The Olympic standard of research
Professor Caroline Finch
Australia's premier sports injury prevention research centre is one of four worldwide to be chosen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to help keep athletes injury-free.
The Australian Centre for Research in Injury in Sports and its Prevention (ACRISP) at Monash University, and leading research centres in Canada, South Africa and Norway, have secured five-year IOC research grants and membership of the IOC’s exclusive network of research centres.
Their task is to build knowledge on the causes and prevention of sports injuries which, at the severe end of the spectrum, can end careers and cause long-term disability.
Director of ACRISP, Professor Caroline Finch, received the official IOC accreditation from Dr Patrick Schamasch, Medical Director for the IOC’s Medical Commission at a recent awards ceremony in Canada.
“This grant will enable ACRISP to continue our programs that translate sports injury causation research into strategies that benefit all athletes from the elite Olympians through to participants in community sport,” Professor Finch said.
ACRISP was selected by the IOC based on its track record in delivering effective injury prevention programs at the highest levels. Professor Finch and her team including world-leading tendon injury expert Professor Jill Cook, have worked closely with high-profile bodies such as the Australian Football League (AFL), Cricket Australia, Netball Australia, Australian Rugby Union and National Rugby League (NRL) to deliver programs that have prevented injuries in elite athletes.
“We need to look at the athlete as a whole person. This means the IOC research network will be developing interventions that help protect athletes against illness, disease and injury. Our work at ACRISP is focusing primarily on injury prevention and translating research theory into actions that benefit the athlete, helping him or her to perform safely at their peak,” Professor Finch said.
“We are very excited to be able to build on our strengths and extend our research to be part of this IOC network.”
ACRISP is currently working with the AFL and NRL to research the community’s understanding of concussion and how it is prevented and treated on the sports ground. Aspects of this research will be presented by ACRISP researcher Adjunct Associate Professor Paul McCrory at an international forum in November, with input from the IOC.