Participate in a research study
Can We Improve Pain-Related Cognitions in People with Midportion Achilles Tendinopathy?
Eligible participants will undergo a course of physiotherapy involving 1 of 3 interventions, assigned by randomization to either: 1. Education, 2. Education + Exercise, or 3. Usual Care. These interventions will be delivered by accredited physiotherapists located at physiotherapy clinics within the Canberra community. Participants will be asked to attend their assigned physiotherapist once per week for 6 weeks. (HREC approval 13877)
Eligibility Criteria
- Over the age of 18
- Achilles tendon pain for at least 3 months
- Have not had physiotherapy treatment for the Achilles within the last 3 months before commencing the study
- No history of Achilles rupture, corticosteroid injection or surgery to the Achilles
- Able to commit to a 6-week intervention period
- Are not pregnant
If interested, please fill out the or contact Jack Mest.
Factors Affecting Mental Fatigue in Team Sport
If you play or have experience playing an invasion/territory-based team sport then we want to hear from you! We're looking for adults who play or played team sport at any level to complete an online survey. We're interested in seeing if there are elements of playing team sport that are mentally fatiguing for athletes. (HREC approval 14435)
Eligibility Criteria
- Adults (aged 18 or over)
- Play or have experience playing an invasion/territory-based team sport (e.g. soccer, rugby, field or ice hockey, basketball)
- Engage in at least 150 minutes of physical activity a week
If this sounds like you, . Got questions? Contact Yleia Mariano for more info.
Force Control in Knee Osteoarthritis Research Study
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic disease of the joints often accompanied by pain and functional limitations that increase with progression of the disease. The muscles surrounding the knee joint, in particular the quadriceps, play an important role in the function of those with knee osteoarthritis. Force control of the quadriceps represents the ability to accurately and steadily control force production during everyday tasks, such as walking and rising from a chair. (HREC approval 85435)
This study aims to:
- Examine how consistent (reliable) force control measurements are in people with knee osteoarthritis
- Compare force control between those with and without knee osteoarthritis
- Explore how force control relates to self-reported pain, function, and muscle activity
Eligibility Criteria — With Knee Osteoarthritis
- Aged 50+
- Diagnosed with knee OA
- No other health conditions that would limit participating in exercise
- Available for two 1.5–2 hour lab sessions
Eligibility Criteria — Without Knee Osteoarthritis
- Aged 50+
- No knee pain or injury
- No other health conditions that would limit participating in exercise
- Available for a 1.5–2 hour lab session
If you're interested, or contact Dr Crystal Kean.
Effect of Afternoon/Evening Caffeine Intake and Sleep in Combat Athletes
This PhD trial at the º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is investigating whether caffeine taken before evening training disrupts sleep that night. It's a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled crossover. Participants train as normal at their club, consuming either a pre-training electrolyte drink with caffeine (3 mg/kg) or an identical-tasting placebo on different nights. Sleep is tracked overnight with a WHOOP 4.0, along with saliva samples and short morning questionnaires. (HREC approval 51025)
Eligibility Criteria
- Aged 18–45 years
- Training a combat sport regularly — at least 3 sessions/week or 5+ hours/week
- Sessions typically start at 4:00 pm or later
- Weigh under 100 kg
- No caffeine sensitivity or allergy
- Not pregnant or breastfeeding
- Not a shift worker
- No international travel planned during the study period
- No cardiovascular conditions (hypertension, arrhythmias, heart disease)
- No sleep disorders (insomnia, sleep apnoea)
- No anxiety or panic disorders
- No significant gastrointestinal conditions (e.g. reflux)
Contact Adem Kocak — Provisional APD, PhD Candidate.
ARE YOU A COMBAT SPORTS ATHLETE
Acute Cardiovascular Effects of an L-Theanine and L-Glycine Beverage in Postmenopausal Women at Rest
This study is a pilot randomised controlled trial investigating the acute effects of a beverage containing L-theanine and L-glycine (THE-Gly) on resting cardiovascular physiological responses in postmenopausal women. The study has received approval from the º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Human Research Ethics Committee (º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵHREC – 89428) and is registered with the Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12625001335482).
Eligibility Criteria
- Female who has reached menopause naturally
- Aged 45 years or older
- Not currently on hormone replacement therapy
- Willing to consume a functional beverage containing glycine and the green tea–derived amino acid L-theanine
- Currently residing in the Greater ACT region (including Queanbeyan)
If you're interested, contact Harshini Meegaswatte.
Breast Impacts and Injuries in Contact, Limited-Contact and Combat Sports
Breast impacts and injuries in sport are common but poorly understood, and often go unreported. This study aims to quantify the frequency of breast impacts, as well as the locations, mechanisms, and game scenarios in which they occur. A secondary aim is to prospectively quantify the number of self-reported contact breast injuries relative to breast impacts. The findings aim to improve athlete health and performance by informing education, encouraging better injury reporting, and supporting the development of effective protective strategies. (HREC approval 19764)
Eligibility Criteria
- Female athletes over 16 years of age
- Currently participating in a contact, limited-contact or combat sport
- No current injury or cardiac abnormality
- Previous medical and athletic history does not preclude safe participation in the study
If you're interested, contact Bethany Canty.