PROF. MARTIN SCHWELLNUS

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POSITION

  • Professor of Sports Medicine and Exercise Science, University of Cape Town

  • MPhil (Sports Medicine) course co-ordinator, UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine (ESSM), Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town

  • Sports Physician, Senior partner of Derman & Schwellnus Inc. Sports Medicine Practice, Sports Science Institute of South Africa

 

QUALIFICATIONS

  • MD, University of Cape Town (1992)

    Title of Thesis: Physical activity and overuse injuries.  Factors associated with the aetiology and 

                          management of overuse injuries that occur during physical activity with specific

                          reference to bone stress injuries and the iliotibial band friction syndrome

  • FACSM, American College of Sports Medicine (1991)

  • MSc(Med) (Sport Science), University of Cape Town (1988)

  • MBBCh, University of the Witwatersrand (1983) (cum laude)

  • FFIMS, Fellow of the International Sports Medicine Federation (FIMS)

 

ESSM RESEARCH GROUPS

  • Injuries and medical conditions associated with sport and exercise

  • Exercise in the management of chronic diseases

 

 RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Sports injury epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis and management

  • Medical conditions that occur during sports participation, in particular, endurance events

  • Physical activity in the primary and secondary prevention of chronic disease of lifestyle

 

OTHER

  • 2nd Vice-President of the International Sports Medicine Federation (FIMS) (2006 – 2010)

  • Elected as Vice-President of the African Union of Sports Medicine (May 2005)

  • Member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Medical Commission (Medical and Science Group) (from 2003 to present)

  • Awarded the “Distinguished Service award” by the South African Sports Medicine Association (highest award by the Association) (February 2003)

  • Co-chairman of a special IOC Medical Commission Research Interest Group

  • Executive committee member of the Sports Science Institute of South Africa

  • Member of the Editorial Board of the “British Journal of Sports Medicine” (April 2005 to present)

  • Editor-in-Chief: International SportMed Journal (1999 - ), FIMS Electronic Journal of Sports Medicine

  • Editor-in-Chief: 2nd Edition of the Olympic Textbook of Sports Medicine (April 2003 – )

  • Section-Editor: Encyclopaedia of Sports Medicine (September 2002 – )

  • Editor and Publisher of a weekly electronic Sports Medicine Review service “SportsMed Update” which has wide readership and is an official Sports Medicine Update service for i) the IOC Medical Commission, ii) all membership countries of the International Sports Medicine Federation (FIMS) and iii) has been incorporated into every edition of the “British Journal of Sports Medicine”  (Jan 2004 – )

 

CONTACT

 

Tel:      +27 21 650 4562

Email:  Martin.Schwellnus@uct.ac.za

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PUBLICATIONS

 

International peer-reviewed, ISI rated journals

1.      Raleigh SM, Van der Merwe L, Ribbans WJ, Smith RK, Schwellnus MP, Collins M. Variants within the MMP3 gene are associated with Achilles tendinopathy: Possible interaction with the COL5A1 gene. Br J Sports Med. 2008 Nov 28. [Epub ahead of print].

2.      Azevedo LB, Lambert MI, Vaughan CL, O'Connor CM, Schwellnus MP. Biomechanical variables associated with achilles tendinopathy in runners. Br J Sports Med. 2008 Oct 23. [Epub ahead of print].

3.      September AV, Cook J, Handley CJ, van der Merwe L, Schwellnus MP, Collins M. Variants within the COL5A1 gene are associated with achilles tendinopathy in two populations. Br J Sports Med. 2008 Apr 28. [Epub ahead of print].

4.      Posthumus M, September AV, Schwellnus MP, Collins M. Investigation of the Sp1-binding site polymorphism within the COL1A1 gene in participants with Achilles tendon injuries and controls. J Sci Med Sport. 2008 Mar 18. [Epub ahead of print].

5.      Ljungqvist A, Schwellnus MP, Bachl N, Collins M, Cook J, Khan KM, Maffulli N, Pitsiladis Y, Riley G, Golspink G, Venter D, Derman EW, Engebretsen L, Volpi P. International Olympic Committee consensus statement: molecular basis of connective tissue and muscle injuries in sport. Clin Sports Med. 2008 Jan;27(1):231-9, x-xi.

6.      Schwellnus MP, Drew N, Collins M. Muscle cramping in athletes--risk factors, clinical assessment, and management. Clin Sports Med. 2008 Jan;27(1):183-94, ix-x. Review.

7.      Schwellnus MP. Muscle cramping in the marathon: aetiology and risk factors. Sports Med. 2007;37 (4-5):364-7.

8.      September AV, Schwellnus MP, Collins M. Tendon and ligament injuries: the genetic component. Br J Sports Med. 2007 Apr;41(4):241-6; discussion 246. Epub 2007 Jan 29. Review.

9.      Holtzhausen LJ, Schwellnus MP, Jakoet I, Pretorius AL. The incidence and nature of injuries in South African rugby players in the rugby Super 12 competition. S Afr Med J. 2006 Dec;96(12):1260-5.

10.  Mokone GG, Schwellnus MP, Noakes TD, Collins M. The COL5A1 gene and Achilles tendon pathology. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2006 Feb;16(1):19-26.

11.  Schwellnus MP, Stubbs G. Does running shoe prescription alter the risk of developing a running injury? ISMJ, 2006, 7(2): 138-153.

12.  September A, Mokone GG, Schwellnus MP, Collins M. Genetic risk factors for Achilles tendon injuries. ISMJ, 2006, 7(3): 201-215.

