There are moments in sport medicine when a governing body does something that makes clinicians pause and say: finally. The NRL’s quiet introduction of contact training limits at the start of the 2026 season is one of those moments. For those of us who work at the intersection of head trauma and neurological health, this […]
Prof Dr Margie Sharpe
Luke Ivens’ Story Reinforces the True Cost of Football Concussions
Once again, we’re confronted with the devastating reality of repeated head trauma in Australian Rules Football, this time through the courageous testimony of former SANFL player Luke Ivens. His story, recently shared by ABC Science’s Listen Up, serves as yet another stark warning about the catastrophic impact of treating brain injuries as mere inconveniences to […]
The AFL Profits While Players And The Healthcare System Pay The Price Of Football Concussion
More sad but unsurprising news from the realm of football concussion, with reports that AFLW player Heather Anderson has been dubbed as the first female athlete to be diagnosed with CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy). CTE is a brain disorder linked to repeated head injuries. In a succinct definition by the Mayo Clinic, CTE gets worse […]
FND Awareness Month: The Perfect Time to Spread Understanding Of Functional Neurological Disorder
April is FND Awareness Month and I believe that makes it a perfect time to learn more about Functional Neurological Disorder, and help spread understanding of this condition that manifests itself in a bewildering array of symptoms. Our focus at the Dizziness & Balance Disorders Centre is to strive for accurate assessments, which is why […]
An Important Message To Physiotherapists About Platinum-based Chemotherapy, Tinnitus And Hearing Loss
Stephanie Pearson, Research Manager, Cripps Health Centre, UK, has published an important article about platinum-based chemotherapy, tinnitus and hearing loss. I urge all physiotherapists and other health professionals to take a few minutes and read this. The link to the full article is here: Platinum-based Chemotherapy, Tinnitus And Hearing Loss. It’s based on the work […]
Rare Footage Of The Late Dr John M Epley Explaining His Breakthrough In BPPV Treatment
Dr John M Epley, an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist changed the course of history and made an enormous difference to the lives of people suffering Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), the most common inner ear disorder which causes random, recurrent, and abrupt episodes of vertigo (an illusion or hallucination of movement) for which there […]