Sports medicine

Sports medicine focuses on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases caused by physical activity and/or that impact the ability to practice movement, as well as the performance of athletes.The specialty is part of the network of EOC Sport, the network of physicians and facilities of the Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of orthopedic and sports-related muscle disease and trauma.

• Diagnosis and treatment of sports-related traumaticor overload injuries, i.e., injuries that can be acute, i.e., related to a single macro-traumatic episode (such as a fracture), or chronic, i.e., due to repeated micro-trauma over time.
• Counseling for the safepractice of physical activity that takes into account the individual's age and any underlying pathologies.
• Preventive sports fitnessexaminations and orthopedic and postural examinations.
• Nutrition counseling.
• Sport psychology.
• Biomechanical analysis of walking/running.
• Sports performance testing: specifically, tests to assess aerobic capacity and strength.
• Altitude sickness.

In cooperation with institutions, clubs and sports federations, sports medicine is also involved in promoting physical activity, particularly at the youth level, also strives to fight against doping.

For the assessment of sports performance, different tests are performed at the Centro Cantonale di Medicina dello Sport EOC.

Aerobic performance test (according to Swiss Olympic protocols):

• Conconi test: this is an incremental test that, by measuring the change in heart rate as the workload changes, provides an estimate of an athlete's anaerobic threshold, thus his or her aerobic power;
• test with lactic acid measurement also known as lactate test: also an incremental test. Compared to the Conconi test, in addition to recording heart rate, we measure lactic acid production. This allows us to determine aerobic and anaerobic thresholds much more accurately. In this way we can determine the ideal training zones for each individual athlete;
• cardiopulmonary testing (CPET with mask) with continuous ECG on a road bike (pedals with look/shimano mounts and Powermeter for road bike shoes or with mountain-bike mounts) or treadmill;
• any laboratory tests (basic or complete blood chemistry tests according to Swiss Olympic standards).
  

Strength testing (according to Swiss Olympic protocols):

• dynamometric platform: test that allows measuring the fast strength of the lower limbs in order to optimize athletic gestures and training, or as a function of a rehabilitation or post-injury recovery course;
• isokinetic testing: using computerized kinetic dynamometers, it is possible to measure and assess any deficits in muscle strength and power, as well as quantify any imbalances between agonists and antagonists or between right side versus left side (e.g., after injury);
• trunk strength: the trunk is the center of gravity of our body. Good musculature is essential to stabilize the lumbar spine in order to prevent low back pain and optimize power transmission to the arms and legs. The equipment we use allows us to perform this test in a standardized manner according to Swiss Olympic protocols and thus measure trunk strength;
• field performance testing: the tests described above can be adapted to a specific discipline and measurements are taken directly in the field. In this way the interpretation is closer to the sport discipline practiced;
• postural assessment: joint mobility and muscle length are examined. In addition, the proper functioning of the kinetic chains is assessed in order to recognize or avoid joint and/or myotendinous overloads.

Traumatic or overload injuries

The diagnosis of traumatic or overload injuries related to sports practice is made with the same techniques as in "classical" traumatology. Treatment, on the other hand, must always take into account the athlete's sporting needs, which are subjected to greater loads and different movements than in daily life. Treatment therefore, in addition to healing any injury, always includes a period of reathletization to prepare the athlete for return to training to minimize the risk of recurrence.

The diagnosis of sports-related traumatic or overload injuries is made by:

• clinical examination;
• radiological examinations (conventional radiography, ultrasound, MRI);
• hematochemical examinations;
• biomechanical evaluation of walking/running.

Treatment is through various therapies.

• Conservative therapy:
  • physiotherapy;
  • specific rehabilitation;
  • adaptation of training loads;
  • shock waves; infiltrative therapies.
• Surgical therapy:
  • arthroscopic surgery: procedure to operate inside joints without opening them;
  • cartilage surgery: procedure to restore articular cartilage;
  • ligament surgery: procedure to reconstruct ligaments.

Useful information

Useful links

Cost taking

• Medical treatment in case of illness or accident is paid for by the health/accident insurance fund.
• Sports diagnostic services are paid for by the individual.
• Preventive sports medical examinations (check-ups) are covered by supplementary insurance.