Keynote Speakers

Exercise for bone health

Plenary Speech
Knees up in osteoarthritis: the role of exercise in slowing disease progression and managing symptoms

Prof. Kimberly Bennell
Professor
School of Physiotherapy
University of Melbourne
Victoria
Australia

Kimberly Bennell is a physiotherapist and currently Professor and Foundation Director of the Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine in the School of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne, Australia. Kim's research interests include the role of physiotherapy, particularly exercise, in the prevention and management of common musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and patellofemoral pain syndrome. Her research also focuses on the prevention of sporting injuries such as stress fractures and hamstring muscle strains. Kim has over 140 peer-reviewed publications and is the co-author of two text books. She has won several awards for research excellence and has received funding from prestigious granting bodies. Kim is on the editorial board of several sports medicine and physiotherapy journals. In her current position Kim leads a multidisciplinary team comprising physiotherapists, medical practitioners and exercise scientists, and supervises a number of research students.



Sports and Nutrition for All Ages

Plenary Speech
Changes in skeletal muscle with aging nad exercise training in older adults

Prof. Mark Tarnopolsky Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine Neuromuscular and Neurometabolic Unit McMaster University Medical Center

Mark Tarnopolsky, is the clinical and research director of the Corkins/Lammert Family Neuromuscular and Neurometabolic Clinic at McMaster University. He holds a Hamilton Regional Assessment Center endowed chair in Neuromuscular Disorders, and is a Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine. His research focuses on nutritional, exercise and pharmacological therapies for neurometabolic (primarily mitochondrial) and neuromuscular disorders, and aging. In addition, he studies the physiological and molecular aspects of mitochondrial adaptation to exercise, aging and the metabolic syndrome. His laboratory has been also been very interested in understanding sex differences in muscle damage and in response to endurance exercise and the role of 17-B-estradiol. He has authored or coauthored more than 200 scientific articles. He has also lectured widely on neurology (neuromuscular and neurometabolic disorders), aging, nutrition and exercise physiology. He is on the editorial board of Muscle & Nerve, Clinical Journal of Neuromuscular Disorders, Mitochondrion and is an Associate Editor for Medicine and Science in Sorts and Exercise. He has been on Grant Selection Committees for NSERC (Animal Biology, 2003-2006, Chair, 2006), CIHR Biology of Aging Committee (2006), and Chair of the Emerging Team Grant: Mobility in Aging (2007). His wife, Dr. Jacqueline Bourgeois is a pediatric pathologist and collaborates with his team on histology projects and he has three daughters (Stephanie, 23 y, medical resident; Alanna, 21 y, law student; and Milla, 8 y, grade 3). He has raced nationally and internationally in adventure racing (2000 – 2005), represented Canada at the World Championships in Winter Triathlon (2006) and in Ski-Orienteering (1995) and won the Ontario Trail running series in 2004, 2005, 2006.

Exercise and cardiac health

Plenary Speech
Exercise activity versus sports

Dr Sandra Howell Associate Professor and Associate Chair Division of Biokinesiology & Physical Therapy University of Southern California United States of America

From 1989 – 2000, Dr. Howell was the Director of the Muscle Function Laboratory in the Departments of Biokinesiology and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Southern California. At that time, she conducted basic science research in cellular mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle dysfunction in chronic cardiopulmonary disease and the pathophysiology of exercise intolerance in congestive heart failure. Since 2000, Dr. Howell has concentrated on the study cardiopulmonary and neuromuscular outcomes of stroke survivors treated in hospitals of Central China where both Western and Traditional Medicine are practiced.

Plenary Speech
International Perspectives on Youth Safety in Organized Sports Systems

Trisha Leahy, PhD
Chief Executive
Hong Kong Sports Institute

Over the past few years there has been increasing international recognition that young people cannot successfully achieve in sport and reap the well-documented benefits of sports participation unless they are protected from harm. As well as the coach, sports medicine and sports science support personnel are in key positions to monitor the maintenance of a safe sporting environment for young athletes and to be an advocate for athletes well-being, so that they can optimise their athletic giftedness in safety and learn life-long positive exercise and health habits. ‘Safety’ refers to both psychologically and physically healthy environments. Lack of psychological safety can occur where the sporting environment is marked by abusive, threatening, or humiliating coaching styles. This not only significantly increases the immediate stress on athletes, but has also been found to be associated with long-term psychological harm. Lack of physical safety can occur where extreme physical activities are used as a punishment for errors or failure to perform. And the sexual abuse of young athletes is a documented reality in many of our countries. At the highest level of elite competitive sport the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has recently issued a Consensus Statement regarding sexual harassment and abuse in sport. The IOC has stated its aim is “to improve health and protection of athletes through the promotion of effective preventative policy as well as to increase awareness of these problems among the people in the entourage of the athletes (IOC, 2007). Sports medicine and scientific support staff with their close involvement in the sporting life of young athletes are often the first point of contact for athletes in distress and need to be aware of the potential for these forms of harm, and the relevant social policy and procedures for reporting and referring. In this presentation I will overview some of the research in this area and discuss the implications for professional education programmes with a view to empowering and enabling support personnel to be effective gate-keepers protecting young athletes from harm and to be effective advocates for appropriate child and youth protection policies within the organised sports system.

Psychosocial Health

Plenary Speech
To be confirmed

Dr Trisha Leahey Chief Executive Hong Kong Sports Institute

Trisha Leahy (Ph.D). is the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Sports Institute which is the Government's delivery agent for elite sport in Hong Kong.

