The opinions pertinent to post-surgical ACL treatment and rehabilitation are exciting in their diversity!
A panel of fellow specialists in the clinical discipline will share different schools of thought to stimulate discussion and innovation.

MODERATOR:
Jon Patricios (Sports Physician)

PANELISTS:
Michael Barrow (Orthopaedic Surgeon)
Karen Fleishman (Physiotherapist)
Ponky Firer (Orthopaedic Surgeon)
David Leicher (Physiotherapist)
Mark Ferguson (Orthopaedic Surgeon)
Suzanne Rogers (Physiotherapist)
Mackenzie Rogan (Orthopaedic Surgeon)
Glen Vardi (Orthopaedic Surgeon)

DATE: 18 August 2010

VENUE: Space Frame Theatre
JCE Campus, St Andrews Rd, Parktown

TIME:  18h30

COST:
R50 OMPTG members
R80 Non-OMPTG members

RSVP: 11 August 2010
Leigh Karshagen 0832576169 / l.Karshagen@yahoo.com
Amanda Cross 0837535622 / stratford@mwebbiz.co.za

Date: 13 – 15 January 2011
Location: Bled – Slovenia
Registration:  www.fivbmedicine2011.org
Brochure:  Download the brochure here

Dear Participants,

Volleyball and Beach Volleyball like other sports offer society a unique opportunity for individual and social development. Volleyball is a challenging game, where players learn a wide variety of skills – physical, mental and social. Volleyball is also an exciting game – for players and spectators alike!

Nevertheless, sports participation also entails a certain risk of injury. Studies from the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games document that the injury risk in Volleyball is much lower than the other Olympic team sports, and even lower than most individual sports. Even so, injuries can affect performance and even long-term health. Therefore, protecting the health of our athletes is the number one priority for the FIVB.

Through its Medical Commission, chaired by professor Roald Bahr, the FIVB has looked at how injuries and illness can be prevented, how the risk of long-term disability can be reduced by proper diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, and how to maintain volleyball as a drug-free sport. The FIVB is a signatory to the World Anti-doping Code, and our anti-doping education and testing program ranks second to none. In keeping with our commitment to protect the health of our players, FIVB has taken the initiative to organize the FIVB World Congress on Volleyball Medicine in Bled, Slovenia in January 2011. This congress will be the perfect platform for physicians, physical therapists, athletic trainers, biomechanists and other scientists to share their views on volleyball injuries and illnesses. Although it is not the first of its kind, this promises to be a landmark congress, covering the entire field of volleyball medicine with a star line-up of world-renowned experts. The FIVB is pleased to be able to fund this event.

I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hospitality of our hosts, the Slovenian Volleyball Federation, and all their partners. Not only have they whole-heartedly embraced the idea, but they have worked diligently to create the best possible conditions for the exchange of knowledge and ideas related to the health of our players. The FIVB also thanks the Scientific Committee, chaired by dr. Jonathan Reeser, for creating a superb program. You do not wish to miss this event!

Yours sincerely,
Jizhong Wei
FIVB President

Date: 28th –30th July, 2011
Location: Bio-Seehotel Zeulenroda | Germany
Congress President: Prof. Dr. Toni Graf-Baumann
Registration:  www.sportsmedicine2011.org
Brochure:  Download the brochure here

Dear Athletes, Care Givers and Colleagues

The quality of Athletic Care very much depends on the efficiency of how different disciplines and professions interlace their competencies for the good of the athlete. A physician will never be able to consistently provide the highest standard of care through all phases of rehabilitation. Neither will the Athletic Trainer, the Physical Therapist, the Psychologist, the Sports Scientist or the Coach. The diversity of professionals within the network of care is the key.

This broad academic curriculum is embedded into a family friendly setting with an all-day kids athletic camp (ages 6–12) as well as a soothing recreational and outdoor activity program, including a post-congress tour through Germany‘s rich cultural history. This way you can invite your beloved ones to join you on this exceptional trip.

The Congress proceedings and all admitted abstracts will be published in an e-supplement to the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. The journal is published by Elsevier. The abstracts in the esupplement will be available through Science Direct and Medline.

It is a very special pleasure for us to call upon all professionals and students, who share the same passion – Sports Medicine – to join us at the World Summit 2011.

