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    • Dr Lauren Fortington
      https://www.exercisemedicine.org.au/__data/assets/image/0009/836892/lauren-fortington.jpg
    • Dr Lauren Fortington

      Dr Lauren Fortington

Dr Lauren Fortington

Senior Research Fellow

Staff Member Details
Telephone: +61 8 6304 2383
Email: l.fortington@ecu.edu.au
Campus: Joondalup  
Room: JO21.543  

Dr Fortington is an injury epidemiologist who is working to improve the collection, analysis and reporting of injury data in different sports settings to best understand the impact of injuries and ways to prevent them occurring. Lauren is conducting investigations of injuries that occur in elite and community sport including men’s and women’s rugby and Australian football, Gaelic sports and Olympic sports. Lauren’s research seeks to improve the understanding of longitudinal data (when multiple injuries are sustained over time in individuals) as well as reporting and analysis of non-acute, non-time loss injuries in sports settings. Dr Fortington is also leading studies of safety in community sports organisations, aimed towards informing policy on the prevention and best management of serious and fatal events in sport.

Dr Fortington’s research is funded by grants provided from the International Olympic Committee, Rugby Australia, Cricket Australia, Injury Matters and the State Government of Victoria, among others. Lauren contributes to the Australasian Injury Prevention Network, the Australasian Epidemiological Association and Sports Medicine Australia and she is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport.

PhD Supervision Areas

Dr Fortington provides supervision in:

  • Injury prevention
  • Sports injury surveillance
  • Sports safety

Current research students are engaged in projects that include: optimising insurance claims data for surveillance of sports injury; improving collection and reporting of injury data in professional rugby; subsequent injury in elite sport; injury surveillance in defence force personnel; serious injury and fatalities in community sport including spinal cord injury, heat illness and sudden cardiac arrest.

Background

Current Appointments

  • Senior Research Fellow, Exercise Medicine Research Institute
  • Research Manager, Australian Centre for Research into Injury in Sport and its Prevention, Edith Cowan University
  • Adjunct Senior Lecturer, La Trobe University Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre
  • Associate Editor - Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
  • Member, National Safety Committee, Rugby Australia

Professional Associations

  • Sports Medicine Australia (SMA)
  • Australasian Injury Prevention Network (AIPN)
  • Australasian Epidemiological Association (AEA)

Awards and Recognition

University and National Teaching Awards

  • 2016: Inaugural Vice-Chancellors Award for Excellence – Early Career Researcher, Federation University Australia
  • 2016: Inaugural Vice-Chancellors Award for Excellence – Research (team award), Federation University Australia

Research Areas and Interests

  • Injury epidemiology
  • Injury prevention
  • Sports safety
  • Sports injury epidemiology

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Medical Sciences, Netherlands, 2013.

Research

Recent Research Grants

  • Understanding injury and improving surveillance opportunities for Rugby Australia,  Rugby Australia,  Scholarships to Support Industry Engagement PhD Project,  2019 - 2024,  $112,000.
  • Research and Evaluation partnership for Injury Prevention,  Injury Matters - Research and Evaluation Services,  Grant,  2019 - 2024,  $479,397.
  • Australian Centre for Research into Injury in Sport and its Prevention (ACRISP),  International Olympic Committee,  Research Centres for Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health,  2019 - 2022,  $568,107.
  • Musculoskeletal injuries in the Special Forces,  Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation,  Defence Science Research Higher Degree Student Grant,  2020 - 2021,  $15,000.
  • Using insurance claims for injury surveillance in community cricket,  Cricket Australia,  Grant,  2019 - 2020,  $60,698.
  • Evaluating the Impact of the IOC Sports Medicine Statements on Olympic Athlete Health and Wellbeing,  International Olympic Committee,  Grant,  2018 - 2020,  $131,393.
  • Fatalities in Australian cricket,  Cricket Australia,  Grant,  2018 - 2020,  $120,720.

Recent Publications (within the last five years)

Book Chapters

  • Fortington, L., Hart, N., (2020), The Injury Model. Fractures in Sport, xx-xx, United Kingdom, Springer.