Trisha has also previously worked as Senior Psychologist at the Australian Institute of Sport where she worked with many of Australia’s elite athletes including the Australian Olympic Sailing Team, at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Prior to that, she was the Unit Head of the Sport Psychology Unit at the Hong Kong Sports Institute, where she provided psychological services to national team athletes including the Hong Kong Sailing Team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

With over 30 articles published in international academic and professional publications and numerous keynote and invitational presentations Dr Leahy is a internationally recognized expert in elite sports systems. Her research interests include gender issues in elite sport, the prevention of abuse in sport and career transitions for athletes. She is an invited member of the International Olympic (IOC) Medical Commission's special task force on prevention of abuse in sport. She is also an invited member of a UNICEF expert panel advising on global policy and research in preventing violence in sport.

Locally Trisha is extensively involved in Community work, serving at various times in the past few years as advisor to the Hong Kong Council of Social Services, Caritas and the Rain Lilly Rape Crisis Centre. She was the 2006 -2007 President of the Hong Kong Psychological Society.

Plenary Symposium Speakers

Australia Ms Cathy Bray, Clinical Services Manager, Therapy Services, St. Vincent's Clinic, Sydney.

Cathy Bray is a physiotherapist with more than twenty years clinical experience in the area of cardiothoracic physiotherapy, working in thoracic transpantation, respiratory medicine and cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, covering patient care in both the public and private health sectors in Sydney, Australia. In 1993 Ms Bray established Therapy Services, a Physiotherapy Private Practice which currently provides inpatient services to three major private hospitals and offers outpatient and home visit services from three sites in Sydney. The practice utilses the expertise of more than 50 therapists to ensure that the practice can offer a variety of specialised clinical services. Since 1988 Ms Bray has been involved in group and individual cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs and in the development and assessment of activity based programs for people living with cardiac and respiratory failure and pulmonary artery hypertension. Most recently Ms Bray and her colleagues have initiated individualised programs for people newly diagnosed with sleep disorders and others identified as 'at risk' for cardiac disease and fall related injury.

Japan Professor Sumio Yamada School of Health Sciences, Nagoya University

Prof. Sumio Yamada is a physiotherapist and Professor and Director of the Centre for Elderly Fitness and Secondary Prevention Research in the School of Health Science, Nagoya University, Japan. Yamada's research interests include the role of exercise in the prevention of disease progression in patients with congestive heart failure as well as exercise based life style change in cardiac patients. He is in charge of nation-wide multi-central cohort trial which has just started with 26 hospitals in Japan and focuses on the course of life function and the effect of exercise on it in patients with congestive heart failure. His current research also focuses on the prevention of recurrence of stroke, especially in light stroke patients.

Hong Kong Dr. Regina Ching, Assistant Director of Health Department of Health

Dr Regina Ching is Assistant Director of Health (Health Promotion). Dr Ching obtained her medical degree from the University of Hong Kong in 1984 and her Master Degree in Public Health Medicine from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 1992. She is Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine (Community Medicine).

Dr Ching oversees the Central Health Education Unit and the Community Liaison Division which are health promotion arms of the Department of Health. She is responsible for a number of major health promotion initiatives as well as strengthening the workforce capacity for health promotion in Hong Kong.

Japan Professor Sumio Yamada School of Health Sciences, Nagoya University

Prof. Sumio Yamada is a physiotherapist and Professor and Director of the Centre for Elderly Fitness and Secondary Prevention Research in the School of Health Science, Nagoya University, Japan. Yamada's research interests include the role of exercise in the prevention of disease progression in patients with congestive heart failure as well as exercise based life style change in cardiac patients. He is in charge of nation-wide multi-central cohort trial which has just started with 26 hospitals in Japan and focuses on the course of life function and the effect of exercise on it in patients with congestive heart failure. His current research also focuses on the prevention of recurrence of stroke, especially in light stroke patients.

Philippines Professor Jocelyn Agcaoili Associate Professor, Dean, College of Rehabilitation Sciences University of Santo Tomas, Espana, Manila

Associate Professor Jocelyn F. Agcaoili is a physiotherapist and is currently the Dean of the College of Rehabilitation Sciences of the University of Santo Tomas that offers academic programs in physiotherapy, occupational therapy and sports science. She holds Masters Degrees in Physical Therapy and Health Professions Education and is currently completing her dissertation for her Doctorate in Education. She was a Fellow of the World Health Organization and served as President of the Philippine Physical Therapy Association in 1991 – 1998. She had been awarded as the Most Outstanding Professional in Physical Therapy in 2008 by the Professional Regulation Commission and in 1989 by the Philippine Federation of Professional Associations. Her research interests included physical therapy education and professional practice.

Singapore Dr. Celia Tan Deputy Director & Senior Principal Physiotherapist, Allied Health Division, Singapore General Hospital

Celia continually explores opportunities and drives the development of ;
1. new clinical services eg. Clinical competency standards, Chronic pain management, satellite rehabilitation centres, comprehensive workplace health promotion programmes in weight and stress management, ergonomics and healthy lifestyle and early starters for neonates.
2. Postgraduate Allied Health Institute in SGH. This institute provides much needed training for our local and Asian Allied Health professionals. She is also actively involved in training Physiotherapists in Cambodia, Vietnam and China.
3. A new lifestyle improvement and fitness enhancement centre or LIFE centre, responsible for the allied health management and treatment of patients with eating disorder, obesity and lifestyle diseases.

An active member in the community, Celia also provides Physiotherapy consultation to the Ministry of Heath, National Council of Social Service, Singapore International Foundation, Nanyang Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic and the Singapore Physiotherapy Association, where she has been the President from 2001 todate.

Taiwan Dr. Tsauo Jau-Yih Ph.D., LPT Associate Professor, School and Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University

Thailand Dr. Chulee Jones, Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University