
BJSM Podcast
The British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM) podcast offers the latest insights in sport and exercise medicine (SEM). Committed to advancing innovation, enhancing education, and translating knowledge into practice and policy, our podcast features dynamic debates on clinically relevant topics in the SEM field.
Stay informed with expert discussions and cutting-edge information by subscribing or listening in your favourite podcast platform. Improve your understanding of sports medicine with the BJSM podcast, and visit the BMJ Group’s British Journal of Sports Medicine website - bjsm.bmj.com.
BJSM podcast editing and production managed by: Jimmy Walsh.
Latest episodes

Jan 13, 2025 • 40min
We never evolved to exercise. Why exercise is not always effective medicine. EP#566
Chris Macdonald, a researcher at the University of Copenhagen and an elite athlete, joins Harvard's Professor Daniel Lieberman, a paleoanthropologist known for his work on endurance running. They explore why exercise often fails as effective medicine, highlighting our evolutionary instincts against voluntary activity. They discuss the distinction between efficacy and effectiveness in treating conditions like type 2 diabetes. The conversation emphasizes the need for enjoyable exercises and supportive environments to foster long-term adherence and engagement in physical activity.

Dec 20, 2024 • 15min
Unraveling the Complexity of Hamstring Injuries: Live from Rome with SAMSA. EP#565
In this episode, Dr Kyle Winik is joined by Adam Weir, Hans Tol, and Rod Whiteley, all actively involved in the Sport and exercise medicine field to discuss hamstring injuries and an approach to a challenging injury in practice.
This was recorded live from the IOC 15th Advanced Team Physician Course, in Rome, Italy.
Through the episode they discuss an approach to a patient with a hamstring injury but also tackle some important questions about if there are any ways to speed up or predict an accurate return to play.”

Dec 13, 2024 • 32min
BJSM PhD Academy Awards: Innovative approaches to running injury prevention. EP#564
In this episode, Dr Brooke Patterson is joined by Dr Bas Vanhooren, an applied sport scientist and strength and conditioning specialist, and a national level athlete. They discuss the BJSM Academy award winning PhD on “Innovative approaches to injury prevention and performance enhancement in running: insights from PhD research on hamstring strengthening, running biomechanics and energetics, and wearable technology”.
https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2024/10/21/bjsports-2024-109159.long
This podcast forms a part of an ongoing series which aims to highlight the work of early career researchers, via the BJSM PhD Academy Awards, and in this series, we will also be asking the guests how they first got involved in research, why they decided to do a PhD, what they loved and what they found most challenging, and their career pathway or plans post-PhD. There are many ways to for clinicians to be involved in research, and we hope to highlight these along the way.
Brooke also highlights a new exciting initiative – The Training and Career Development Network developed by the IOC Research Centres.
https://ucalgary.ca/sport-injury-prevention-research-centre/ioc-research-centres-training-and-career-development-network

Nov 15, 2024 • 23min
Cancer and Exercise - Let’s beat it together. EP #563
In this episode Dr Kyle Winik is joined by Dr Lervasen Pillay, a Sport and Exercise Physician who has a keen interest in Exercise and Cancer.
Through the episode they discuss an approach to a patient battling cancer and try to give an approach to change the narrative that exercise can be used as a tool in cancer management.

Oct 18, 2024 • 24min
75 and still going strong - career reflections from Prof Lars Engebretson. EP#562
In this podcast, we are joined by Professor Lars Engebretson. After 17 years, Lars has stepped down as the Head of Scientific Activities of the Medical and Scientific Department for the International Olympic Committee. In this episode Lars reflects on his achievements, career, and the future of sport and exercise medicine research. You can follow Professor Engebretson on Twitter/X here

14 snips
Oct 11, 2024 • 28min
Sole Revolution: The Future of Running Shoes and Orthotics with Sports Podiatrist Damir Metljak. EP#561
New-generation running shoes are being developed with the aim of enhancing an athlete's stride length and propulsion force. But what do podiatrists think about these innovative "super shoes"?
In this podcast, Dr. Daniel Bastock explores this concept with Damir Metljak, a sports podiatrist based in Adelaide, South Australia. They discuss the biomechanical implications of these shoes, the potential for increased injury risk, and how to design the ideal orthotic to complement the unique characteristics of this footwear.