Journal Articles

  • McLeod, G., O'Connor, S., Morgan, D., Kountouris, A., Finch, C., Fortington, L., (2020), Prospective reporting of injury in community level cricket: A systematic review to identify research priorities. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 23(11), 1028-1043, Australia, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2020.04.023.
  • O'Connor, S., Whyte, E., Fortington, L., (2020), Are Irish Gaelic Athletic Association clubs prepared to use an AED following a sudden cardiac arrest? A cross-sectional survey. The Physician and Sportsmedicine, 48(3), 320-326, United States, DOI: 10.1080/00913847.2019.1704666.
  • Jewson, J., Brukner, P., Gara, T., Fortington, L., (2020), Safety in the football codes: a historical review of fatalities in Australian print media. Medical Journal of Australia, 213(11), 4p., Australia, Australasian Medical Publishing Company Pty. Ltd., DOI: 10.5694/mja2.50856.
  • Fortington, L., Bekker, S., Finch, C., (2020), Integrating and maintaining automated external defibrillators and emergency planning in community sport settings: a qualitative case study. Emergency Medicine Journal, 37(10), 617-622, DOI: 10.1136/emermed-2019-208781.
  • Gamage, P., Fortington, L., Finch, C., (2020), Epidemiology of exertional heat illnesses in organised sports: A systematic review. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 23(8), 701-709, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2020.02.008.
  • Docking, SI., Girdwood, MA., Cook, J., Fortington, L., Rio, E., (2020), Reduced Levels of Aligned Fibrillar Structure Are Not Associated With Achilles and Patellar Tendon Symptoms. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 30(6), 550-555, DOI: 10.1097/JSM.0000000000000644.
  • Clarsen, B., Bahr, R., Myklebust, G., Andersson, S., Docking, S., Drew, M., Finch, C., Fortington, L., Harøy, J., Khan, K., Moreau, B., Moore, I., Møller, M., Nabhan, D., Nielsen, R., Pasanen, K., Schwellnus, M., Soligard, T., Verhagen, E., (2020), Improved reporting of overuse injuries and health problems in sport: An update of the Oslo Sport Trauma Research Center questionnaires. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 54(7), 390-396, British Med Assoc House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JR, England, B M J Publishing Group, DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2019-101337.
  • McLeod, G., O'Connor, S., Morgan, D., Kountouris, A., Finch, C., Fortington, L., (2020), Medical-attention injuries in community cricket: a systematic review. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 6(1), Article number e000670, DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000670.
  • Gamage, P., Finch, C., Fortington, L., (2020), Document analysis of exertional heat illness policies and guidelines published by sports organisations in Victoria, Australia. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 6(1), Article number e000591, DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000591.
  • Gamage, P., Fortington, L., Finch, C., (2019), Risk perceptions for exertional heat illnesses in junior cricket in Sri Lanka. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 5(1), Article no.e000508, DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000508.
  • Toohey, L., Drew, M., Finch, C., Cook, JL., Fortington, L., (2019), A 2-year prospective study of injury in elite Australian rugby sevens: exploration of incidence rates, severity, injury type and subsequent injury in men and women. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 47(6), 1302-1311, DOI: 10.1177/0363546518825380.
  • O'Connor, S., Leahy, R., Whyte, E., O'Donovan, P., Fortington, L., (2019), Understanding Injuries in the Gaelic Sport of Camogie: The First National Survey of Self-Reported Worst Injuries. International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training, 24(6), 243–248, DOI: 10.1123/ijatt.2018-0059.
  • Fortington, L., Bekker, S., Morgan, D., Finch, C., (2019), “It Doesn’t Make Sense for Us Not to Have One”—Understanding Reasons Why Community Sports Organizations Chose to Participate in a Funded Automated External Defibrillator Program. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 29(4), 324-328, DOI: 10.1097/JSM.0000000000000524.
  • Anderson, S., Stuckey, R., Fortington, L., Oakman, J., (2019), Workplace injuries in the Australian allied health workforce. Australian Health Review, 43(1), 49-54, DOI: 10.1071/AH16173.
  • Toohey, L., Drew, M., Bullock, N., Caling, B., Fortington, L., Finch, C., Cook, J., (2019), Epidemiology of elite sprint kayak injuries: a 3-year prospective study. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 22(10), 1108-1113, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2019.06.002.
  • Docking, SI., Rio, E., Cook, J., Carey, D., Fortington, L., (2019), Quantification of Achilles and patellar tendon structure on imaging does not enhance ability to predict self-reported symptoms beyond grey-scale ultrasound and previous history. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 22(2), 145-150, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2018.07.016.
  • Fortington, L., West, L., Morgan, D., Finch, C., (2019), Implementing automated external defibrillators into community sports clubs/facilities: a cross-sectional survey of community club member preparedness for medical emergencies. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 5(1), article no. e000536, DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000536.
  • Nielsen, RO., Bertelsen, ML., Ramskov, D., Møller, M., Hulme, A., Theisen, D., Finch, C., Fortington, L., Mansournia, MA., Parner, ET., (2019), Time-to-event analysis for sports injury research part 2: time-varying outcomes. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 53(1), 70-78, British Med Assoc House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JR, England, B M J Publishing Group, DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-100000.
  • Nielsen, RO., Bertelsen, ML., Ramskov, D., Møller, M., Hulme, A., Theisen, D., Finch, C., Fortington, L., Mansournia, MA., Parner, ET., (2019), Time-to-event analysis for sports injury research part 1: time-varying exposures. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 53(1), 61-68, British Med Assoc House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JR, England, B M J Publishing Group, DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-099408.
