Brisbane Roar looks at QUT tendon injury research

Published Thursday, 02 July, 2015 at 11:30 AM

Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for Science and Innovation
The Honourable Leeanne Enoch

Research at the Queensland University of Technology, funded by the Queensland Government’s Smart Futures Fund, could soon mean that sports stars no longer need extended periods of time off due to tendon injuries.

Science and Innovation Minister Leeanne Enoch was joined today by players from the Brisbane Roar to look at ground-breaking research by Professor Scott Wearing from QUT’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) on improving the rehabilitation of athletes with tendon injuries.

Ms Enoch said Professor Wearing’s research involved using sophisticated ultrasound and imaging technologies to examine the effect of conventional and newer rehabilitation methods on tendon adaptation and recovery following injury.

She said Professor Wearing’s research had implications for treating sports injuries, not only for elite athletes, but also for millions of people who enjoy recreational sports.

“Tendon injuries are a problem in many sports, and they often need lengthy and complex recovery management plans. Typical treatments can last 12 weeks and there is a one-in-five chance of reoccurrence for particular types of tendon injuries,” Ms Enoch said.

“For professional athletes and teams, having a player out for a long period of time can have a big impact on performance, especially in tough competitions like the A-League.

“Professor Wearing’s research was the first comprehensive study in Australia to assess the effectiveness and cost-benefit of a range of rehabilitation approaches, including exercise and surgery.

“This has enabled Professor Wearing to build a significant body of knowledge about the rehabilitation of tendon injuries. In fact, Professor Wearing’s research is so advanced, the data he collected was used by coaches and athletes at the London Olympics.”

Professor Wearing said he hoped his research could reduce the amount of time athletes were off injured.

“We know a lot now about what works best to get an athlete back on their feet again after an injury. A tendon injury, like all injuries, is complex. But it doesn’t always mean surgery and some forms of rehabilitation work better than others – it all comes down to individual circumstances,” Professor Wearing said.

His research is also focused on effective, evidence-based injury prevention.

“As part of that, I’ve been looking at an athlete’s gait to fully understand the mechanics of tendon injury. The more we know about how injuries occur and what damage they do, the better we’ll be at not only treating them, but also helping to prevent them,” Professor Wearing said.

Brisbane Roar interim chief executive David Pourre said Professor Wearing’s research was important for all Queensland sporting clubs.

“At the Roar we really value the role that science now plays in the modern game, improving our performance and also in helping our players recover quickly when they get injured,” Mr Pourre said.

Ms Enoch said Professor Wearing’s research had been supported by the Queensland Government’s Smart Futures Fund.

“Previous Labor Governments invested strongly in research and innovation, as a result of which we have world class facilities like the IHBI, and quality researchers too,” Ms Enoch said.

“The Palaszczuk Government will continue that investment through our Advance Queensland program – a comprehensive plan to help Queensland attract and retain the best and brightest minds, and continue to build the State’s reputation as a knowledge based economy.”

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Media contact: Tim Shipstone – 3719 7281, 0419 246 157