Athlete receives a test of the patelar reflex at AUA EMIG’s first athletic health fair

A medical professional is urging sports men and women not to delay on getting help with sports related injuries to avoid worse in the future.

Professor at American University of Antigua Dr Courtney Lewis said many athletes stand to have longer careers if they seek rehabilitative treatment early.“Most of the times what sporting professionals don’t realize is most of the injuries they get are muscular, to tendons or ligaments. These particular tissues don’t heal like the skin, they take a little while longer...,” he cautioned.

Dr Lewis, who is employed in clinical medicine at AUA Emergency Medicine Training Centre ( EMTC) , said such injuries could prolong for years if not taken care of, in contrast to the prospect of full rehabilitation.

The medical professional was speaking after the recently concluded AUA Emergency Medicine Interest Group’s (EMIG) Athletic Health Fair held at AUA College of Medicine on Saturday.

Dozens of athletes including cricketers, cyclists, sailors, basketball players and footballers amongst others attended the health fair, which ran all morning.

The individuals had access to several tests; including blood glucose, BMI, flexibility, heart rate, and Electrocardiogram (ECG).

The athletes also had an opportunity to access medical consultations, designed to assess their general health.

After the assessments, individuals were advised on the next, best step to improve their health.

Dr Lewis said while many of the over 30 athletes he saw were aware of their sports injuries; they did not know that early treatment could have rectified many of the ailments.

Meantime one of the chief organizers of the event, student Mutahher Mohammed, said it was important for the school to organize such an event because not only is sports medicine often neglected, it is fast becoming an emerging field of medicine.

Present at the event was acclaimed cyclist Andre Simon who said the event was a great opportunity for him to assess his body ahead of his next racing meet.

“Coming into sports in Antigua, we don’t get certain information, like your resting heart rate and so on, I have a packed 2015 season and getting the information to start with I know what I can do ahead of competitions,” he said.

Meantime, cricketer Regis Burton not only thanked the institution for organizing the event but said the advice and knowledge he gained will help take his “game to the next level.”

AUA College of Medicine hopes to have more sport focused events in the near future.