Research

Athlete Research Lab hosted at Elite Rehab

Elite Rehab has built a first-class athlete and injury research testing lab, known as the Athlete Research Lab.

Located in the heart of the Nation’s Capital, this state-of-the-art facility is the vision of passionate post-doctoral sports physiotherapist and clinical director, Tim McGrath. Tim has a PhD in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) research and high-level rehabilitation of the knee and lower limb. Alongside fellow clinical director and Sports Physiotherapist Hamish Macauley, who has a clinical interest in shoulder injuries, the state-of-the-art facility is the culmination of over 20 years experience in high-performance team environments, uncompromising dedication to research and a desire to provide athletes with the opportunity to always be their best, no matter the circumstances.

The Fundamentals

Elite Rehab is a cutting edge clinical and research-based facility housed within a multi-disciplinary rehab centre located in Deakin, ACT.

The objective of the lab is to drive innovation and generation of peer-review research publication to ultimately benefit the long-term results of competitive and recreational athletes from a range of backgrounds visiting the facility. The information derived from this project is currently used for a standalone professional development course for physiotherapists through the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) and internationally.

The Athlete Research Lab houses world-class equipment and facilities for capture and training of human performance, including (but not limited to):

  • Pitch Ready Testing Software
  • Vicon 3D Motion Analysis System – capable of indoor and outdoor capture
  • Dual Force Platforms and Jump Mat
  • Speed Gates
  • Strength Dynamometry
  • 25m Indoor running track
  • 25m indoor pool
  • Gymnastics Sprung Floor
  • UESAKA and Eleiko Lifting Equipment
  • Outdoor training facilities
  • KT1000 Dynamometer

Examples of Peer Reviewed Publications:

McGrath, T.M., Hulin, B.T., Pickworth, N., Clarke, A., Timmins, R. Determinants of hamstring fascicle length in professional rugby league athletes. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 23(5): p524-528.

Schwab, L. M., McGrath, T., Franettovich Smith, M. M., Mendis, M. D., McGhee, D., & Hides, J. (2019). Mechanisms of traumatic injury to the shoulder girdle in the Australian Football League. Journal of science and medicine in sport, 22(9), 987–991. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2019.05.019

McGrath, T.M., G. Waddington, J.M. Scarvell, N. Ball, R. Creer, K. Woods, D. Smith, and R. Adams, An Ecological Study of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction, Part 1: Clinical Tests Do Not Correlate With Return-to-Sport Outcomes. Orthopaedic Journal Of Sports Medicine, 2016. 4(11) .

McGrath, T.M., G. Waddington, J.M. Scarvell, N. Ball, R. Creer, K. Woods, D. Smith, and R. Adams, An Ecological Study of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction, Part 2: Functional Performance Tests Correlate With Return-to-Sport Outcomes. (2325-9671 (Linking)).

McGrath, T.M., G. Waddington, J.M. Scarvell, N.B. Ball, R. Creer, K. Woods, and D. Smith, The effect of limb dominance on lower limb functional performance ? a systematic review. Journal of Sports Sciences, 2016. 34(4): p. 289-302.

If you would like further information on the project please contact the practice.

ERSP Research Elite Rehab & Sports Physiotherapy Canberra Kingston