BJSM Podcast

On this episode of the AMSSM Sports Medcast, host Dr. Devin McFadden, MD, is joined by Dr. Jesse Cook, PhD, to discuss Building a Sleep Health Plan for Athletes.

In this conversation, which was recorded during the 2025 AMSSM Annual Meeting, Dr. Cook shares more information on his main stage lecture of the same name, which focused on best practices and essential principles.

Dr. Cook is a postdoctoral fellow with a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research focuses on the intersection of sleep and mental health, with his primary program of research purposed to advance the classification, assessment, and treatment of unexplained hypersomnolence.

He has additional research interests related to the strengths, limitations, and overall utility of wearable sleep tracking technology for research and clinical purposes, as well as the roles of sleep and circadian health in the performance and well-being of athletes. Clinically, he embraces an integrative orientation, drawing principally from CBT and third-wave therapy approaches (i.e., ACT and DBT).

Registration is now open for the 2026 AMSSM Annual Meeting. Visit the conference website to learn more: annualmeeting.amssm.org/

In this podcast we are joined by Professor Alan McCall and Dr Tara Venkatesan, We talk about how music can be used in the clinical setting to improve outcomes in performance and recovery. We get into detail about styles of music  and how they could be used in different scenarios.

Dr.Tara Venkatesan is the Senior Director of Cognitive Science Research at Universal Music Group. Her lab researches the impact of music on mental wellbeing and helps develop consumer products. She has a B.S. in Cognitive Science from Yale University and a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from Oxford University. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and media, including The New York Times, BBC, Channel News Asia, and Health Magazine. She is an Honorary Fellow at the School of Advanced Study, University of London.

Professor Alan McCall is a practitioner and researcher with over 20 years of experience in elite sport. He spent 12 years embedded day to day inside professional and national teams, before moving into consultancy, where for the past decade he has worked alongside coaches, medical, and performance staff across different sports and countries. He is currently Consulting Head of Research & Development at Arsenal Football Club and supports clubs, federations, and governing bodies across European leagues, as well as FIFA, UEFA, the NBA, and the NFL. Alongside his applied work, he has published over 130 papers in sports performance and holds visiting research fellowships and editorial roles, with a focus on what actually works in real-world sporting environments—helping teams make better decisions under pressure by connecting research, data, and lived experience.

Links:

The soundtrack to success: can music enhance elite athlete’s health and performance?bjsm.bmj.com

In this podcast we are discussing the use of low dose radiotherapy for musculoskeletal sports injury. We are joined by two experts in the field who give insight into the relatively unknown use of this modality.

Geoff Scott is an internationally experienced Physiotherapist who has worked at the highest levels of elite sport, including over eight seasons as Head of Medicine and Performance at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. He has also held senior roles at Fulham FC and consulted across global football, Olympic sport, and the performing arts industry.

Dr Richard Shaffer is a global expert in the use of low-dose radiotherapy for benign (non-cancer conditions. He is co-founder of Reload Clinics (www.reloadclinics.com), which was set up to treat patients with tendonitis in a joint clinic with Geoff Scott.

Radiotherapy for osteoarthritis review - https://www.redjournal.org/article/S0360-3016(22)00357-1/fulltext

Plantar fasciitis: https://www.redjournal.org/article/S0360-3016(12)00848-6/fulltext

In this episode of the SASMA Podcast, Dr. Minjon Ras speaks with Dr. Izzy Moore, Joanna Perkins, and Dr. Leigh Gordon about the newly released World Rugby Guidelines on returning to rugby after pregnancy.

Together they unpack the six-phase pathway designed to support female athletes, explore the physical and mental health considerations unique to postpartum recovery, and discuss the role of coaches, medical teams, and performance staff in creating a supportive environment.

The conversation blends evidence, personal experiences, and practical advice—empowering athletes and practitioners to ensure that returning to rugby postpartum is safe, individualised, and sustainable.

Please see link to the guidelines here : https://rfu.widen.net/s/nrjppzdnkv/postpartum-guidance---final

On this episode of the AMSSM Sports Medcast, host Dr. Devin McFadden, MD, is joined by Dr. Tom Cross, MBBS, DCH, to discuss the Cross Bracing Protocol.

In this conversation, Dr. Cross discusses the following:

Background on the Cross Bracing Protocol (CBP) and its origins

The selection criteria and the grading system for the CBP

The rehabilitation considerations for the CBP and potential complications

Future directions of research for the CBP

Dr. Tom Cross has practiced sports medicine for the past 28 years and during that time successfully completed 5 years of specialist post-graduate training in sport & exercise medicine. He has broad sports medicine experience caring for recreational athletes (adults and children), musculoskeletal injuries that occur at work or home, elite/professional athletes and also military personnel.

Resources:

Healing of Acute Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture on MRI and Outcomes Following Non-Surgical Management with the Cross Bracing Protocol https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/57/23/1490

Cross’s Website, including additional resources and information about the CBP: https://www.stadiumclinic.com.au/dr-tom-cross-sports-doctor-sydney.html