Sports Medicine Australia

Sports Medicine in the News...

4 Feb 08 Hot weather guidelines

On Monday 4th February the updated Beat the Heat - playing and exercising safely in hot weather fact sheet, was launched by Kate Ellis, the Commonwealth Minister for Sport, and Michael Wright, the South Australian Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing. Click here to read the joint media release. The fact sheet was updated to coincide with the release of a special edition of the Journal of Sports Medicine and Science, devoted exclusively to exercising in hot weather. Click here to view SMA's resources for individuals and clubs regarding playing and exercising safely in hot weather.

Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport January 2008 - Heat Stress in Sport Edition

Click here to view the Contents outline and article summaries from the Special Heat Edition of JSAMS.

10 Dec 07 New National figures show we're still not moving

Despite extensive education campaigns and millions in government spending, nearly half of all Australians (47 percent) are still not sufficiently active for good health.

Alarming new research – the first national survey of physical activity levels across the whole of Australia for six years - has found that one in five Australians (19 percent) fail to walk even 10 minutes continuously in one week.

The research, published in the Pfizer Australia Health Report and produced in conjunction with Sports Medicine Australia, suggests that long hours at work, increasingly lengthy commute times and lack of recreational facilities in the workplace are playing a significant role in promoting sedentary behaviours.

Click here to view full media release or click on image to view the full Health Report.

22 Oct 07 be active '07 Conference wrap-up

be active '07 was held at the Adelaide Convention Centre from 13 - 16 October and was a great success for SMA and the presenting partners of this 4-conference combined event.

The Conference Program and all abstracts will be published as a special electronic edition of the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport (December 2007 edition).

A full list of Conference Award winners plus a selected photographic record of the event can be found by clicking the “Conference” button.

New Fellows

Three new Fellows were admitted to Fellowship of the Australian Sports Medicine Federation at the Conference. They were:
- Ms Maria Constantinou
- Ms Marilyn Feenstra
- Mr Paul Fleet.
More details can be found by clicking the “ASMF Fellows” button.

ASICS Medal

The ASICS medal was awarded to Dr Dennis Taaffe from the University of Queensland for his research paper "Physical activity, physical function and incident dementia in elderly men". For a full list of award winners click on the Conference button.

13 Aug 07 Around Promoting Sports Trainers

SMA has commissioned the production of two Community Service Announcements - one promoting Sports Trainers and one SMA members. The Sports Trainers CSA can be viewed at http://www.sma.org.au/sportstrainers It may be necessary to download some free software to view the CSA. Your computer will prompt you about the steps for doing this.

21 May 07 Promoting Sports Trainers

27 Apr 07 Get smart with "Get Smart"

‘Get Smart’ is a modular, on-line course in injury prevention developed by SMA’s Western Australia branch for people with no prior knowledge or experience. To access the course go to www.smawa.asn.au or email getsmart@smawa.asn.au

7 Mar 07 Health Conference Central

Health Conference Central is a new central reference site that health professionals worldwide can utilise to find out what's on in Australia and New Zealand and to book their place at an event. Health Conference central is a "one-stop shop" for delegates to book their place at a conference and find and arrange accommodation, air fares and car hire. They also aim to become the central reference and connection site for Australian and New Zealand professional and consumer associations, government health departments, Area and District Health Services, individual hospitals and commercial companies servicing the health industry. To view the site, click on the Quick Link to Health Conferences Central below, or to view a chronological list of up-coming conferences, click on the following link www.healthconferencecentral.com.au/search.php

1 Mar 07 Supporting Healthy Eating

Australians eat a massive 2.7 million meals each day at fast food restaurants and other take-away food outlets, so any move to provide healthier eating options in these circumstances must be supported. This is why SMA has provided unequivocal support for the National Heart Foundation (NHF) initiative that has seen nine healthier meal options made available at McDonalds restaurants. To read more about the Heart Foundations's Tick program and what is actually changing at McDonalds, click here.

30 Jan 07 Avoiding Heat Illness

Vigorous exercise places some people at risk of heat illness, especially in hot weather. If untreated, heat illness can lead to the more serious and potentially life-threatening condition of heat stroke. By understanding the causes of heat illness health professionals, coaches, players and anyone involved in sport or physical activity can help prevent heat illness. Sports Medicine Australia members have used their experience and knowledge to produce policies, guidelines and simple advice on avoiding heat illness. For more information click here.

11 Dec 06 Sport Health goes full text on-line

Sport Health, Sports Medicine Australia’s quarterly magazine for both members and the general public, covers topical issues in sports medicine and science and tries to present them in a more accessible manner for the lay reader.

Back issues of Sport Health will now be available for viewing or download from the SMA website. Click here to see the issues available. Currently the 2005 and 2004 editions are available and other editions will be added periodically.

Anyone wishing to contribute to Sport Health should email Managing Editor, Dominic Nagle at dominic.nagle@sma.org.au

13 Nov 06 National Conference Outcomes:

The SMA National Conference was held at the Shangri-La Fijian Resort in Fiji from 19 – 21 October.

The Conference Program and all abstracts will be published as a special electronic edition of the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport (December 2006 edition).

A full list of Conference Award winners plus a selected photographic record of the event can be found by clicking the “Conference” button.

New Fellows

Three new Fellows were admitted to Fellowship of the Australian Sports Medicine Federation at the Conference. They were:
- Dr Shane Brun
- Dr Brendan de Morton
- Professor Kerry Mummery.
More details can be found by clicking the “Fellows” button.

Certificates of Appreciation

Certificates of Appreciation for service to SMA were awarded at the Conference to:
- Professor John Hart (President, 1985 - 1986)
- Dr Peter Larkins (President, 1994 - 1997)
- Dr Paul McCrory (Sport Health Editor, 1998 - 2002; Conference Chair, 2002)
- Dr John Orchard (Sport Health Editor, 2004 - present; JSAMS Assistant Editor, 2001 - 2004)
- Dr Margaret Torode (Conference Co-Chair, 1996 - 1997; Medicine & Science for Women in Sport Committee Chair)

29 Aug 06 Sports Medicine Australia/Pfizer National Survey of Physical Activity.

National research figures released on Monday 28 August by Sports Medicine Australia and pharmaceutical company Pfizer, reveal more than half adult Australians are insufficiently active for health benefit, despite the millions being poured into educating the public on the importance of a healthy active lifestyle.

The findings show that even more Australians than previously thought – up to 60 percent - are not doing enough activity for optimal health (thirty minutes of moderate intensity activity on at least 5 days per week).

Almost one in three of those surveyed said they were sitting most of the time in their job, indicating little opportunity for physical activity during working hours. And the picture outside working hours is not that much brighter. Only one in 10 Australian adults say they play any organised sport and around three quarters of parents reveal that their family does not play sport or do any physical activity together. So much for the parental role model!

For more information about the Survey results and to access copies of the Media Release, the Pfizer/SMA Health Report on "Healthy Sport & Exercise" or for other information about becoming more physically active, CLICK HERE.

17 Aug 06 Testosterone and the Tour de France have been in the news lately.
What is Testorone and what does it do?

Testosterone is the principle androgen and is responsible for the development of the primary sexual charactisitcs in utero and during the neo-natal period. It is also responsible for the development of the secondary sexual characteristics around the time of puberty and contributes to the increase in height and amount of skeletal muscle at that time. Testosterone has been shown to have an effect on aggression, probably due to direct stimulation of brain receptors. It also plays a role in sexual orientation.

For more information click here to view an extract form 'Drugs in Sport: a helath professionals handbook'.