Sep 13, 2024 • 31min
Broaching the intricacies of Gymnastic Medicine with Dr Emily Sweeney and Dr Christian Shaap. Ep#560
In this episode we have a chat with this year’s American Medical Society for Sports Medicine(AMSSM) Global Exchange Program to South Africa candidate Dr Emily Sweeney. Doctor Sweeney is a Pediatric Sport Medicine Physician currently practising at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Denver. She will also be a speaker at the biannual SASMA Conference in October later this year.
Being a previous elite level gymnast who retired at a young age due to a back injury, Doctor Sweeney has a unique perspective to gymnastic medicine. Despite retiring as an athlete she remained very involved with the sport and now serves as a practitioner to many gymnasts suffering with gymnastics related injuries and pathology.
https://journals.lww.com/acsm-csmr/fulltext/2018/11000/returning_to_sport_after_gymnastics_injuries.7.aspx?WT.mc_id=EMxALLx20100222xxFRIEND
The discussion touches on numerous gymnastics medicine topics, like mental health, diversification of skills and lessons from the recent Paris Olympics. Some of the articles referred to in the episode:
-Returning to Sports After Gymnastics Injuries
-Health outcomes among former female collegiate gymnasts: the influence of sport specialization, concussion, and disordered eating

Sep 6, 2024 • 17min
An Olympic audience with Dr Richard Budgett. Ep #559
Dr Richard Budgett has been the Medical and Science Director of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the last 12 years. He talks to Dr Georgia Cahill from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games about his role and reflects on how the IOC has focussed on athlete safety and health promotion as he prepares to step down in December 2024.

Aug 2, 2024 • 29min
Inhale, Exhale, Excel: Mastering Respiratory Illness with Dr Kyle Winik, Dr Marcel Jooste and Dr Carolette Cloete. EP#558
Respiratory health in athletes, which is the most common system affected by illness in athletes, can often be tricky to manage or approach.
This SASMA podcast delves into a very engaging and robust discussion with two very knowledgeable guests.
Dr Kyle Winik chats with Dr Marcel Jooste and Dr Carolette Cloete, who are both Sports and Exercise physicians based at SEMLI, The Sport & Exercise Medicine Lifestyle Institute, in Pretoria, South Africa, under the leadership of Prof Martin Schwellnus.
They discuss important tools or concepts to adopt in clinical practice as well as updates to current knowledge in respiratory illness in athletes.
Attached are the Current IOC Guidelines in respiratory health as well as NB tips and tricks to get familiar with.
Jooste, Marcel & Schwellnus, Martin. (2024). Countermeasures to reduce the risk of infections at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games—A balancing act. Journal of Sport and Health Science
Prevention of Infections in Track and Field Athletes - Top Tips - Aspetar Journal
Schwellnus M, Adami PE, Bougault V, et al International Olympic Committee (IOC) consensus statement on acute respiratory illness in athletes part 2: non-infective acute respiratory illness British Journal of Sports Medicine 20.22;56:1089-1103.

Jul 19, 2024 • 21min
The Throwing Injury Epidemic with Dr. Robert Bowers and Dr. Jason Zaremski EP#557
Dr. Robert Bowers, an expert on throwing injuries, and Dr. Jason Zaremski, a sports medicine specialist, dive into the alarming rise of throwing injuries in baseball and softball. They discuss intricate risk factors, emphasizing biomechanics and proper conditioning. The duo analyzes the controversial use of weighted ball training and its impact on young athletes' performance and injury rates. They also advocate for updated pitching restriction policies to enhance injury prevention, highlighting cultural differences in injury trends between Japan and the U.S.