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Research undertaken at the Centre for Sports Science and Sports Medicine within the Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Institute has directly contributed to Academic Enterprise (Knowledge Transfer), international, European and national medical guidelines on soft tissue injury management, clinical practice, stimulation of international debate, and an enhanced awareness of evidence-based management of acute injuries,
Research at the University of Bath has had a significant impact on reducing the burden of injury and illness in military training and sport. We have engaged practitioner communities in evidence-based approaches to injury and illness prevention. Our research has contributed directly to reducing the burden of musculoskeletal injuries and heat illness by informing military personnel selection, training and healthcare policies. This affects approximately 20,000 military trainees per year and has resulted in reduced morbidity and estimated training/medical costs of over £60 million per annum. Our injury surveillance research has helped shape the Rugby Football Union's (RFU) medical safety policy and, based on our research, the International Rugby Board (governing 5 million players worldwide) announced in May 2013 a global trial of new scrum laws designed to reduce the incidence/severity of neck injuries.
The research of Professor Mark De Ste Croix has begun to question well-established practice in injury prevention and has proposed a change in focus that is directly related to fatigue resistance. The research has led to new approaches to injury prevention for young athletes that are specific to growth and that do not simply adopt adult models. The three constituencies upon which the research has had impact are:
(i) Enriching and informing practice of national (The Football Association), European (UEFA) and World (FIFA) governing bodies of sport;
(ii) Informing and changing the pre-habilitation practices of physiotherapists, sports scientists, strength and conditioning specialists, coaches, and medical professionals for youth footballers;
(iii) Reducing injury risk and incidence in youth footballers.
The impact of this research has been evident in a change of practice regarding the consideration of fatigue in musculoskeletal profiling, and as an aetiological risk factor for injury. This change in practice is evidenced across a range of user groups, influencing evidence-based practice in both the clinical and sporting context. The body of research has generated a shift in the consideration of fatigue with regards sporting injury incidence. Postgraduate teaching has evolved to consider injury prevention strategies in relation to fatigue, and Governing Body injury audits have cited this research in working toward injury prevention policies.
Fundamental and applied research at RVC has led to introduction of stem cell therapy supporting equine tendon regeneration, advancing equine clinical practice internationally. A resultant spin-out company has delivered revenue-generating veterinary clinical services internationally and is now developing new human treatments. The therapy offers improved health and welfare, particularly in racing, as treated horses are less likely to re-injure in comparison with those managed conventionally, and consequently less likely to be culled due to premature termination of their competitive careers. The acceptance by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency that the equine treatment data provide validation for a phase II human clinical trial without further preclinical studies represents a rare and significant outcome for veterinary research.