See you in Zeulenroda, Germany 2011.

GERMAN ACADEMY OF APPLIED SPORTS MEDICINE
www.sportsmedicine2011.org

The International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS) presented the XXXI World Sports Medicine Congress on 18 – 22 May 2010 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  FIMS, as you probably know, is the major decision making body on sports medicine in the world and South Africa is privileged to be a member of FIMS via membership of SASMA.  The biennial meeting of the FIMS Council of Delegates where all member countries are represented, executive committee, and FIMS Commissions meetings also took place.  A new executive committee was elected during the Council of Delegates meeting, where Prof Fabio Pigozzi form Italy was elected President of FIMS, taking over from Prof Walter Frontera.  Prof Lyle Micheli from the USA was elected as Secretary General for the next term of office.

South Africa and SASMA’s representative on the Council of Delegates was Dr Louis Holtzhausen.  Prof Martin Schwellnus represented South Africa and Africa on the FIMS executive committee as vice-president.  Proff Demitri Constantinou (educational commission) and Wayne Derman (scientific commission) were the other official South African  delegates.  Prof Schwellnus is also Editor of the FIMS scientific journal, the International Sports Medicine Journal, which can be accessed free of charge by SASMA members via the SASMA website.

FIMS has a membership of 64 countries from all continents, which makes it a very influential body, having a strong voice in policy making, minimum requirements for sports medicine service, education, and development .  It functions via a system of continental associations.  In the African context, Dr A. Sentissi from Morocco was elected vice-president for Africa and President of the African Union of Sports Medicine for the next four years.  The other elected executive member for Africa is Dr Sayed Hussien Khashaba from Egypt.  We trust that these officials will lead us into an era of great growth in sports medicine in Africa.  The table has been laid with the 2010 Football World Cup, on which the African Union of FIMS can now build interest and expertise.

The operational leg of FIMS is consists of four commissions.  The scientific commission promotes research and presents policy statements on sports medicine-related topics and issues.  The educational committee oversees regular courses and conferences, as well as publication of books and other references on sports medicine.  The interfederal commission promotes communication and liaison between medical bodies of sports federations such as the IOC, FIFA, and others.  The development commission actively promotes international development of sports medicine.

The conference itself in Puerto Rico was relatively small compared to certain other international sports medicine conferences, with 500 attendees, including the official delegates and the executive.  It was, however, of a very high standard, with only the best international speakers invited to present papers.  South Africa is proud to have had Proff Martin Schwellnus and Wayne Derman on the program as invited speakers.

The next FIMS conference will take place in Rome, Italy in 2012.  The bid for the 2014 conference has been won by Quebec, Canada.

The biennial FIMS Conference is a great place to learn, but also to meet the real world leaders of sports and exercise medicine and to experience how the International Federation of Sports Medicine operates.

Regards,
Louis Holtzhausen

Exercise is Medicine Charter
First World Congress on Exercise is Medicine
American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting
Baltimore, June 1, 2010

This Charter is the product of the First Exercise is Medicine World Congress, held June 1-5, 2010 in Baltimore, MD in conjunction with the American College of Sports Medicine’s Annual Meeting.

Conferees participating in this World Congress include scientists and clinicians from countries across the globe who are dedicated to increasing understanding of how physical activity may be applied to meet individual and collective human needs for promoting quality of life, human health, and disease management on a global scale.

Primarily, this is a Charter aimed at motivating global action to affirm physical activity as an integral part of health promotion and disease prevention and treatment.  The World Congress and this document build on and are inspired by the World Health Organization’s Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, and position Exercise Is MedicineTM to lead the development of scientific evidence, public policy and global action supporting physical activity as an integral part of health and wellness.

The Executive Committee of the South African Sports Medicine Association wishes the medical team of Bafana Bafana and all our colleagues participating in this auspicious event every success over the coming weeks.

South Africa has a proud tradition of excellence in sports medicine and we are certain that this will be evident in the medical services offered to players, administrators and visitors during Africa’s World Cup.

