Publications by authors named "Neil Heron"

Introduction: The sport of cycling has witnessed phenomenal growth over the past decade. Globally, over 200 million television hours across five continents watched the recent inaugural World Championships in Glasgow, in 2023. The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world cycling governing body, has highlighted its mission to " within its 2030 Agenda.

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Objectives: This study aims to understand the prevalence, incidence rate, anatomical sites, injury severity and main medical actions carried out during official training and racing by elite downhill mountain biking (DHMTB) riders during the 2023 Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Cycling World Championships.

Methods: The participants of this prospective, observational study were elite male and female cyclists competing at the UCI DHMTB World Championships located in the Nevis range in Fort William, Scotland, in 2023. This study followed the injury reporting guidelines established by the International Olympic Committee, which include the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology-Sports Injury and Illness Surveillance (SIIS) and the cycling-specific extension.

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Background: Interventions within preschool settings have gained prominence due to the need to increase physical activity (PA) in early childhood. We first developed a 10-week preschool-based behaviour change intervention, guided by the UK Medical Research Council's framework for complex interventions. We then conducted a cluster feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT) among young children.

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Background: A significant rise in childhood obesity worldwide over the past three decades highlights the urgent need for early interventions, especially in preschools as key settings for child development. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and fidelity of a randomised controlled trial of "I'm an Active Hero" (IAAH), a theory- and evidence-based multi-component behaviour change intervention targeting physical activity and sedentary behaviour amongst preschool-aged children.

Methods: Two preschools in Taif city, Saudi Arabia were randomly assigned to either the intervention ( = 3 classrooms) or the usual curriculum control group ( = 3 classrooms).

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Background: Wheelchair tennis, a globally popular sport, features a professional tour spanning 40 countries and over 160 tournaments. Despite its widespread appeal, information about the physical demands of wheelchair tennis is scattered across various studies, necessitating a comprehensive systematic review to synthesise available data.

Objective: The aim was to provide a detailed synthesis of the physical demands associated with wheelchair tennis, encompassing diverse factors such as court surfaces, performance levels, sport classes, and sexes.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Orlistat is suggested as a supplementary treatment for weight loss alongside diet and exercise in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), particularly focusing on patient demographics and prescribing practices.
  • - A study using health records of over 100,000 patients found that orlistat was prescribed to only a small percentage of T2DM and prediabetes patients, with factors like younger age, gender, socioeconomic status, smoking, and co-prescription of metformin influencing prescriptions.
  • - Patients who continued orlistat for 12 weeks were more likely to achieve significant weight loss, whereas those who stopped early were less likely to experience similar results, highlighting the importance of adhering to the medication for effective outcomes.
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Article Synopsis
  • Cycling includes various disciplines and is governed by the UCI, which organizes multiple subcategories within the sport.
  • There is a lack of high-quality injury studies in cycling, making this research the first to comprehensively examine injuries across the sport during the World Championships in Glasgow, August 2023.
  • The study will analyze injury incidence, severity, and burden in elite cyclists while comparing data between male and female competitors, using established definitions and methods from the IOC.
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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently published a framework on fairness, inclusion, and nondiscrimination on the basis of gender identity and sex variations. Although we appreciate the IOC's recognition of the role of sports science and medicine in policy development, we disagree with the assertion that the IOC framework is consistent with existing scientific and medical evidence and question its recommendations for implementation. Testosterone exposure during male development results in physical differences between male and female bodies; this process underpins male athletic advantage in muscle mass, strength and power, and endurance and aerobic capacity.

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Background: Physical inactivity is associated with feelings of burnout and fatigue, which in turn are associated with reduced performance among healthcare practitioners. This study explored movement behaviours of general practitioners (GPs) and the association between these behaviours with burnout and fatigue.

Methods: GPs in Northern Ireland were asked to wear a thigh-worn accelerometer for seven days and complete validated questionnaires to assess the association between daily number of steps, time spent sitting and standing with feelings of burnout and fatigue.

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Background: Insufficient physical activity (PA) in early childhood is linked to adverse health outcomes and a heightened risk of obesity. Successful PA programmes often require input from key stakeholders, such as parents and educators. However, research on stakeholders' perspectives regarding PA programmes for preschool children is limited, impeding effective programme design and implementation.

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Objective: Mobile Health (mHealth) refers to using mobile devices to support health. This study aimed to identify specific methodological challenges in systematic reviews (SRs) of mHealth interventions and to develop guidance for addressing selected challenges.

Study Design And Setting: Two-phase participatory research project.

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Objective: Musculoskeletal pain is a common risk factor for co-morbid conditions and might increase the risk of poor outcomes. The objective was to determine whether patients with pre-existing musculoskeletal pain have an increased risk for mortality following a new diagnosis of a co-morbid condition.

Methods: Patients aged ≥45 years with a new diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), stroke, cancer, dementia or pneumonia recorded in a UK electronic primary care database linked to hospital and mortality records were examined.

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Objective: To investigate the impact of pre-existing painful musculoskeletal conditions on healthcare utilization and costs among patients with five common conditions: acute coronary syndrome (ACS), stroke, cancer, dementia and pneumonia.

Methods: Using primary and secondary care services data from electronic health records, a negative binomial regression model was used to compare resource use while a two-part model was used to compare costs across the five conditions, between those with and without a pre-existing musculoskeletal pain.

Results: The study included 760,792 patients (144,870 with ACS, 121,208 with stroke, 231,702 with cancer, 134,638 with dementia, and 128,374 with pneumonia) in the complete case analysis.

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Background: Insufficient physical activity (PA) is a significant risk factor that contributes to several health problems and there is a need to improve our understanding of how to increase PA, particularly among young children. This review (PROSPERO registration: CRD42022328841) investigated the relationship between behaviour change techniques (BCTs) and interventions that increased PA among pre-school children aged < 6 years old.

Methods: Systematic searches of six databases were undertaken from inception to July 2022, updated in December 2022, to locate studies that evaluated interventions and reported a positive change in PA levels in children aged < 6 years old.

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Article Synopsis
  • Fibromyalgia is a prevalent cause of chronic pain in the UK, complicating diagnosis and treatment, and negatively affecting patient relationships and health outcomes due to misconceptions and profiling.
  • The study aims to identify effective ways of explaining fibromyalgia diagnoses in primary care, promoting better patient education and understanding.
  • Analysis of 29 relevant articles revealed key themes such as the importance of patient-centered care, multidisciplinary approaches, and using analogies to help patients comprehend their condition, but emphasized the need for tailored explanations based on individual experiences.
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Introduction: The focus on medical management and secondary prevention following Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) and minor stroke is well-established. Evidence is emerging that people with TIA and minor stroke can experience lasting impairments as fatigue, depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and communication difficulties. These impairments are often underrecognized and inconsistently treated.

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Introduction: A concussion or sports-related concussion (SRC) is a traumatic brain injury induced by biomechanical forces. After a SRC diagnosis is made, a concussed individual must undergo a period away from competition while they return to their baseline level of functioning. The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) currently recommend a minimum of 6 days restriction from competitive cycling following a SRC but there is a growing feeling amongst those involved in brain injury research that this period is too short.

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