Front Line to Finish Line: an SEM Essentials Podcast by FSEM

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Ross Hemingway OBE, a leading expert in exertional heat illness, to explore the causes, risks, and management of this potentially life-threatening condition. As the autumn marathon season winds down and athletes prepare for warmer events, Ross shares his deep insights from years of experience treating amateur, elite, and tactical athletes. From personal stories to practical advice, this conversation covers everything from early recognition and rapid cooling to long-term rehabilitation and prevention strategies. About Ross Ross has extensive experience in managing amateur, elite and tactical athletes with exertional collapse. He is a national expert in the prevention, acute management and rehabilitation of patients with exertional heat illness ( EHI). He is passionate about reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with EHI. He is a founding member of the UK Heat Illness Advisory Group and is an author of the UK National Consensus Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care guidelines on EHI. Ross is an Honorary Senior lecturer in Sports Medicine at Exeter University and Match Day Doctor for the Gallagher Premiership Rugby and Rugby Football Union. Ross was awarded the OBE in the 2023 King’s New Year’s Honours List ‘For services to the Royal Marines’. Links View the position statement - https://www.fsem.ac.uk/position-statement/exertional-heat-illness-consensus-statement/

In this exciting new episode, physiotherapist Claire Speer is joined for the first time by her new co-host, Dr Ed Appleby! Together, they welcome Andrew Cuff, Consultant Physiotherapist, Clinical Director at Cora Health, and Council Member for the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine. Andrew shares his remarkable journey from military service to clinical leadership, offering insights into the future of MSK services, healthcare strategy, and the evolving role of allied health professionals. We explore topics such as Andrew’s transition from the military and its influence on his leadership style The future structure of MSK services in the NHS The value and future of Diplomate Membership within FSEM and the proposed new college Whether you're a clinician, a leader in healthcare, or simply curious about the forces shaping MSK care, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode of Front Line to Finish Line, we dive into the world of aquatic therapy with leading expert Sarah Wratten. With over 27 years of experience as an aquatic physiotherapist, Sarah brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to the conversation. She shares what aquatic therapy is, how it works, and why it’s such a powerful tool in rehabilitation, from easing pain and improving mobility to supporting recovery across a wide range of conditions. Sarah has worked across the NHS, private sector, and Ministry of Defence, where she served as Clinical Aquatic Therapy Lead for a decade. She’s treated everyone from individuals with no active movement to elite athletes, and her expertise spans musculoskeletal, neurological, rheumatological, orthopaedic, and sports injuries. As Chair of the Aquatic Therapy Association for Chartered Physiotherapists (ATACP) and a tutor teaching aquatic therapy in the UK and abroad, Sarah is a true champion of personalised, effective, and enjoyable rehab in the water. Whether you're a clinician, athlete, or someone on a recovery journey, this episode will leave you with a deeper understanding of how the pool can be a game-changer in rehab. Pinder Aquatic Physiotherapy - https://www.pinderaquaticphysio.co.uk/aquatic-physiotherapy

Welcome to another episode of Front Line to Finish Line, the podcast where we dive deep into the world of sport and exercise medicine. Our host Claire Speers speaks to fellow physiotherapist Chris Myers, a highly experienced and specialised physiotherapist in musculoskeletal medicine and sports injuries. Chris has over 20 years’ experience of treating both adults and children, working in elite sport, private practice and in the NHS, and currently splits his time between Complete Physio, elite sport and lecturing. In this episode, we’ll explore how MSK ultrasound is revolutionising diagnostics, the role of injections in treatment, and how these techniques can enhance recovery for athletes and active individuals alike. Chris Meyers - https://complete-physio.co.uk/team/chris-myers/

Dr Chris Speers is the Lead for the Faculty's Diploma in Exercise Medicine, which has now opened applications for its second sitting, taking place in February 2025. Have a listen to the excerpt from our recent podcast episode with Chris, as he explains who is eligible for it, why you should do it and what resources are available to support exam preparation. Learn more - https://www.fsem.ac.uk/careers-and-training/exams/fsem-diploma-exams/diploma-in-exercise-medicine/

