Women’s Football Hub

#014 Pelvic health Series Sarah Thorne - Types of incontinence and holistic treatment

Meet the team series: Sarah Thorne on Types of Incontinence and Holistic Treatment
In this episode, host Carolyn Kent sits down with chartered physiotherapist, sports rehabilitator, personal trainer, and pelvic health specialist Sarah Thorne. Sarah shares her extensive background in sports medicine and her passion for advocating for women's health, especially in the realm of pelvic floor dysfunction and incontinence.
 
Key Topics Discussed
Sarah's journey to becoming a physiotherapist and her experience working in elite football (00:02:19)
The different types of incontinence (stress, urgency, overactive bladder) and how to identify them (00:07:50)
The impact of caffeine and hydration on bladder health (00:13:48)
Strategies for physiotherapists working with female athletes on pelvic floor rehabilitation (00:16:00)
The importance of a holistic, 360-degree approach to pelvic health (00:21:24) Whether pelvic health physios need to be trained in strength and conditioning (00:23:38)
 
Where to Find Sarah Thorne
Instagram: @sarahthornehealth
LinkedIn: Sarah Thorne 
 
Key References & Resources
Integrated Systems Model
Active Pregnancy Foundation

#013 Sports Science Series - Colm Smith Performance Coach Liverpool FC

Sports Science Series - Colm Smith Liverpool FC
In this episode, host Dr. Megan Lowery interviews Colm Smith, the Physical Performance Coach for Liverpool. Colm discusses his background in coaching various sports, his current role with Liverpool, and the day-to-day responsibilities of a performance coach working with elite female athletes.
 
Key Topics Discussed
Colm's coaching background and journey into football (00:00:36)
His current role as Physical Performance Coach for Liverpool Women (00:00:45) Typical daily responsibilities and weekly training schedule (00:05:46)
Monitoring player wellness, menstrual cycles, and recovery (00:07:24) Individualizing training and recovery for each player (00:12:27)
Differences in recovery strategies for male vs. female athletes (00:17:52) Importance of building relationships and trust with players (00:14:47)
Advice for aspiring performance coaches (00:23:29)
Where to Find Colm Smith
X: @ColmSmith13
LinkedIn: Colm Smith
 
Key References
Menstrual cycle tracking and management
FIFA Pro research on female athlete health
Importance of coach-athlete relationships
Transitioning from male to female athlete coaching
Challenges of player recovery and fatigue management

#012 Psychology series - Pre-performance anxiety with Danielle Burns

Psychology Series - Pre performance anxiety with Danielle Burns
In this episode, host Dr. Ian Cookson interviews Danielle Burns, a sport and exercise psychologist, about the topic of pre-performance anxiety in sports, particularly in women's football.
 
Key Topics Discussed
- Danielle's academic and playing background in sport and exercise psychology [00:00:36 - 00:01:35]- Danielle's varied research interests, including exercise psychology and clinical outcomes assessment [00:02:30 - 00:03:19]- The differences and crossover between exercise psychology and sport psychology [00:03:52 - 00:04:20]- Understanding and managing pre-performance anxiety [00:05:30 - 00:12:25]- Differences in how pre-performance anxiety may manifest in women's vs. men's football [00:15:07 - 00:17:34]- Strategies for combating pre-performance anxiety, including routines, self-talk, and visualization [00:18:20 - 00:21:14]- Gaps in research around pre-performance anxiety in the context of the growing women's game [00:22:28 - 00:24:32]
 
Where to Find Danielle Burns
- Twitter: @dburnsmsc
- LinkedIn: Danielle Burns
Where to Find Dr. Ian Cookson
Women's Football Hub
Key References
- Bolton Wanderers- Warrington Town Women Football Club- Exercise referral programs- ACL injuries in women's football- UEFA Women's Euro 2022

#011 Pregnancy & Motherhood Series - Dr Sinead Dufour - The athlete during pregnancy.