Serving on the Medical Advisory Committee for the event are experienced and long-standing SASMA members of whom the association is justifiably proud.  In addition, many physicians, orthopaedists, podiatrists, radiologists, physiotherapists, biokineticists, chiropractors and physiologists will be involved in rendering team support. Providing medical support to the national team are Dr Ephraim Nematswerani, Godfrey Sepuru and Jeremy Kern . They especially carry our (and the nation’s!) best wishes for an injury-free tournament!

It is our wish that FIFA 2010 affords South African Sports Medicine the opportunity to shine internationally and leaves a medical legacy for others to follow.

Ke nako!

Dr Jon Patricios & SASMA EXCO

Photograph: Oliver Weiken/EPA

Join John Smit and MC, Bob Skinstad, in discussing the upcoming Tri-Nations, Peter De Villiers, and The World Cup preparations.

Enjoy a hearty breakfast, entertain your clients and reward your staff while you hear from these legendary Springbok players.

• Super 15 and the new format.
• What is in store for the Tri-Nations.
• Peter De Villiers.
• Are we ready for the Rugby World Cup 2011?
• Bekker vs Matfield?
• And much more.

DATE 28 May 2010
TIME 07:00 – 09:30
VENUE Emperors Palace

Click here to register

** This is not a SASMA Affiliated or Sponsored Event. It is brought to you by FRONT FOOT **

Health care systems in the public and private sectors in South Africa find it difficult to keep up with the ever rising cost of health care. In fact, public health services are facing serious challenges to provide adequate services on many levels¹. This article will propagate a way for medical practitioners, healthcare funders and the public to improve health and most likely decrease the cost of healthcare. It has been proved unequivocally that regular exercise is good for people’s health, that it improves quality of life, prevents disease often better than pharmacological agents do, as proved by leading epidemiologists^2,3. It is for this reason that Dr Robert Sallis, general practitioner and task team leader of Exercise in Medicine™ in the United States, asked the question:

“What if there was one prescription that could prevent and treat dozens of diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity? Would you prescribe it to your patients? Certainly.”⁴

In fact, my contention is that if such medication was presented in tablet form and not prescribed, malpractice would certainly have been considered. Should healthcare providers and funders not be in a frenzy trying to make this medication available to as many people as possible? Added the fact that it is free, makes this a revolutionary, not to be missed opportunity to affect millions of lives for the better.

THE EVIDENCE

In a recently published longitudinal study on attributable factors for death of all causes among 40 842 men and 12943 women, it was shown that low cardiorespiratory fitness was more detrimental to health in terms of mortality than obesity, cigarette smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes⁵. In fact, low fitness carries a higher risk of mortality than obesity, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes put together! (Figure 1). It has also been shown that life expectancy is significantly higher in physically fit persons. Figure 2 demonstrates that the life expectancy of a physically fit 80-year old is similar to that of an unfit 60-year old person⁶! Quality of life also improves with increased physical fitness. In a study by Valiyeva et al among 6462 adults it was found that physical inactivity was the second most important risk for admission to a nursing home (or loss of independence) – second only to cigarette smoking and a significantly higher risk than obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes⁷.

In a presentation on the benefits of regular exercise, the Exercise is Medicine™ movement reported from scientific reports that regular physical activity at the correct intensity⁴:

• Reduces the risk of heart disease by 40%.
• Lowers the risk of stroke by 27%.
• Reduces the incidence of diabetes by almost 50%.
• Reduces the incidence of high blood pressure by almost 50%.
• Can reduce mortality and the risk of recurrent breast cancer by almost 50%.
• Can lower the risk of colon cancer by over 60%.
• Can reduce the risk of developing of Alzheimer’s disease by one-third.
• Can decrease depression as effectively as Prozac or behavioral therapy.

In the South African context, exercise is an important factor in modification of disease patterns and mortality. The South African Medical Research Council (MRC) disease report in 2007 indicated the risk factors for death and disease in South Africa, as shown in Table 1⁸. Of the top ten risk factors for death in South Africa, 28,2% are modifiable by exercise. Almost 19% of the top ten diseases causing death in South Africa are modifiable by regular exercise.

FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF WELLNESS INITIATIVES

Workplace wellness initiatives are good examples of tangible benefits of physical fitness and lifestyle modification. A study on companies using workplace wellness initiatives in the United States showed a return on investment of $1.49 to $13 for every dollar spent on wellness, in terms on reduced medical expenses, reduced absenteeism and increased productivity⁹. In 1998, the Health Enhancement Research Organisation (HERO) reported 10% higher costs on staff members with an inactive lifestyle in study of 46 026 staff members from six large organisations over three years⁹.

THE SOLUTION

It is clear that regular exercise should not only be promoted by the medical profession, but that physical activity should be monitored and recorded by doctors as a major modifiable risk factor for morbidity and mortality. At the cutting edge of this drive is Exercise is Medicine™, an organisation initiated by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Medical Association (AMA)⁴. The goals of this initiative are focused on the medical profession, the fitness industry and the public, and include:

• For physical activity to become a vital sign to be recorded, with physicians routinely discussing it with each of their patients.
• For the physician to either prescribe appropriate physical activity to each patient or to refer the patient to a certified health and fitness professional to get a physical activity prescription.
• For the public to begin to ask for and expect physicians to discuss physical activity during each office visit.

There are obvious barriers to implementation of exercise prescription or referral by medical professionals. These include:

• Lack of media advocacy.
• No tangible success measures in the short term.
• Physicians are lacking the time to effectively counsel patients.
• Physicians may lack the proper training to effectively counsel patients about exercise.
• Most medical insurance schemes do not include benefits for exercise prescription or referral for exercise prescription.
• Patient expectations are for medication and not for lifestyle prescription.

The secret is that exercise prescription for health is really not complicated. The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans advise that most health benefits of exercise occur with at least 150 minutes per week, or 30 minutes per day of moderate intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking. Of course additional benefits occur with more physical activity¹⁰. Detailed exercise guidelines are available in the Guidelines which are accessible on www.health.gov/paguidelines.

Exercise is Medicine™ has developed toolkits for physicians, the fitness industry, media advocacy and the public to promote the message of exercise for health and can be obtained free of charge from their comprehensive website at http://www.exerciseismedicine.org.

The South African Sports Medicine Association (SASMA) has embraced the challenge to promote physical activity as significant modifier of disease and quality of life. In 2009 SASMA has been included in the Exercise is Medicine Global Network to assist in this quest globally and specifically in South Africa.

Exercise is Medicine™ and SASMA have put lifestyle and exercise prescription and promotion within the reach of all medical practitioners by simply following the guidelines on the website^4,11. I challenge all doctors to take the lead, embrace this powerful tool and make exercise part of the routine armamentarium for prevention and treatment of chronic disease.

Tables and Figures

Figure 1: Effect of Fitness (CRF) on Mortality Attributable Fractions (%) for All-Cause Deaths

(Blair SN. Br J. Sports Med. 43:1, 2009.)

Figure 2: Year-adjusted death rates per 1 000 person-years according to cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and age groups. White bars represent low CRF, striped bars moderate CRF, and black bars high CRF. (Sui X, et al. J Am Geriatr Soc. 55:1940-1947, 2007.)

Table 1: Risk factors and causes of deaths in South Africa. (Norman et al., MRC disease report. 2007.)

Conditions highlighted in yellow are modifiable by exercise

REFERENCES

1. Mail & Guardian. NHI plans to be ready for public comment by year- end. 2 September 2009
2. Warburton DE, Nicol CW, Bredin SS. Health benefits of physical activity: the evidence. CMAJ, 174: 801-809, 2006.
3. Paffenbarger RS Jr, Hyde RT, Wing AL et al. The association of changes in physical activity level and other lifestyle characteristics with mortality among men. N. Engl. J. Med. 328:538 – 545, 1993.
4. Exercise is Medicine™. http://www.exerciseismedicine.org.
5. Blair SN. Physical inactivity: the biggest public health problem of the 21^st century. Br J Sports Med. 43:1, 2009.
6. Sui X, Laditka JN, Hardin JW, et al. Estimated functional capacity predicts mortality in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 55: 1940-1947, 2007.
7. Valiyeva E et al. Arch Int Med 2006; 166:985
8. Norman A et al. MRC disease report , 2007.
9. http://wellnessrfp.com/benefits -of-workplace-wellness-initiatives/

10. 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. www.health.gov/paguidelines.

11. South African Sports Medicine Association. http://SASMA.org.za

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