KUWAIT: The Sports Medicine Center, affiliated with the Public Authority for Youth and Sports, embodies the true meaning of optimal care in Kuwait for athletes who have suffered physical and muscular injuries in various sports, and rehabilitates them to perform better than before through the latest technologies and the most skilled specialists at a specialized and comprehensive medical center. The Sports Medicine Center provides everything an athlete needs and all that is required for their full rehabilitation, provided the athlete is registered with a sports federation under the umbrella of the Kuwait Olympic Committee, whether they are a Kuwaiti player or a professional.
The center’s director, Walid Al-Enezi, told KUNA on Sunday that the center is one of the oldest specialized centers in the Middle East, if not the oldest; it opened in 1981 and was affiliated with the Ministry of Social Affairs at the time. It initially focused on a methodology to restore injured athletes to their former physical condition only. Over the years, the center evolved by expanding its services until it became a comprehensive center equipped with all the facilities needed to serve athletes.
Al-Enezi added that in 1992, the Sports Medicine Center was affiliated with the Public Authority for Youth and Sports. Over time, the range of services the center provides to athletes has expanded, making it a comprehensive facility that serves a large segment of athletes in their rehabilitation following injuries. He explained that the center’s services are not limited to rehabilitation from injuries; it also offers a program to prevent injuries from occurring.
Furthermore, it includes departments for eye and dental examinations, as well as a physiological department that conducts vital sign tests on athletes to assess their physical condition and overall health — including heart function and other bodily functions — thereby providing a comprehensive understanding of the athlete’s, especially for young athletes. He urged athletes — particularly young athletes — to undergo preventive medical examinations, such as eye and heart exams, before entering the sports arena, as this allows clubs, coaches, and parents to understand their physical condition and prevent future sports injuries.
For his part, Salem Al-Mutairi, acting head of the Physical Therapy Department at the center, told KUNA that the department includes a fully equipped gym for improving physical fitness and rehabilitating patients after surgery. Al-Mutairi added that the department also offers electrotherapy to reduce pain from physical injuries or muscle weakness, noting that treatment at the department requires opening a file for the athlete to conduct a comprehensive and accurate examination to identify the underlying issue. Al-Mutairi explained that all cases treated at the Sports Medicine Center were managed optimally to achieve the desired level of recovery and restore the athlete to their previous condition.
For his part, Jassim Mousa, a physical therapist at the center, told KUNA that the center’s staff are committed to working as a team to help athletes regain their previous level of performance, as well as addressing the psychological aspect to rebuild their confidence and overcome fear. Regarding the nature of a specialist’s work, Mousa explained that they strive to understand the athlete’s lifestyle — including daily routines and dietary habits — to provide the best possible care and guide them more quickly toward achieving the desired results and performance levels.
He emphasized the importance of following the physical therapist’s instructions and adhering to the multi-stage plan developed by the physical therapy department to help athletes regain their physical strength, noting that the center’s role constitutes half of the treatment, while the other half rests with the athlete themselves to complete their recovery.
The center features numerous facilities and departments, including a weight room designed to meet various needs for physical rehabilitation and muscle rebuilding to recover from injuries sustained in various sports, whether individual or team sports. It also includes rooms for electrotherapy and oxygen therapy, as well as state-of-the-art medical examination departments, in addition to nutrition and radiology departments, ophthalmology and dentistry departments, a blood testing laboratory, a physiology department, and a health education department. — KUNA
Original source: kw