BJSM Podcast

Latest Episodes:

What does the formation of the College of Sport, Exercise and Musculoskeletal Medicine mean for you? Listen in to see. EP#587 Jun 19, 2026

Show notes

Dan Bastock speaks with the major players in the formation of this new College of Sport, Exercise and Musculoskeletal Medicine (CSEM). Professor Patrick Wheeler, Dr Julia Newton and Dr Natasha Jones.

They discuss the formation of the new college and what this means for BASEM and the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK (FSEM), and SEM in the UK.

Link to FSEM relevant webpage: https://www.fsem.ac.uk/news/update-on-continued-progress-towards-establishing-csem/

Link to BASEM relevant webpage:https://basem.co.uk/update-on-significant-milestones-achieved-to-establish-the-college-of-sport-exercise-and-musculoskeletal-medicine-csem/

Breathwork in Athletes, friend or foe? Join Professor James Hull and guests for answers. EP#586 Apr 10, 2026

Show notes

Professor James Hull is joined by Dr Eric Harbour and Professor Hege Clemm to discuss the fast growing trend of “breathwork’ in athletes and whether this is a useful novel area of interest or if it is a potentially dangerous fad.

Listen in for a lively discussion!

Info:

Please find relevant references for further information below:

Dr Eric Harbour recommends:

Breath Tools review:

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.813243/full

Breath tools website:

https://www.breathtools.com/

Lancet review mentioned:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(25)00437-0/fulltext

Prof. Hege Clemm recommends:

IOC consensus BJSM:

https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/bjsports/56/19/1066.full.pdf

https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/bjsports/56/19/1089.full.pdf

Prof. James Hull has some resources in here:

www. breathetowin.co.uk

It is not all about strength! Rethinking the role of exercise for musculokeletal pain relief with Dr. Jared Powell. EP#585 Mar 27, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Dr. Jared Powell invites us to reflect on the mechanistic assumptions underlying exercise-based rehabilitation for musculoskeletal pain relief, based on his editorial recently published in BJSM.

It’s a great conversation that explores questions such as:

Why are these patients getting better?
How can we help those who do not respond to exercise?
What should be the next steps in research, and what should we be exploring in future clinical trials?
Should we offer exercise to all patients with musculoskeletal pain?
And how do we explain to patients that recovery may not be all about strength?

Press play and enjoy!

Brain health and the evolution of the Premier League Head Injury Protocol: The past, present and future. EP#584 Mar 20, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, we focus on brain health and the evolution of the Premier League Head Injury Protocol, which is a key priority and area of focus within the Premier League.

Lynsey Hooper is joined first by Dr Matt Green (Head of Elite Performance), who outlines why brain health has become a central pillar of the Premier League’s player health strategy, and the breadth of activity currently underway to support players.

Following this introduction, Prof. Mark Gillett (Chief Medical Officer) and Dr Dominic Townsend (Brain Health Advisor) take us through the origins of the Head Injury Protocol in the Premier League. Outlining how it was developed, the implementation, and the principles that continue to shape its operation today.

Together, they also look ahead, covering how approaches to brain health may continue to evolve, and what the future could hold for clinical decision‑making.

This episode offers a detailed insight into how policy, medicine and elite sport intersect in practice at the highest level of the game.

Concussion in football: the case for temporary concussion substitutions

https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/59/23/1635

Player reflections on change: 20 years of evolving demands and support in elite football. EP#583 Mar 13, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, we’re joined by two of the most experienced and respected players in English football. James Milner and Steph Houghton join Lynsey Hooper in conversation.

Across more than two decades in the men’s and women’s professional game, James and Steph have lived through the evolution of elite football, where match demands have increased and a rapidly changing approach to player health and welfare has been observed.

In this conversation, they reflect candidly on life as an elite footballer, the realities of injury and recovery, changes in match load, and the importance of the multidisciplinary support teams around them.

This podcast expands on the themes explored in their joint ‘player voice’ editorial.

https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/59/23/1703

It’s a thoughtful, honest and highly insightful discussion from two players who have seen and been a part of the evolution of professional football.”

Sensorimotor Control Meets Society: How Sociocultural Constructs Could Impact ACL Injury Risk. EP#582 Feb 20, 2026

Show notes

In this podcast Brooke talks with Katherine Wilford, who earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Exercise Science from Colorado State University (2006), her Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from Boston University (2009), and her Doctor of Science from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (2023). Kat has 16 years of clinical experience working with individuals with musculoskeletal pain. Her research interests include exploring the connection between sociocultural constructs and sensorimotor control as it pertains to musculoskeletal injury risk assessment.

