechanics Laboratory in action with live 3D motion capture and ground reaction forces during dance movements. All the students then had the opportunity to participate in biomechanics data collection using force plates to analyse vertical jump performance, EMG to measure bicep muscle activity, and a specialised plantar pressure walkway to measure gait. It was inspiring to see the spark of curiosity, passion for biomechanics, and genuine interest in research and technology in not only the students but the high school teachers as well.
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SPARTAN SUSF Special Discount
We have teamed up to offer our SPARTAN members an exclusive discount on SUSF memberships! This exclusive offer is open to all members (including those external to USYD) who are new to SUSF in 2022. This offer will not apply to existing SUSF memberships.
- Student Off-Peak Bronze ($249/student + $10 Annual Membership) – runs from date of purchase until end of December 2022.
- Staff Off-Peak Gold ($675 12 month [23.5% discount on normal 12 month USYD Staff Offpeak] + $60 Annual Membership)
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SUFC TestingEarlier this month members of SPARTAN hosted the Sydney University Football Club (SUFC) in the Sydney Biomechanics Lab for some performance testing as part of their preparation for the 2022 season.
Dr. Suzi Edwards and Dr. Shane Ball from SPARTAN, in collaboration with Dr. Tristan Sharp (head strength and conditioning coach, SUFC), conducted strength and power testing for the SUFC women’s, senior men’s, and colts’ squads. The results of the strength and power testing will help to inform the SUFC physical preparation program.
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North Carolina State University VisitLast week SPARTAN hosted academics and sports medicine students from North Carolina State University. After such a great experience showcasing our facilities, and the USyd sports swag donated by SUSF and Dr Shane Ball, this is now likely to become an ongoing collaboration. They were blown away by our specialist teaching spaces including Buduwa and the Simulation clinics, not to mention the amazing research being done here in the sports science field.
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BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine TopCited article
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Research In Focus: Dr Katherine Owen
Sport during school linked to academic performance
Led by SPARTAN member Dr Katherine Owen, new research published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, shows a positive link between participation in sport and academic performance, with the strongest association when sport is held during school hours. "Previous research suggests kids’ involvement in sport could have benefits above and beyond general physical activity because of the complex skills involved, however no one has combined the evidence on sport and academic performance before" says Kat. You can read the full chat with Kat about this promising research here.
Looking to collaborate or stay connected with Kat and her research? You can find her on Twitter and LinkedIn below.
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Five minutes with Dr Suzi Edwards
1. Please tell us a little bit about where you work and how you came to be in the space you are in?My journey today as an Accredited Sport Scientist (Level 2) and academic (biomechanics; motor control and learning) working in the Discipline of Exercise and Sport Science, began during my undergraduate days at The University of Sydney when I sustained five anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions. It fuelled a passion for me to make sport safer.
2. Where do your research interests lie on the Sport and Physical Activity spectrum?The translational focus of my sports injury programs aims to identify the aetiology and mechanism of sporting injuries to ensure evidence-based injury prevention and rehabilitation programs are specific to the sport and optimise athletic performance.
3. What are the real-world impacts you hope to inspire or achieve?Sports has so many health benefits and my passion is to make sport safer. My expertise in translating research in practice with player load and injury management to maximise player availability is sought after by coaching and medical staff in professional basketball (NBA Denver Nuggets, G-League Ignite) and rugby union (Sydney University Football Club) teams My partnership with the Australian Institute of Sport continues today with the Athlete Availability program focusing on establishing mental health and sleep protocols and policies in elite athletes. Currently I am leading a $1 million NHMRC Ideas grant on the ‘Effectiveness of empirically based tackle technique intervention to reduce the in-game risk of concussion’ in male rugby league players with a focus on capacity building Indigenous People in sport. This research will translate actionable new knowledge in to practice for the benefit of all Australians in the rugby codes. We are currently recruiting two PhD scholarships for this grant.
4. What do you think the biggest challenges are facing this area at the moment?Sport science industry critical challenge is to ensure that the outcomes of our research will have direct and timely translation into injury prevention policies and advanced healthcare practices globally. We need to overcome the resistance to embed research into clinical practice and decision making by making sure our research is informed by, and co-designed with, athletes, coaches, policy makers and practitioners in the field.