In this episode, host Carolyn Kent interviews Dr. Sinead Dufour, an associate professor at the Faculty of Health Science at McMaster University in Ontario and the director of pelvic health at the World of My Baby (The Womb). Dr. Dufour has over 20 years of experience as a physical therapist and a PhD in Health and Rehabilitation Science.
Main Topics Discussed
[00:00:40] Changes a female athlete's body goes through during pregnancy, including impacts on cardiovascular, respiratory, and pelvic floor systems
[00:03:16] How cardiovascular and respiratory changes affect training for a football player during pregnancy
[00:06:07] General exercise guidelines for pregnant women, including recommendations for pelvic floor muscle training
[00:08:39] Benefits of exercise for pregnant women, including pelvic floor health, metabolic health, and mental health
[00:10:47] Areas where more research is needed, such as contact sports and high-intensity exercise during pregnancy
[00:14:14] Recommendations around high-intensity exercise during pregnancy
[00:16:14] Screening tools that can be used to assess pregnant athletes, including pelvic floor dysfunction and energy availability
[00:20:35] Contraindications and when a pregnant athlete should stop exercising
Where to Find Dr. Sinead Dufour
Website: www.thewomb.ca
Key Terms & References
Pelvic floor muscle training
Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain
Gestational diabetes
Diastasis rectus abdominis
Pelvic floor dysfunction inventory
Relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S)

#010 S & C Series - Lachlan Mackenzie - Creating the right culture for athletic development

Creating the Right Culture for Athletic Development
In this episode, host Carolyn Kent interviews Lachlan Mackenzie, a strength and conditioning and sports science specialist who works with the female high performance football program at the University of Wollongong and the South Coast Flame club.
Lachlan discusses:
[00:01:29] The limitations of the term "strength and conditioning" and why "athletic development" may be a better framing
[00:03:28] The gender dynamics and culture in gym environments, and how to create more equitable spaces
[00:06:53] The culture shift Lachlan is helping drive at South Coast Flame, prioritizing resources for the women's side of the club
[00:13:37] The female high performance football program Lachlan is involved with at the University of Wollongong, providing athletes access to high-level training and education

#009 ACL Series Professor Evangelos Pappas The ACL decision What are the options?

In this episode, host Carolyn Kent interviews Professor Evangelos Pappas, an expert in musculoskeletal health and ACL injuries. Professor Pappas is the Director of the MedTech Research and Innovation Hub and a Professor of Musculoskeletal Health at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT).
 
Topics Covered:
Why women's football players are at higher risk of ACL injuries (00:01:27)
Surgical options for ACL tears, including hamstring grafts and bone-patellar tendon-bone grafts (00:07:18)
Non-surgical management approaches, including the "CrossBrace" protocol and bridge-enhanced ACL repair (00:14:03)
The long-term consequences of ACL injuries, including increased risk of early-onset osteoarthritis (00:18:34)
Importance of injury prevention programs and educating athletes about return-to-sport risks (00:20:39)
Decision-making tools to help patients choose surgical vs. non-surgical treatment (00:26:09)
Where to Find Professor Evangelos Pappas:
Twitter: @EVPappas
 
Key Terms & References:
ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament)
ACL injury prevention programs
"CrossBrace" protocol
Bridge-enhanced ACL repair
Post-traumatic osteoarthritis
Return-to-sport risks after ACL injury
ACL Decision-Making Tool for Adults
ACL Decision-Making Tool for Children/Adolescents

#008 Case study series Dr Ian Cookson Psychology. Is it low confidence? The athlete with ADHD

Our resident Sports Psychologist in Training Dr Ian Cookson talks us through a case of a youth athlete who was referred with low confidence, but all was not what is seemed. 

#007 Sports medicine - Dr Kelly Collins talks ADHD in athletes (With special guests Benjamin and Henry)

ADHD and Athletes with Dr Kelly Collins
In this episode, host Carolyn Kent interviews Dr Kelly Collins, a registrar at the Australasian College of Sports and Exercise Medicine, about her recent editorial in the British Journal of Sports Medicine on the topic of ADHD and athletes.
Key Topics Discussed- [00:00:50] Dr. Collins' journey into sports medicine- [00:04:17] What is ADHD? Overview of the condition- [00:09:20] Differences in how ADHD presents in males vs. females- [00:12:48] Prevalence of ADHD in the general population and in sports- [00:14:28] The potential benefits of ADHD in certain sports- [00:16:39] Tips for coaches on supporting athletes with ADHD- [00:20:32] Myth-busting around ADHD
Key References- [British Journal of Sports Medicine editorial on ADHD and female athletes](https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/56/3/123)- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)- Executive function- Emotional dysregulation- Comorbidities of ADHD (mental illness, substance abuse, etc.)- Neurodiversity

Case study series - Podiatry - Katie Reilly and the troublesome toenail

Our resident Sports Podiatrist and Queen Margaret University lecturer Katie Reilly talks us through a player case that involves surgery to a players toe nail. 

#006 MSK physiotherapy - Dr Nicole Surdyka - Working in the professional Women's game

Dr Nicole Surdyka talks to Carolyn Kent about her time as director of rehabilitation at OL Reign, gender and sex based considerations for female athletes and structures and strategies for athlete health.