NEWS RELEASE – March 27, 2009

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2008 SIRC Research Award and Research Development Award- Winners Announced

The SIRC Research Award recognizes outstanding sport research in Canada. Acknowledging how sport research benefits the Canadian sporting community is the primary purpose of this award. The SIRC Research Development Award is designed to encourage development of research writing skills, with an emphasis on preparing research reports that are comprehensive and yet can be disseminated and understood throughout the sporting community. Congratulations to all who participated.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to all of our judges and to the following sponsors for their tremendous support: CIHR – Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis, EBSCO Host, Coaches of Canada and Wellness Options.

“The studies and papers submitted to this year’s SIRC Research award demonstrate their passion for the subjects and exceptionally high standard of work being done by Canada’s sport researchers. Canada is a leader in sport research and SIRC is proud to recognize the outstanding work being done by our research community.”  Debra Gassewitz,

President and CEO SIRC

And the awards go to…

SIRC Research Award

The Impact of Applied Research on Athletic Excellence – High Performance Category:

"Right ventricular dysfunction and injury following marathon running: Correlating biomarkers with cardiac MRI"– Dr. Davinder S. Jassal -University of Manitoba

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the cardiac changes associated with participation in a marathon using serial cardiac biomarkers, echocardiography and CMR. Although previous studies including endurance athletes following marathon running have demonstrated biochemical evidence of cardiac injury and have correlated these findings with echocardiographic evidence of cardiac dysfunction, in particular the right ventricle, a study of marathon athletes incorporating biomarkers, echocardiography and cardiac MRI (CMR) has not been performed to date. Fourteen participants (mean age 33±6 years; 8 males) completed the full marathon. Serum myoglobin, creatine kinase and troponin T were elevated in all athletes post-race. There was a strong linear correlation between right ventricular (RV) fractional area change (FAC) as assessed by echocardiography and RV ejection fraction as assessed by CMR (r=0.96) post marathon (Figure 1). RV function, using echocardiography, transiently decreased from pre- to post-race (RV FAC 43±5% vs. 34±7%, p<0.05). There were also post-race changes in LV and RV diastolic filling. While RV systolic changes were transient, both LV and RV diastolic abnormalities persisted up to one week post marathon. We did not find evidence of delayed enhancement of the LV myocardium on CMR suggesting that the increase in cardiac biomarkers post-marathon is not due to myocardial necrosis. Right ventricular systolic dysfunction transiently occurs post marathon, and has been validated for the first time by CMR. The increase in cardiac troponin following marathon running is due to cytosolic release of the biomarker, and not due to true breakdown of the myocyte as confirmed by delayed enhancement CMR.

Bio: : Dr. Davinder S. Jassal has an MD from the University of Manitoba, where he also completed a residency in Internal Medicine. Dr. Jassal also completed a residency in Cardiology at Dalhousie University and a clinical and research fellowship at Harvard Medical School. He currently holds numerous academic and administrative positions at the University of Manitoba including assistant professor and is the Principle Investigator of the Cardiovascular Imaging Laboratory in the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at the St. Boniface General Hospital and Research Centre.

The Impact of Sport on the Community – Community Category:

“The Adaptation Challenges and Strategies of Adolescent Aboriginal Athletes Competing Off Reserve” – Dr. Robert Schinke – Laurentian University

Abstract: Within the motivation literature it has been indicated that athletes respond more effectively to sport’s contextual challenges through effective adaptation skills. Fiske (2004) identified five core motives as facilitators of the adaptation process across cultures: belonging, understanding, controlling, self-enhancement, and trusting. Through a cultural sport psychology approach, the adaptation challenges and strategies of Canadian Aboriginal adolescent athletes from one community (Wikwemikong) are described as they travelled off reserve to compete in mainstream sporting events. Concurrently, Fiske’s core motives are considered in relation to youth sport participants from the aforementioned Aboriginal community. Culture sensitive research methods among the Wikwemikong, including community meetings, talking circles, indigenous coding, and co-authoring were employed in this paper. Data are reflected in three themes: (a) challenges pursuing sport outside of the Aboriginal community in advance of bi-cultural encounters, (b) challenging bi-cultural encounters in Canadian mainstream sport contexts, and (c) specific responses to racism and discrimination.

Bio: Dr. Robert Schinke is an associate professor of sport psychology in the School of Human Kinetics at Laurentian University, where he teaches cultural sport studies at the undergraduate and graduate levels. His areas of research interest are applied practice with amateur and professional athletes, and also within the area of cultural sport psychology. Dr. Schinke has a Masters in Sport Psychology from Ottawa University and a Doctorate in psycho-social and administrative aspects of major-games resilience training for national team athletes, coaches, and management from the University of Alberta.

SIRC Research Development Award

Health and Sport Category:

“Safety, effectiveness and impact of dry needling trigger points in athletes: a systematic review” – Tracey Teasdale – The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine

Abstract: This research will systematically review the literature on the effect and impact of dry needling of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs), and the applications of this technique to the sporting community. For athletes, proper structure and function of skeletal muscle, and enhanced recovery from injury is vital to performance. In theory, every training session, event or competition results in microtrauma to muscles. Recovery from this muscle fiber damage is the basis of adaptation to training. Over time, however, this repetitive microtrauma can also lead to muscle shortening and the development of MTrPs. Shortened muscles and MTrPs decrease flexibility, range of motion, strength, circulation and conduction of nerve impulses ultimately increasing the risk for injury. The pain associated with some MTrPs can also affect sleep quality and quantity, the ability to train effectively, and the ability to perform activities of daily living.

Bio: Ms. Tracey Teasdale BSc (Hons), ND (cand) is a fourth year clinical intern at The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and practices on a sports medicine rotation. With a kinesiology and science background from McMaster University, she treats and educates athletes from various sports, across all ages and skill levels, to promote optimal health and performance. In addition to her long history of participation in athletics and coaching, she is committed to gathering and creating knowledge on best practices in sport and sports medicine.

Participation and Sport Category:

“School Travel Plans: Barriers and underlying causes, relating active school transport to increased physical activity” – Theresa Beesley – University of Toronto

Abstract: A recent Public Health Service Agent survey determined that across Canada that 51% of primary school children are traveling to school through non active transportation methods. This paper determines and discusses the important issues identified through a secondary data analysis and a literature review. These are: (1) barriers to active school transport (AST), (2) the underlying cause for the barriers to active school transport, and (3) the relationship of active school transport to increased physical activity in children. Overall, conclusions state distance as the dominating barrier to AST and found that youths who participate in AST are significantly more physically active.

Bio: Ms. Theresa Beesley is currently an undergraduate Physical Education and Health student at the University of Toronto where she is a member of the Exercise Psychology Unit, currently analyzing data on physical activity promotion, outcomes and barriers. As a volunteer at the Center of Leadership Training and Education (CLTE), she is leading projects on physical activity promotion on campus and has created an annual career information week for prospective kinesiology graduates. Ms. Beesley is currently working towards her Masters of Exercise Science.

To read the winning research papers click on the titles above.

Invitation to submit papers for the 2009 SIRC Research Award and Research Development Award will be announced in September 2009

 

Contact :

Kim Cook SIRC Tel : +1 (613) 231-7472, Ext 243 Toll Free: +1 (800) 665-6413 North America Fax: +1 (613) 231-3739

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