Ralph sits down with Professor Ross Tucker, a science and research consultant for World Rugby and someone you might recognise from The Real Science of Sport Podcast. We caught up at BASEM 2024 with Ross, a keynote speaker at the conference, and spoke across a number of topics within sport science. Ralph and Ross cover mouthguards & head injury assessment and the future of the process, the use of technology and its application within sport and healthcare, and much more throughout the episode. We are very excited to bring you our very first in person episode, so please share this! It was also our first video recording as well, which you can watch here - https://youtu.be/MS7ZrkAxjAo You can check out The Real Science of Sport Podcast here - https://open.spotify.com/show/3g71AuFYy6FnYHEI1GO9A0 View the Science of Sport - https://sportsscientists.com/ Ross Tucker - https://x.com/Scienceofsport

Front Line to Finish Line is back! Ralph talks to Dr Dane Vishnubala about the training pathways currently available in Sport and Exercise Medicine, the NHS and how the future of the SEM specialty is shaping up. An insightful discussion which helps to outline both the challenges and opportunities in the specialty to any aspiring SEM professional. The British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine (BASEM) are hosting their annual conference in Coventry on 7th - 8th November. Learn more about the conference and get your tickets here - https://basem.co.uk/basem-annual-conference-2024/

How do elite sport team environments work with their medical teams? How is this landscape changing? Ralph and Claire talk to Lee Blackett, assistant coach at Bath Rugby and former player for Rotherham and Leeds Tykes about working in a high performance multi-disciplinary team. An insightful discussion, providing a look at the evolving perspective and relationship of sports coaches and their medical teams.

Want to learn more about osteoporosis and exercise? Join Ralph and Claire as they speak to Abby Armstrong about bones and beyond. Gain extensive insight from Abby as we explore osteoporosis and pelvic wellness, with a lot of key take-home messages for strong communication with patients. Abby Armstrong is an experienced Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist with special interests in Pelvic Health and Osteoporosis. Abby sees Bone Health patients in private practise in South West London. Resources UK Consensus Statement: https://theros.org.uk/media/0o5h1l53/ros-strong-steady-straight-quick-guide-february-2019.pdf LIFTMOR Study - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28975661/ Pelvic Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy (POGP) leaflets - https://thepogp.co.uk/Resources/9/pelvic_organ_prolapse_a_physiotherapy_guide_for_women https://thepogp.co.uk/Resources/115/pelvic_floor_muscle_exercises_for_women Squeezy App - https://squeezyapp.com/

Ralph and Claire welcome Athlete Nutrition Coach Chris Lowe to this episode, discussing the evolving role of nutritionists, the science behind carbohydrates and how to bring nutrition into your treatment of MSK patients. Chris has a decade of experience coaching at the highest level in elite sport. He has a BSc in Sports Biomedicine & Nutrition, and an MSc in Sport & Exercise Nutrition. This academic base has provided the platform to build a successful online coaching business to support athletes competing at the highest level: including world tour riders and international rugby players. For more information on Chris, please visit: Fueltherideacademy.com Chrislowenutrition.com

For this episode Giles talks with former colleague Laura Finucane, consultant musculoskeletal physiotherapist and specialist in spinal conditions, on the International Framework for Red Flags. Laura has been a consultant since 2006 providing care for NHS patients. Laura’s special interest is in serious pathologies of the spine and she has presented nationally and internationally. Useful Resources Referenced: https://www.macpweb.org/Cauda-Equina-Information-cards https://view.genial.ly/62b210b8c534710012aafcaa/interactive-content-red-flags-for-potential-serious-spinal-pathologies

Giles sits down with Professor Patrick Wheeler for a fascinating discussion on tendinopathy, exploring his own specialist interest in the topic and the research surrounding it. Professor Wheeler was appointed to the position of FSEM Honorary Treasurer in 2020, having previously been elected to FSEM Council in 2016. Patrick was one of the first doctors entered onto the GMC Specialist Register in Sport & Exercise Medicine, after successful CESR completion in 2009. Patrick’s main areas of personal clinical research involves the medical management of tendinopathies, he has several ongoing NHS-based interventional research studies and his PhD was in this area. He has taught, examined, and supervised at several universities at undergraduate, post-graduate, and doctoral levels, as well as holding Clinical and Educational supervision roles in SEM Higher Specialist Training. Patrick has previously worked extensively in elite and performance sport. He worked for the English Institute of Sport between 2007 and 2013, was CMO for a number of sports between 2004 and 2016, and worked for ParalympicsGB at the Rio2016, London 2012, and Beijing2008 Paralympics Games.