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

In this episode of Front Line to Finish Line, we’re joined by Dr Jim Kerss, Head of Sports Medicine at the UK Sports Institute and Chair of the Faculty’s Team Care Committee.   Jim walks us through the newly published minimum standards for team care, why they were needed, and how they’ll shape athlete healthcare across the UK. From the evolution of the Team Care Diploma to clarifying expectations...

In this episode of Frontline to Finish Line, we explore the challenges and solutions around promoting physical activity for people with long-term health conditions. Dr Hamish Reid shares insights on risk perception, pre-participation screening, and why the benefits of movement far outweigh the risks. We also explore the latest with Moving Medicine. Dr Hamish Reid is a Sport and Exercise Medicine C...

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...

In this episode of Front Line to Finish Line, we’re joined by Dr Jon Houghton, Consultant in Rheumatology and Sports Medicine at Fortius Clinic, and Chief Medical Officer for the FA of Wales and Surrey County Cricket Club. With extensive experience across elite football, rugby, and cricket, Jon takes us through the full journey of managing pars injuries. We start with the basics, what a pars fract...

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 fu...

Join us for a special episode of the Front Line to Finish Line podcast series, coming in the form of a recent Out of the Blocks webinar, with the discussion led by Dr. Imran Sajid.   Dr. Sajid is Musculoskeletal & Diagnostics Clinical Lead for NHS NW London and GPwER in Musculoskeletal Medicine and also serves as the Clinical Lead (MSK and Diagnostics) for the Northwest London Collaboration of...

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...

In this episode, Claire speaks to Dr. Rod Jaques, Past President of the Faculty, to explore the latest updates to the FSEM Professional Code. We discuss the key changes, why they matter, and how they help SEM practitioners uphold the highest standards of care. From ethical decision-making to best practices in athlete welfare, Dr. Jaques shares valuable insights on navigating complex challenges in...

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 spo...

We return in 2025 with a fascinating discussion about Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport, better known as RED-S. Joining Ralph and Claire for this episode is Dr Margo Mountjoy, a sports medicine clinician scientist from Canada. Margo has an international focus at the elite level of sport extends from scientific research to knowledge translation, policy development, advocacy, and prevention. In th...

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/care...

We're back for one final episode before we wrap up for the new year! Dr Chris Speers is a Consultant in Sport and Exercise Medicine and has an interest in exercise medicine, championing the broad range of health benefits associated with physical activity. He is also the lead for the Faculty's own Diploma in Exercise Medicine, which you can now apply for. Our hosts Dr Ralph Mitchell and Claire Spee...

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...

Our recent podcast guest, Dr Dane Vishnubala, spoke to Ralph about the upcoming BASEM 2024 Conference, taking place in Coventry on 7th - 8th November. The BASEM 2024 Annual Conference aims to bring together over 400 leading health professionals, scientists, clinicians and researchers. The aim is to share and discuss the latest scientific research, clinical best practice and ethics in the field of...

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 Medic...

How can you inspire people to be physically active? Why is it important and what are the benefits greater physical activity can have? What support is available to me to provide this advise to patients? Andrew Harris from Active Together speaks to Ralph and Claire about making physical activity and sport more accessible and part of our everyday lives. Useful links Moving Medicine Website The ultima...

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 medi...

Episode Description In this episode, Ralph and Claire welcome Guy Lubitsh to discuss leading and collaborating with others within a complex health care environment and SEM. Guy is a Professor of Leadership & Psychology at Ashridge Executive Education/Hult International Business School and an organisational psychologist.   About Guy Lubitsh Guy has over 25 years of experience working as a facil...

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 Ost...

How do you determine hypermobility? How do you know when a tendon issue can be attributed to either loading or inflammation? Claire welcomes Consultant Rheumatologist Dr Vijay Hajela for this episode, discussing his role, key questions for patients with joint pain, advice around inflammation and much more relating to rheumatology.   Useful Links Directory of therapists who have completed Jeannie D...

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. Th...

Episode Summary Welcome to Front Line to Finish Line! Our brand new SEM Essentials Podcast series for 2024 brings you new hosts, guests and topics from the fascinating world of Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM). For the first episode, join our two new hosts, Dr Ralph Mitchell and physiotherapist Claire Speer as they delve into their SEM background, what drives them and what's to come with the seri...

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...

Giles sits down with Dr Benjamin Ellis, generalist rheumatologist, to explore several topics relating to his specialist interest in health services policy and public health. This includes his own involvement on the NICE Guidelines on the Assessment of Chronic Pain and the Management of Chronic Primary Pain.  Dr Ellis combines clinical practice with working as senior clinical policy adviser at Arth...

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 S...