Achieving life-long health and wellbeing through Sport

Ad Astra caught up with Dr Megan Ross (nee Jones) (OGC 1995), an applied sports physiologist with 21 years in Australian highperformance sport.

Currently training as a Cardiac Sonographer, Meg has experience at both ends of the health spectrum and hopes that her work will promote lifelong health and wellbeing through sport. It’s her ikigai!

(ikigai: A Japanese concept that has now become widespread and refers to a passion that brings value and joy to life.)

Meg was highly active across competitive sports growing up and closely followed the progress of sportswomen like Cathy Freeman, Nova Peris, and the ‘Oarsome Foursome’.

In 1999, Meg began a graduate training position in Sport Science at the Victorian Institute of Sport where she worked across all sports. In 2005, she transferred to Canberra with her husband, to be based at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), where she completed an

Honours degree examining the effects of carbohydrate supplementation following resistance exercise on biological markers of muscle recovery. There, Meg managed the research program of the AIS Sports Nutrition Program, and in 2007, commenced an industry-based PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), investigating practical pre-event cooling strategies and cycling time-trial performance for the Australian Cycling team to implement at the 2008 Athens Games.

Meg had her first child in 2010 and in 2011 was the recipient of the RT Withers PhD Scholar Award. The award is given in recognition of ‘a scholar who has conducted exercise physiology research that has had a substantial impact on Australian Sport’. Meg believes that receiving this honour, was a contributing factor in being selected onto the Australian Olympic Medical Team at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

With broad research interests, Meg is passionate about driving novel and practical innovations to benefit human health and physical performance. In making a positive contribution moving forwards, Meg has transitioned to become a Cardiac Sonographer, to help improve the lives of people who are at-risk or living with heart disease. Now a mother of three, Meg has passed on her enjoyment of exercise to her children, as she insists that developing healthy habits as a family is essential for lifelong physical health and emotional wellbeing.

Meg has always had an interest in sport.

“I was mesmerised by the ease at which elite athletes achieved such feats of human performance, and this feeling has always resonated with me.”

She recalls some great memories as a student at The College, that inspired elements of this. Not limited to sport, “As students we had some great teachers as mentors, who were passionate about their craft”, whether it applied to athletics, hockey or biology. “I had a great respect for Mr (Craig) Considine, who coached me on hurdling drills and taught me about energy systems – an accomplished athlete himself having competed for Australia as a Decathlete at the 1978 Commonwealth Games”.

It is common to feel ‘proud’ and ‘inspired’ when Australian athletes perform well internationally but in reflecting on her professional journey, Meg attributes her inquiring mind and a passion for health through sport as her driving force.

For Meg, the physical benefits of exercise are clear and convincing.

“Regular physical activity will help to improve your aerobic fitness, muscle strength, bone density, coordination and cognitive function to help you be your best physical self”.

She points out that there is consistent evidence that physical activity through sport, especially as part of a team, is associated with even greater psychological and social health outcomes.

“Sport has offered me the freedom of good health, opportunities to travel and lifelong friendships that I have made”.

Meg’s research has taught her a great deal. Recognition of the effective use of sports science has led to more scientists being employed in sports settings around the world.

“Through my work, I have contributed over 50 articles to scientific journals, all with very specific focus and practical application aimed at improving sports performance, optimising recovery or preventing injury”.

Designing and conducting the studies is an important aspect of any project but for Meg, her research is more about being inquisitive, working collaboratively, and continued learning. She particularly enjoys translating her research into practice. This involves the dissemination of her findings to develop policy, and real-world implementation to bring about effective and lasting behavioural change.

But there is still work to be done.

“What remains to be fully realised is the translation of this research into business, where employers can improve the productivity of workers for longer, through programs that increase overall employee health and wellness.”

When asked if she had any advice for TGC students, Meg offered the following:

“In whatever path you take, being physically active and enjoying what you do is very much part of the journey – not just the destination. Taking a physical break when studying for exams or to avoid a mid-afternoon

‘slump’ can not only make you feel invigorated, but it can also consolidate learning.

“I’ll never forget my ‘lightbulb moment’ when riding my bike and gaining clarity on a statistics calculation I realised was wrong. It was a turning point during my PhD studies, and I almost turned back to return home I was that excited … but I didn’t.”