Is there a doctor in the house?

When even a sniffle can decide a race, Sophie Goodchild meets the medics who are on call to the world’s top athletes through the 2012 Games
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Sophie Goodchild16 July 2012

A sprained ankle or twisted knee could mean the difference between glory and failure for London 2012’s athletes but medical help will be on hand for the world’s top sportsmen and women during the Games.

A volunteer army of more than 5,000 doctors are giving their time for free to look after athletes and spectators. All are top in their field and include sports doctors from the Royal College of Surgeons who will be on stand-by in case of any injuries. Team GB will also have its own dedicated doctors. Here, six medics talk about being on call at London 2012.

Dr Courtney Kipps

Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health at University College, London

Based at the sports injuries clinic, ExCeL centre, hosting boxing, fencing, judo, table tennis, taekwondo, weightlifting, wrestling and boccia

'You're dealing with elite athletes who are pushing their bodies to the limit. I don't think anyone can truly appreciate what they're putting themselves, their coaches and their families through, unless you've been there yourself. There's no doubt I'll be under pressure to get them back in shape in time for the next bout. At the ExCeL, there'll be everything from taekwondo to table tennis. I'll also be working in the polyclinic in the Athletes' Village for the Paralympic Games. Paralympians have the same determination and training and get injured like anyone else. I'm so excited to be part of such a big event.'

Most common injuries: 'Upper limb overuse, injuries of the shoulder, elbow and wrist, knee ligament injuries, fractures and concussions.'

Tickets?: 'I got tickets to the volleyball at Earls Court through the ballot but I'm not sure if I'll be able to go as my shifts clash with it.'

ExCeL centre from July 27-August 12.

Dr Polly Baker

Club doctor for Arsenal Ladies

Football Club

Doctor for Team GB Handball

'I'm very proud to be involved and will be based with the men's and women's teams at all times. Handball is an extremely dynamic sport, with pivoting and a lot of change of direction. It's also semi-contact, so in terms of injuries we can expect anything. Dealing with athletes who have had Olympic-ending injuries is always challenging. It's incredibly tough to see those who have worked so hard have their dream shattered. As a doctor, I have some experience of breaking bad news and, ultimately, there are a lot of support strategies, such as having a sports psychologist and a lifestyle advisor in place to help them in their time of need.'

Most common injuries? 'Contusions (injured tissue or skin) but these would not generally stop athletes from competing. There are injuries that could put them out of competition but it would be quite rare that they would occur, given the relatively short period of the Games. The most common would be ligament tears or strains. From a GB Handball perspective, all our athletes have a prevention prehab programme to minimise the chances of any injury.'

Tickets?: 'No. I'll be working the full two weeks but my family will be coming to cheer us on.'

Handball preliminaries, Handball Arena July 28 - August 7. Handball Finals, Basketball Arena, August 8.

Professor Nicola Muffulli

Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London

Field of play doctor for wrestling tournament

'The hope is always that the athletes have an injury-free Games and realise their dreams. I'm a former competitive wrestler (a veteran of the European Championships) but my future was in medicine. For people for whom it's their life, they experience this unique euphoria competing in the Olympics. You're treated like royalty but you can go from being top of the world to the bottom and that's very difficult to cope with. Another issue is meeting the weight requirements. People might be three kilos above their weight so they'll starve themselves or not drink, which creates problems. I realised I was never going to be good enough to compete in the Olympics. So this is the next best thing.'

Most common injury? 'The most common wrestling injury is facial, or if someone pokes you in the eye.

A fracture, ligamentous injury or eye injury could blow a contestant's chances of competing.'

Tickets?: 'No tickets. But I'll be in the thick of things.'

Wrestling, ExCeL centre, August 5.

Professor Fares Haddad

Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health at University College London

Based at the Olympic Village polyclinic

'The medical care will be very egalitarian. We're here for all athletes, especially those from countries where they can't afford a huge entourage of coaches and physios. That means no one is disadvantaged if they have health problems. The polyclinic will be like a mini hospital. The athletes first get seen by general doctors, then by sports physicians. You have to assess

if they can compete and if they need specialist treatment. I'm also co-ordinating the orthopaedic surgeons. There'll be a super-specialist on call every day, such as a knee or a hand expert. It's an incredible experience when you treat someone and then see them compete. At Athens in 2004, we had an Australian runner who injured her knee. We operated on her two weeks before the race and she went on to run.'

Most common injury: 'Torn meniscus in knee, hamstring tear, stress fracture and Achilles tear.'

Tickets?: 'I did get tickets to track and field so I'm taking my five kids. Something like this isn't going to happen in my lifetime again.'

Athletics, Olympic Stadium, August 3.

Dr Eleanor Tillett

Princess Grace Hospital, London

Based at polyclinic at the rowing and canoe sprint venue at Eton Dorney

'I've worked with Team GB athletes at lots of other events, including at the 2010 Winter Olympics, but being part of the team that helps to deliver our Olympic Games on home soil will be amazing. We'll have sports medicine doctors and physiotherapists, an ultrasound scanner and radiologists. We're there for everyone - athletes as well as spectators. Anything we can't do on-site we'll be able to arrange quickly at the designated local hospital. The greatest challenge is that even a minor problem can make the difference between winning a gold or finishing last, so a slight

sniffle can take on an enormous significance.'

Most common injury: 'Back problems are common in rowers. The spine transmits the force generated by the legs to the arms and it's a key link.

If it's weak, or the muscles aren't working properly in a co-ordinated way, then injuries can occur. Elite rowers will have had their technique analysed in huge detail so they are less likely to have these problems than those starting out.'

Tickets?: 'I don't have any tickets but I'll be watching the Olympics and Paralympics from the sidelines and on TV at every opportunity.'

Rowing, Eton Dorney, July 28 - 4 August 4. Canoe Sprint, Eton Dorney, August 6–11.

Canoe Slalom, Lee Valley White Water Centre, July 29 - August 2.

Panos Thomas

Whittington Hospital, north London

Orthopaedic surgeon on call at the Games

'You can never be sure what to expect, even when you've been an advisor at past Games. At the Melbourne Olympics back in 1956 only two to three per cent needed surgery. So I may be called upon to operate if someone dislocates their kneecap, for example. They'll ring and say: 'Panos, we have got this athlete with a problem', and they'll send a car for me if I can't sort it over the phone. You have to be honest with people. What upsets people is conflicting opinions and uncertainty. A prompt answer is always best. Of course, I'll be cheering on Team GB but I'd like to see the Greeks do well - country could do with some medals to boost its morale.'

Most common injury: 'The majority of problems will be soft tissue injuries, which are easier to deal with than breaks.'

Tickets?: 'I applied for tickets but didn't get any.'

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