In this episode, we discuss how Kat and her team synthesized existing literature to shed light on how cultural beliefs, gender roles, and societal expectations shape movement patterns.

Building a Sleep Health Plan for Athletes with Dr. Jesse Cook. EP#581 Feb 13, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of the AMSSM Sports Medcast, host Dr. Devin McFadden, MD, is joined by Dr. Jesse Cook, PhD, to discuss Building a Sleep Health Plan for Athletes.

In this conversation, which was recorded during the 2025 AMSSM Annual Meeting, Dr. Cook shares more information on his main stage lecture of the same name, which focused on best practices and essential principles.

Dr. Cook is a postdoctoral fellow with a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research focuses on the intersection of sleep and mental health, with his primary program of research purposed to advance the classification, assessment, and treatment of unexplained hypersomnolence.

He has additional research interests related to the strengths, limitations, and overall utility of wearable sleep tracking technology for research and clinical purposes, as well as the roles of sleep and circadian health in the performance and well-being of athletes. Clinically, he embraces an integrative orientation, drawing principally from CBT and third-wave therapy approaches (i.e., ACT and DBT).

Registration is now open for the 2026 AMSSM Annual Meeting. Visit the conference website to learn more: annualmeeting.amssm.org/

The soundtrack to success: how Arsenal and Universal Music Group are innovating to enhance elite athlete health and performance. EP#580 Jan 23, 2026

Show notes

In this podcast we are joined by Professor Alan McCall and Dr Tara Venkatesan, We talk about how music can be used in the clinical setting to improve outcomes in performance and recovery. We get into detail about styles of music and how they could be used in different scenarios.

Dr.Tara Venkatesan is the Senior Director of Cognitive Science Research at Universal Music Group. Her lab researches the impact of music on mental wellbeing and helps develop consumer products. She has a B.S. in Cognitive Science from Yale University and a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from Oxford University. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and media, including The New York Times, BBC, Channel News Asia, and Health Magazine. She is an Honorary Fellow at the School of Advanced Study, University of London.

Professor Alan McCall is a practitioner and researcher with over 20 years of experience in elite sport. He spent 12 years embedded day to day inside professional and national teams, before moving into consultancy, where for the past decade he has worked alongside coaches, medical, and performance staff across different sports and countries. He is currently Consulting Head of Research & Development at Arsenal Football Club and supports clubs, federations, and governing bodies across European leagues, as well as FIFA, UEFA, the NBA, and the NFL. Alongside his applied work, he has published over 130 papers in sports performance and holds visiting research fellowships and editorial roles, with a focus on what actually works in real-world sporting environments—helping teams make better decisions under pressure by connecting research, data, and lived experience.

Links:

The soundtrack to success: can music enhance elite athlete’s health and performance?bjsm.bmj.com

Is radiotherapy for MSK injuries the latest in a line of flash-in-the-pan treatments, or is there more to it? Geoff Scott and Dr Richard Shaffer provide us with the lowdown. EP#579 Oct 17, 2025

Show notes

In this podcast we are discussing the use of low dose radiotherapy for musculoskeletal sports injury. We are joined by two experts in the field who give insight into the relatively unknown use of this modality.

Geoff Scott is an internationally experienced Physiotherapist who has worked at the highest levels of elite sport, including over eight seasons as Head of Medicine and Performance at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. He has also held senior roles at Fulham FC and consulted across global football, Olympic sport, and the performing arts industry.

Dr Richard Shaffer is a global expert in the use of low-dose radiotherapy for benign (non-cancer conditions. He is co-founder of Reload Clinics (www.reloadclinics.com), which was set up to treat patients with tendonitis in a joint clinic with Geoff Scott.

Radiotherapy for osteoarthritis review - https://www.redjournal.org/article/S0360-3016(22)00357-1/fulltext

Plantar fasciitis: https://www.redjournal.org/article/S0360-3016(12)00848-6/fulltext

Return to Rugby Postpartum: Navigating the Mother-Athlete Journey. EP#578 Sep 19, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the SASMA Podcast, Dr. Minjon Ras speaks with Dr. Izzy Moore, Joanna Perkins, and Dr. Leigh Gordon about the newly released World Rugby Guidelines on returning to rugby after pregnancy.

Together they unpack the six-phase pathway designed to support female athletes, explore the physical and mental health considerations unique to postpartum recovery, and discuss the role of coaches, medical teams, and performance staff in creating a supportive environment.

The conversation blends evidence, personal experiences, and practical advice—empowering athletes and practitioners to ensure that returning to rugby postpartum is safe, individualised, and sustainable.

Please see link to the guidelines here : https://rfu.widen.net/s/nrjppzdnkv/postpartum-guidance---final

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