  • Kucera, K., Fortington, L., Wolff, C., Marshall, S., Finch, C., (2019), Estimating the international burden of sport-related death: a review of data sources. Injury Prevention, 25(2), 83-89, DOI: 10.1136/injuryprev-2017-042642.
  • Gamage, P., Fortington, L., Kountouris, A., Finch, C., (2019), Match injuries in Sri Lankan junior cricket: a prospective, longitudinal study. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 22(6), 647–652, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2018.11.025.
  • Toohey, L., Drew, M., Fortington, L., Menaspa, M., Finch, C., Cook, JL., (2019), Comparison of subsequent injury categorisation (SIC) models and their application in a sporting population. Injury Epidemiology, 6(1), Article No. 9, DOI: 10.1186/s40621-019-0183-1.
  • Gamage, P., Kountouris, A., Finch, C., Fortington, L., (2019), Prevention of sports injuries in Sri Lanka: what do we know about injuries in our athletes?. Sri Lankan Journal of Sports and Exercise Medicine, 2(1), 19-29, DOI: 10.4038/sljsem.v2i1.12.
  • Gamage, PJ., Fortington, L., Finch, C., (2018), Adaptation, translation and reliability of the Australian Juniors Enjoying Cricket Safely injury risk perception questionnaire for Sri Lanka. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 4(1), article number e000289, DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2017-000289.
  • Docking, S., Rio, E., Cook, J., Orchard, J., Fortington, L., (2018), The prevalence of Achilles and patellar tendon injuries in Australian football players beyond a time-loss definition. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 28(9), 2016-2022, United Kingdom, Wiley-Blackwell Munksgaard, DOI: 10.1111/sms.13086.
  • Fortington, L., Bekker, S., Finch, C., (2018), Online news media reporting of football-related fatalities in Australia: A matter of life and death. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 21(3), 245-249, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2017.06.015.
  • O'Connor, S., Hitchens, P., Fortington, L., (2018), Hospital-treated injuries from horse riding in Victoria, Australia: time to refocus on injury prevention?. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 4(1), Article No. e000321, DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2017-000321.
  • Toohey, L., Drew, M., Fortington, L., Finch, C., Cook, J., (2018), An updated subsequent injury categorisation model (SIC-2.0): data-driven categorisation of subsequent injuries in sport. Sports Medicine, 48(9), 2199–2210, New Zealand, Adis int Ltd, DOI: 10.1007/s40279-018-0879-3.
  • Brukner, P., Gara, T., Fortington, L., (2018), Traumatic cricket-related fatalities in Australia: a historical review of media reports. Medical Journal of Australia, 208(6), 261-264, Australia, Australasian Medical Publishing Company Pty. Ltd., DOI: 10.5694/mja17.00908.
  • Finch, C., Fortington, L., (2018), So you want to understand subsequent injuries better? Start by understanding the minimum data collection and reporting requirements. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 52(17), 1077-1078, British Med Assoc House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JR, England, B M J Publishing Group, DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2017-098225.
  • Rio, E., Girdwood, M., Thomas, J., Garofalo, C., Fortington, L., Docking, S., (2018), Pain mapping of the anterior knee: injured athletes know best. Scandinavian Journal of Pain, 18(3), 409-416, DOI: 10.1515/sjpain-2018-0046.
  • Fortington, L., Van Der Worp, H., Van Den Akker-Scheek, I., Finch, C., (2017), Reporting Multiple Individual Injuries in Studies of Team Ball Sports: A Systematic Review of Current Practice. Sports Medicine, 47(6), 1103-1122, New Zealand, Springer, DOI: 10.1007/s40279-016-0637-3.
  • Gamage, PJ., Fortington, L., Finch, C., (2017), Perceived Injury Risk among Junior Cricketers: A Cross Sectional Survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(8), article no.946, MDPI, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14080946.
  • Fortington, L., Donaldson, A., Finch, C., (2016), Self-reported worst injuries in women's Australian football identify lower limb injuries as a prevention priority. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 2(1), Article No. e000112, DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2016-000112.
  • Fortington, L., Finch, C., (2016), Death in community Australian football: A ten year national insurance claims report. PLoS One, 11(7), Article Number: e0159008, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159008.
  • Fortington, L., Berry, J., Buttifant, D., Ullan, S., Diamantopoulou, K., Finch, C., (2016), Shorter time to first injury in first year professional football players: A cross-club comparison in the Australian Football League. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 19(1), 18-23, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2014.12.008.
  • Finch, C., Twomey, DM., Fortington, L., Doyle, TL., Elliott, BC., Akram, M., Lloyd, DG., (2016), Preventing Australian football injuries with a targeted neuromuscular control exercise programme: comparative injury rates from a training intervention delivered in a clustered randomised controlled trial. Injury Prevention, 22(2), 123-128, DOI: 10.1136/injuryprev-2015-041667.
  • Fortington, L., Finch, C., (2016), Priorities for injury prevention in women's Australian football: a compilation of national data from different sources. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 2(1), Article Number e000101, DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2015-000101.
  • Singh, H., Fortington, L., Thompson, H., Finch, C., (2016), An overview of geospatial methods used in unintentional injury epidemiology. Injury Epidemiology, 3(1), Article Number 32, DOI: 10.1186/s40621-016-0097-0.

Research Student Supervision

Principal Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy,  Injury surveillance in community cricket and the exploration of insurance claims systems
  • Doctor of Philosophy: Making junior cricket safe for Sri Lanka: creating opportunities for injury prevention

Associate Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy: Subsequent Injury in Sport: Classification and Prevention of Injuiry in Athletic Populations
  • Doctor of Philosophy: Spatial Epidemiological Investigation of Sport and Leisure Injuries in Victoria, Australia
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