13.  Sulzer N U, Schwellnus M P, Noakes T D, Serum electrolytes in ironman triathletes with exercise associated muscle cramping. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 2005 37(7): 1081-1085.

14.  Mokone GG, Gajjar M, September AV, Schwellnus MP, Greenberg J, Noakes TD, Collins M. The GT Dinucleotide Repeat Polymorphism within the TNC Gene is Associated with Achilles Tendon Pathology, Am J Sports Med 2005 33(7): 1016-1021.

15.  Schwellnus M P, Nicol J, Laubscher R, Noakes T D: Serum electrolyte concentrations and hydration status are not associated with Exercise Associated Muscle Cramping (EAMC) in distance runners. Br J Sports Med, 2004 38, 4:488-492.

16.  Gunter P, Schwellnus M P: Local corticosteroid injection in the management of Iliotibial Band Frication Syndrome (ITBFS) in runners: A randomised placebo controlled trial. Br J Sports Med, 2004: 38: 269-272.

  1. Arendse RE, Noakes TD, Azevedo LB, Romanov N, Schwellnus MP, Fletcher G. Reduced eccentric loading of the knee with the pose running method. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004 Feb;36 (2):272-7.

  2. Grobler LA, Schwellnus MP, Trichard C, Calder S, Noakes TD, Derman EW: Comparative effects of zopiclone and physical performance in active individuals.  Clin J Sport Med 2000 Apr,10 (2):128-8.

  3. Schwellnus MP: Skeletal Muscle Cramps During Exercise. Phys Sportsmed; 1999; 27(12): 109-115.

  4. Derman EW, Schwellnus MP, Lambert MI, Emms M, Sinclair -Smith C, Kirkby P, Noakes TD: The ‘worn-out’ athlete: A clinical approach to chronic fatigue in athletes. J Sports Science; 1997; 15(3): 341-351.

  5. Schwellnus MP, Derman EW, Noakes TD: Aetiology of skeletal muscle ‘cramps’ during exercise: A novel hypothesis. J Sports Science; 1997; 15(3): 277-285.

  6. Surve I, Schwellnus MP, Noakes TD, Lombard C:  A fivefold reduction in the incidence of recurrent ankle sprains in soccer players using the sport-stirrup.  Am J Sports Med 1994; 22 (5): 601-606.

  7. Schwellnus MP, Jordaan G:  Does calcium supplementation prevent bone stress injuries?: A clinical trial. Int J Sports Nutrition 1992; 2 (2): 165-174.

  8. Schwellnus MP, Jordaan G, Noakes TD:  Prevention of common overuse injuries by the use of shock absorbing inner soles:  A prospective study.  Am J Sports Med 1990; 18 (6): 636-641.

  9. Schwellnus MP, Gordon NF, Van Zyl GG, et al:  Effect of a high carbohydrate diet on core temperature during prolonged exercise. Br J Sports Med 1990; 24 (2): 99-102.

  10. Schwellnus MP, Penfold GK, Cilliers JF, Kuyl JJ, et al:  Intravascular hemolysis in aerobic dancing:  The role of floor surface and type of aerobics.  Phys Sportsmed 1989; 17(8): 55-67.

  11. Schwellnus MP, Gordon NF:  Effect of opioid antagonism on esophageal temperature during exercise. Med Science Sports Exerc 1988; 20(4): 381-384.

  12. Schwellnus MP, Gordon NF:  The role of endogenous opioids in thermoregulation during sub-maximal exercise. Med Science Sports Exerc 1987; 19(6): 575-578.

  13. Gordon NF, Van Rensburg JP, Schwellnus MP:  Isoproterenol sensitivity in heat tolerant and relatively heat intolerant men. Eur J Appl Physiol 1987; 56: 546-549.

  14. Gordon NF, Myburgh DP, Schwellnus MP, Van Rensburg JP:  Effect of B-blockade on exercise core temperature in coronary artery disease patients.  Med Science Sports Exerc. 1987: 19 (6): 591-596.

 

 

Local peer-reviewed ISI-rated journals:

 

  1. Holtzhausen LJ, Schwellnus MP, Jakoet I, Pretorius AL. The incidence and nature of injuries in South Africa rugby players in the rugby Super 12 competition. SAMJ 2006, 96 (12): 1260-1265

  2. Schwellnus MP, Derman EW. Common injuries in cycling: Prevention, diagnosis and management. SA Fam Pract 2005, 47(7): 14-20.

  3. Lambert MI, Titlestad D, Schwellnus MP.  Prevalence of androgenic anabolic steroid use in adolescents in two regions of South Africa.  SAMJ 1998, 88 (&): 876-880.

  4. Reynolds JF, Noakes TD, Schwellnus MP, Windt A:  Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs fail to enhance healing of acute hamstring injuries treated with physiotherapy.  SAMJ 1995; 85 (6): 517-522.

35.  Jeans AK, Schwellnus MP:  The risk of Schistosomiasis in Zimbabwean Triathletes.  SAMJ 1994; 84 (11): 756-758,

36.  Schwellnus MP, Lambert MI, Todd MP, Juritz JM: Androgenic anabolic steroid use in matric pupils: A survey of prevalence of use in the Western Cape. SAMJ 1992; 82: 154-158.

37.  Schwellnus MP, Theunissen L, Noakes TD, Reinach SG: Anti-inflammatory and combined anti-inflammatory /analgesic medication in the early management of iliotibial band friction syndrome: A clinical trail. SAMJ 1991; 79: 602-606.

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