Research Projects

CHISM has a number of major research projects in development stages or currently in progress. These include:

Effectiveness of a Moderate Carbohydrate, Increased Protein Diet on Weight Loss and the Metabolic Profile of Young People with Clinical Signs of Insulin Resistance Treated with Metformin
Cowell C, Steinbeck K, Baur L, Noakes M, et al.
A multi-centred, randomised control trial will be used to examine the effect of two different dietary approaches on reducing weight and improving the metabolic profile in young people who have clinical signs of insulin resistance and who are treated with metformin over a 12-month period. Young people enrolled in the study will be prescribed metformin and participate in a weight management and exercise program.

The Effects of Short-term High Intensity Exercise on Plasma-volume on Cardiac Performance in Children of High School Age
Browne G, Kennedy B, Parker R, Lam L.
The aim of this study is to characterize the normal cardiac response to progressive exercise in children and to determine if Stroke volume can be enhanced by expansion of plasma volume.

The Soccer Injury Prevention (JSIP) Study
Lam L, Browne G, Parker R, Cass D.
The aim of this randomised controlled trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention program on the reduction of sports-related injuries among junior soccer players.

Aerobic fitness, strength and quality of life in children with haemophilia
Broderick C, Herbert R, Latimer J, Curtin J, Selvadurai H
This study is a descriptive study. Fitness, strength and activity levels will be measured in a group of children with haemophilia. These results will then be compared with previous results on the fitness and strength of age- and gender-matched healthy NSW school children.

Effects of a 12 week exercise intervention on aerobic fitness, strength and quality of life in children with haemophilia - a randomised controlled study
Broderick C, Herbert R, Latimer J, Curtin J, Selvadurai H
This study is a clinical trial of exercise for children with haemophilia. In this study the control group will receive usual care from their medical team while those children in the treatment group will receive a general exercise program lasting 12 weeks. The effects of the control and exercise treatments will be measured at the beginning and end of the exercise program.

Paediatric sports injuries in NSW. A 12 month prospective surveillance study.
Broderick C, Browne G, Naughton G
This study is a prospective cross-sectional profile targeting a geographically diverse selection of places of treatment for paediatric sports injuries. Over a twelve month period, data is being collected from two public hospital emergency departments (representing approximately 80% paediatric presentations in NSW), five sports physician practices and four general practice locations which have a focus on paediatrics.

A Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Two Different Knee Exercise Programmes in the Management of Adolescents with Symptomatic Joint Hypermobility
Verity Pacey, Louise Northcott, Leslie Nicholson, Joanne Munns, Roger Adams
This trial will investigate the effect of two different physiotherapy interventions in reducing knee pain, minimising fatigue and improving functional abilities, in 12-16 year old children with significant symptomatic joint hypermobility.

Sudden Death during Sport - Is there a role for pre-participation screening in Australia?
LJ Northcott, G. Browne, EJ Elliott, L. Lam
This project will use the national coronial database system to prospectively collect data on the prevalence of sudden death during sport or activity in children and adolescents in Australia

Adopt-a-School Intervention & Evaluation
This project will evaluate the trialing of a new initiative called 'Adopt-a-School' in which children from grades 5 and 6 will recieve Physical Activity classes conducted by Fitness Professionals in NSW. Chief Investigators: Dr R. Parker, Ms Rosemary Davis, Ms Liz Devlin , Ms Cheryl Battaerd, Ms Cathy Gorman-Brown, Ms Rachelle Pirie, Mr Mark Forrest.

'Be Active After School' Intervention and Evaluation Project
This project will examine the effectiveness of staff training and a 10-week exercise intervention program in all after school care centres in the Central Coast region of NSW Health. The physical activity levels of children will be assessed prospectively from randomly selected children from the Central Coast after school care centres. CHISM will partner the NSW Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation and the Central Coast Area Health in this project. Chief Investigators: Dr R. Parker (CHISM), Ms Gina Stewart (Central Coast Health), Ms C Gorman-Brown (Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation).

Survery of Sports Safety Policies and Practices of Community Rugby League Clubs in NSW
This project aims to describe the sports safety policies and practices of a random sample of community rugby league clubs in NSW. This project is in partnership with Northern Sydney Health, NSW Rugby League, Australian Rugby League and the Penrith Junior Rugby League Football Club. Cheif Investigators: A Donaldson and M Meredith. Co-Investigators: Dr R Parker and P Corcoran.

Adolescent Obesity and Sports-Related Injury
This cross sectional study aims to investigate whether obesity is a potential risk for sport-related injuries among school-aged adolescents. Investigators: Dr L Lam, A/Prof Gary Brown, Dr R Parker and Dr C Broderick.

The Effect of Prescribed Aerobic Excercise on Children and Adolescents with Traumatic Brain Injury
This preliminary trial will be conducted in preparation for randomised controlled trial evaluating the effect of prescribed aerobic training on levels of physical fitness, body weight, functional ability and quality of life among children and adolescents who have suffered from moderate and severe traumatic head injuries. Research Team: Dr L Lam, A/Prof G Brown, Dr C Broderick, Dr R Parker, Dr A Scheinberg, Ms J Hancock and Prof DT Cass.