Orthopaedic / Sports Medicine

Beacon Hospital Research Institute Launches Ground Breaking “Concussion in Sport” Study

L – R: Jockey Ruby Walsh, ICHIRF CEO and Medical Director Dr Michael Turner, ICHIRF Trustee Dr Adrian McGoldrick and CEO of Beacon Hospital Mr Michael Cullen launching the Concussion in Sport Study in Beacon Hospital

Concussion in Sport, is a recently launched collaboration between Beacon Hospital Research Institute and The Concussion Foundation. The study aims to better understand the long-term effects of concussion in athletes. The study will initially recruit retired jockeys and will expand to include other contact sports such as rugby, GAA, boxing and soccer.

To learn more about this ground breaking project click here:https://www.ichirf.org/what-we-do/

To volunteer to participate in this project click here:https://www.ichirf.org/volunteer-now/

 

Read our recently published review article on Concussion in Sport…

”Consent, capacity and compliance in concussion management: cave ergo medicus (let the doctor beware)”

The British Journal of Sports Medicine recently published a review article completed by Dr Michael Turner and colleagues. The review discusses the topic of informed consent in concussion and proposes a framework to assess return to play decisions.

https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2020/08/10/bjsports-2020-102108

Knee Osteoarthritis Injection Therapy (KNiT) Trial

Beacon Centre for Orthopaedics are currently conducting research on Injection Therapy in the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis. This is called the KNIT Trial and we are seeking eligible participants. Please read the flyer below or click on the hyperlink for more information.

Identifying Concussion Diagnostic Signatures in Irish Horse Racing

This novel study is the first of its kind conducted anywhere in the world. It aims to investigate novels biological markers that are either upregulated or downregulated in Irish jockeys following a concussive event. This novel study will examine saliva samples taken from 300 male and female jump and flat jockeys pre and post race event. This translational observational research study is a collaboration with the Irish Horse Racing Board with IHRB CEO, Mr Denis Egan, Chief Medical Officers Drs Adrian McGoldrick and Dr Jennifer Pugh. It is also supported by DCU Associate Professors Dr Keith Rochford and Siobhan O’Connor. The study is also supported by CEO of the International Concussion and Head Injury Research Foundation Dr Michael Turner and Principal Investigator for BHRI Dr Victoria McEneaney.

BHRI and ICHIRF CEO Dr Michael Turner

A New Approach to Measure the Forces Acting on the Knee during Walking by Using Wearable Sensors in Osteoarthritis Patients

Beacon Hospital are collaborating with the Insight Centre for Data Analytics in UCD and the pharmaceutical company Novartis on a project seeking to offer gait assessment in a valid and reliable, yet more accessible, manner. The team are developing a method of using digital insoles and wearable sensors to measure areas of interest such as the speed, the forces acting on the knee, and the range of movement the knee displays during walking. They are using the specialist gait laboratory in UCD to compare this new method to gold-standard motion capture systems and are working with both healthy volunteers and those experiencing osteoarthritis of the knee. The hope is that in time, more people will be able to receive this highly specialist measurement without having to go into a dedicated and expensive gait laboratory.

The principal investigator completing this research is Prof. Brian Caulfield and study coordinator is Dr. Kate O’Keefe.

Please see links below for further information;

https://www.novartis.com/

https://www.insight-centre.org/

Muscle Recovery Following Knee Replacements

Soleus Strength Performance Post Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction

This trial will investigate the Soleus muscle strength and performance in athletes who have undergone Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstructive surgery. Participant’s muscle strength will be tested using a Biodex Isokinetic dynamometer.  This trial is a collaboration with University of Leicester and the principal investigator is Anthony Pierce.

The study aims to recruit 80 participants over the course of 2022.