Looking to collaborate or stay connected with Suzi and her research? You can find her on Twitter and LinkedIn below.
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Final Hard Deadline 27 July 2022, supporting reseach projects that:
- Stream 1: develop, implement and/or validate scalable approaches for personalised exercise programs to maximise disease risk factor reduction and adherence in adults aged over 45 years who are not currently meeting physical activity guidelines.0
- Stream 2: develop, implement and/or validate approaches for effective community-led physical activity programs co-designed with a priority population
Final Hard Deadline 10 August 2022
Opens 5 October 2022
Opens 19 Ocotber 2022
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Sydney Health Partners Musculoskeletal Clinical Academic Group LaunchWednesday 22 June, 1:00pm - 2:00pm, OnlineYou are invited to attend the Online Launch of our newly developed Sydney Health Partners Musculoskeletal Clinical Academic Group. Meet our co-chairs Professors Cathie Sherrington and Manuela Ferreira, learn about Sydney Health Partners and hear from some of our Musculoskeletal CAG Investigators about their current work. Register and learn more.
Digital Health ECR Community: How to respond to reviewersThursday 23 June, 1:00pm - 2:00pm, OnlinePeer-review is a critical part of researcher development and one of the key skills to learn is how to respond to reviewers of journals, grants and theses examinations. If you’re keen to develop this skill, join us at our upcoming webinar where Professor Julie Redfern will demystify the art of responding to reviewers. Register and learn more.
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Postgraduate Research Scholarship in Based Tackle Tehcniques to Reduce Concussions in Collision Sports
Kolling Mentoring Program
The Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health and Northern Sydney Academic Health Sciences Centre are calling for applications to become mentors or mentees on a pilot mentoring program to be run from July to November 2022. Early-career and mid-career researchers interested in being mentored, as well as mid-career and senior researchers interested in mentoring are welcome to apply. The aim of the program is to build research confidence and mentoring capacity at the Kolling.
Expression of Interest will be open until 6 June COB. Register here.
Heat and Health Research Incubator: EMCR GroupThe HHRI EMCR Committee invites all Early-to-Mid-Career Researchers to join our group and attend the Incubator Launch from 2-3 pm on Wednesday June 22, 2022 in the Julie Wu Lecture Theatre, Susan Wakil Health Building. Register here.
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PUBLICATIONSEdwards S, Gardner AJ, Tahu T, Fuller G, Strangman G, Levi, Iverson G,Tucker R. Tacklers’ head inertial accelerations can be decreased by altering the way they engage in contact with ball carriers’ torsos. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2022, Accepted 30 March. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002931
Gardner AJ, Iverson GL, Edwards S, Tucker R, A case–control study of tackle-based head injury assessment (HIA) risk factors in the National Rugby League. Sports Medicine Open. 2021, 7:8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-021-00377-9
Lee R, James C, Edwards S, Snodgrass SJ. Differences in upper body posture between individuals with and without chronic idiopathic neck pain during computerised device use: A 3D motion analysis study. Gait & Posture. 2022, Accepted 24 March. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2022.03.017
Hannington M, Tait T, Cook JL, Docking S, Owoeye O, Emery C, Pasanen K, Bonello C, Vicendese D, Edwards S, Rio E. Location of anterior knee pain affects load tolerance in isometric single leg knee extension . Journal Science & Medicine in Sport. 2022, Accepted 24 March. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2022.03.010
Harris M, Edwards S, Rio E, Cook JL, Cencini S, Hannington MC, Bonello C, Docking S. Nearly 40% of adolescent athletes report anterior knee pain regardless of maturation status, age, sex or sport played. Physical Therapy in Sport. 2021, 51(9):29-35. 10.1016/j.ptsp.2021.06.005
Hassett, L., Shields, N., Cole, J., Owen, K. and Sherrington, C., 2021. Comparisons of leisure-time physical activity participation by adults with and without a disability: results of an Australian cross-sectional national survey. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 7(1), p.e000991. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000991
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