Photo L-R: Sandra Daly (CEO Mater Private Network Cork) Prof. Dominic Hegarty (Clinical Director Mater Network Cork & Pain Relief Ireland), Sonia O’Sullivan (International Champion Athlete)

It was a great pleasure last week to meet Sonia O’Sullivan, the Cork-born international athlete, at Mater Private Network Cork to celebrate the launch of the Heart Centre facility. 

Sonia, widely recognised as one of the world’s top middle-distance runners, boasts an impressive collection of European, World, and Olympic medals. She met with Professor Hegarty (Clinical Director, Pain Relief Ireland and Mater Network Cork) as part of the launch event, where they had an insightful discussion on long-term health and well-being for elite athletes and what can be learned for individuals dealing with chronic pain, particularly following injury. 

We know that 2 out of 3 athletes experience at least one injury per season, and Sonia is no stranger to this herself, having faced injury setbacks in the latter part of her distinguished career. What is particularly interesting is how athletes expect injuries as part of the sport, and that improper injury management increases the risk of further injury. Fortunately, there’s now a stronger focus on injury risk reduction (Edouard et al., BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 2024). 

At Pain Relief Ireland, we’re proud to offer unique treatments like BioWave technology, which helps alleviate pain in both athletes and non-athletes. This wearable, drug-free device modulates pain fibres to provide prolonged pain relief and enhance recovery. While well-established in the international sports community, Professor Hegarty was one of the first to introduce this technology into chronic pain management, recognising its immense potential. He notes that, “It’s a great treatment option that offers flexibility, practicality, and valuable relief for many of our patients.” 

As data continues to grow on the effectiveness of BioWave, we’re proud to say that Pain Relief Ireland is a national and international leader in promoting the use of this technology. We were delighted that Sonia O’Sullivan took time out of her schedule to meet with our champion, Prof. Hegarty, while she was in Cork. 

We look forward to continuing our work in helping both elite athletes and chronic pain patients recover quickly and safely with all the treatment options we offer.