NAN-S-17
Medicine
By Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos, May 17, 2017 (NAN) A sports medicine physician, Dr Tajudeen Sule, has advised sports men and women to be conscious of the importance of sports medicine in the career development of their career.
The physician gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, Lagos on Wednesday.
He expressed concern that many sports men and women were not aware of the importance of sports medicine in the development of their career.
The development, he said, made them not to consult sports physicians for assistance.
Sule, a graduate of Show Academy, Dublin said sports medicine remained one of the areas untapped by many sportsmen and women.
He said, ‘’Sports medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with physical fitness and the treatment and prevention of injuries related to sports.
“Many sportsmen and women go through needless pains because they failed to consult sports medicine physicians who can help them professionally.
“Sports medicine physicians are the ones who can advise them of the type of medicine to use to avoid using a banned substance and also rehabilitate them.
“We also advise on proper dietary which can help the sportsmen and women to grow their physique without falling prey to wrong prescription; but many of them are not aware of this.
“A sports medicine physician is the only one who knows what to do during injury of any player and the right prescription of drugs to be applied on him.’’
‘’It is a distinct field that takes care of the sportsmen’s and women’s health with various professionals such as physiotherapists, first aiders, dieticians among others.
Sule, who is a staff of the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) medical department, advised sportsmen to always be in contact with the sports medicine physicians for their health problems.
Sule, who is also a sports nutritionist, said that sportsmen and women should take it as a habit to consult sports medicine physicians for counseling and physiotherapic engagements.
“Athletes need to visit sports medical personnel every time because they are the only ones to make them fit for competitions and recommend the right approach to their personal training.
“If any player sustains injury, he or she should visit the sports medicine physician and not the regular doctors.
“Many have been caught in the web of doping not because they are guilty, but because they took a wrong prescription and they landed in trouble,’’ he said.
Sule said though Nigeria was beginning to appreciate sports medicine as a specialised area of medicine, there was the need for more awareness and training for the existing sports physicians.
“At the national level, we have a handful of the professionals but they are not enough we still need more. We need them around because sporting activities is a different arena entirely.
“Sports medicine is responsible for athletes’ activities, health stability and in the face of injury, rehabilitation and returning the athletes to their formal state.
He further advised athletes to ensure proper diet to help them grow their physique and avoid falling prey to wrong prescription. (NAN)
KOJE/JIE/DUA
Edited by Julius Enehikhuere/Dada Ahmed