In parallel to the SMRI’s concussion recovery initiative new relationships and collaborations have begun in support of those efforts. The SMRI and Bertec Corporation (Columbus, OH), a technology company focusing on clinical and research tools to assess balance and performance, have joined forces to improve and validate new clinical tools for concussion and sport performance. These instruments include a portable force plate system, dynamic visual acuity, and a vision/reaction time trainer.

Providing and enhancing opportunities to benefit student athletes is imperative to the work of SMRI. In effort to do so, SMRI hosted UK Athletic Trainers, Team Coaches, and Strength and Conditioning Coaches on May 31, 2017 and the Athletic Directors of Fayette County Public Schools on November 19, 2017. During these visits, athletics personnel toured the facility, learned about the capabilities of SMRI, and discussed potential collaborations for research, services, and outreach programs for their athletes.

The Active Women’s Health Initiative (AWHI) kicked off on April 20th 2018 and is Co-Directed by Johanna Hoch and Mary Lloyd Ireland. The Advisory Board met for their first official meeting to discuss research and community outreach opportunities specific to the AWHI. The day concluded with a visit to Keeneland and an official launch party. The mission of the AWHI is to optimize health outcomes for women across the lifespan, with an emphasis on those women with a history of musculoskeletal injury.

Dr. Johanna Hoch was awarded a University of Kentucky CCTS Pilot Award in Spring 2018. Dr. Hoch’s grant will examine the effectiveness of an 8-week home based rehabilitation on strength, function, balance and self-reported outcomes in individuals with a history of ACL reconstruction who are no longer under supervised medical care. A second exploratory aim to the project will investigate dietary intake and physical activity patterns in this population, to determine areas for focused educational intervention strategies to accompany the exercise program. 

Lexington is home to the only accredited community college-based racing academy in North America.

Led by Bianca Grimshaw and Hailey Rockwood, this study investigated the heartrate and forces in professional jockeys, during both live racing and simulated racing on a race horse simulator to make comparisons in the physiological demands. The aim of this research was to be able to better understand the physiological demands and investigate the ability to implement use of a racehorse simulator in return to ride guidelines following a concussion.

On December 11th 2017, Dr. Carl Mattacola presented “Concussion Management: More than Testing- The Importance of a Medical Informational System in Racing” at the 2017 Jockeys’ Guild Annual Assembly at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Speaking to an audience of professional jockeys, retired jockeys, industry leaders, and others interested in the safety and welfare of the jockey athlete, Dr. Mattacola stressed the importance of catching the industry up to other professional sports who have implemented concussion protocols and return to play guidelines that are mandated.

Dr. Mattacola spoke at the annual HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Conference for Training and Education at the Abu Dhabi National Archives on Friday, November 9, 2017.  The one-day conference comes within the calendar of International Federation of Horse Racing Academies, an (IFHAR) activity, which falls under the umbrella of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Horse Racing Festival.  Dr. Mattacola presented on advancements for Jockey health and performance and highlighted the facilities of the SMRI.

The UK Sports Medicine Research Institute celebrated its grand opening June 14, 2017. The Institute opened its doors showcasing the types of research and equipment that will soon aid in the prevention of injuries and optimization of performance. The Institute’s newly renovated 10,000 square foot facility holds sophisticated equipment allowing researchers to analyze biomechanical, neurobehavioral, and physiological aspects of the human body.

On February 13 2018, Drs. Nick Heebner and Scott Black were featured on the podcast “Behind the Blue.” In conjunction with a week-long theme paired up with the start of the 2018 Winter Olympics, Dr. Heebner and Dr. Black discussed what it takes to be a high-level athlete and how the work the SMRI is doing to improve performance and reduce injury in the military and the comparison to Olympic athletics.