{"id":8618,"date":"2019-08-22T18:29:24","date_gmt":"2019-08-22T17:29:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/?p=8618"},"modified":"2019-08-23T14:00:26","modified_gmt":"2019-08-23T13:00:26","slug":"irish-undergraduate-sports-exercise-medicine-society-wheels-in-motion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/2019\/08\/22\/irish-undergraduate-sports-exercise-medicine-society-wheels-in-motion\/","title":{"rendered":"Irish Undergraduate Sports & Exercise Medicine Society \u2013 Wheels in Motion"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Gait Way to Sport and Exercise Medicine<\/span> \u2013<\/span><\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0BJSM blog series<\/span>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

By Andy Cummiskey (LinkedIn<\/a>),\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Jonny Elliott (@jelliott1989)\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>and\u00a0<\/strong>De<\/em>rbhala Murphy (LinkedIn<\/a>)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Ireland is a small sporting nation with unprecedented numbers pursuing healthy activities in recent years. In 2017, nearly half (43%) of the Irish population participated in sport at least once per week (by way of comparison, this was only 36.1% in England).1,2\u00a0<\/sup>While this is not a true like for like comparison due to Sport Ireland opting to omit duration, it is a reflection of the Irish population\u2019s willingness to engage in healthy activities. Despite this, the proportion of adults undertaking sufficient physical activity is perilously low (only 33%) for Ireland3\u00a0<\/sup>and the island of Ireland\u2019s obesity statistics makes for grave reading (Table 1<\/em>4<\/sup>)<\/p>\n

Table 1<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u00a0<\/em><\/td>\nOverweight (% population)<\/strong><\/td>\nCost to state <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Republic of Ireland <\/strong><\/td>\n60%<\/td>\n\u20ac1.13 billion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Northern Ireland <\/strong><\/td>\n59%<\/td>\n\u00a3510 million<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now why do we, as Irish undergraduate sports and exercise medicine (SEM) enthusiasts care about these stats? Well, we know that physical inactivity<\/u>\u00a0is the 4th\u00a0<\/sup>leading risk factor for global mortality.5 \u00a0<\/sup>Furthermore, we know that the WHO has prioritised the need to add physical activity modules to undergraduate healthcare professional training.6\u00a0<\/sup>Less promising, Ireland\u2019s physical activity levels are lagging behind European averages and SEM movements can act as the impetus for change. One means of addressing physical inactivity is to engage undergraduate students, a view espoused by Dr John Paul Leach here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Currently, there is no Irish Undergraduate SEM Society (IUSEMS). The IUSEMS will act as an undergraduate network for all SEM related topics, addressing the existing undergraduate gap and bringing like-minded people together. The aim of this blog is to advertise this society and ask for help and advice from any clinicians who wish to help us grow this movement.<\/p>\n

Current SEM landscape on the island of Ireland <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Until recently, Northern Ireland had been one of the sites of the substantive NHS SEM Training Programme, delivering postgraduate SEM training to SpR trainees based in Belfast; however due to funding cuts, training places are not currently available locally. Significant steps however have been taken to enhance the SEM development pathway in the Republic of Ireland with the recruitment of two SpR trainees<\/a> into the Higher Specialist Training Programme<\/a>in SEM. This represents the culmination of years of work to deliver a SEM training programme and demonstrates that exercise related injury and illness is a treating priority.<\/p>\n

Growing the Undergraduate Movement <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

University College Dublin (UCD) has now established a working undergraduate Sports and Exercise Medicine Society. In April 2019, the group held its inaugural evening on the theme of \u00a0\u201cCareers in SEM\u201d, collaborating with UCD Medical Society. The event hosted an incredible array of professionals and acted as a barometer of interest in the area. It highlighted the vast array of SEM professionals in Ireland with speakers from sporting bodies including the IRFU, FAI, Leinster Rugby, Munster Rugby and Liverpool F.C with varied backgrounds including Orthopaedics, Endocrinology, General Practice and Emergency Medicine. The event invited students from multiple disciplines, including Medicine, Sports Science and Physiotherapy and it is our aim in the future to have a multi-disciplinary committee. Each of the guests spoke about the importance of SEM, their journeys and roles, the challenges, but also the opportunities presented to them in the field. It was a thoroughly insightful and encouraging evening and a demonstration of undergraduate interest in SEM.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) has established its first undergraduate sports and exercise medicine society (RCSI SemSoc). Later in the year, RCSI SemSoc\u2019s flagship event will host an evening with retired Irish international rugby player, Luke Fitzgerald and current Modern Pentathlete, Natalya Coyle. The aim of the session is to explore the trials and tribulations of elite sport, the role of the doctor, physiotherapist, dietician and psychologist in returning these athletes to the field of play. Furthermore, the session will discuss the benefits of sport and physical activity in shaping these athletes\u2019 lives. We look forward to seeing you there!<\/p>\n

We want YOU!<\/strong><\/p>\n

There has never been a better opportunity for undergraduates on the island of Ireland to get involved in SEM. Our aims are:<\/p>\n