Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center

Intoduction

As many as 5 researchers from the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center had an active role in the XXX Olympic Summer Games in London 2012. Mission: Best protection of the athletes´ health.

In his role of the "Head of scientific activities in the IOC", professor Lars Engebretsen, also co-chair of the OSTRC, was responsible for the protection of the athlete´s health during the Games period. His work was 4-folded:

1. Responsibility for injury & illness surveillance

The injury & illness surveillance system included all 11.000 athletes from 205 NOCs (National Olympic Committees), and consisted of daily reports by NOC health personnel and the Organizer’s Medical Encounter System, set up in the Polyclinic and at all sports venues.

Surveillance also included athlete´s teeth health and the efficacy of different radiological assessments (US, MR, CT, x-ray) (several IOC funded projects).

In this daily work with NOC contacts and data collections, Kathrin Steffen and Torbjørn Soligard (former PhD-student and now IOC) worked in the Polyclinic for 3 weeks.

The IOC research team will now finalize the data collection and publish a report internationally (see comment to recent reports). 

2. Responsibility for education of NOC health personnel

The day before the Opening Ceremony, the IOC held a team physician meeting for all NOCs with presentations on hot topics within sports medicine. Almost all countries with their doctors and other health personnel were represented.

During the Games, the IOC organized daily workshops and symposia (IOC academic program, pdf). PhD candidate Ben Clarsen (picture) held a brilliant presentation on his research work, which is a familiar to most sports clinicians: overuse injuries and how they can be captured, how the athlete at risk can be identified.

3. Responsibility for NOC health personnel

Another important task was to establish a good dialog with each NOC, get insight into the NOCs medical resources and needs, and evaluate how the IOC can improve its contribution

4. "second opinion"

In the Polyclinic, Lars Engebretsen was often asked for a second opinion in the assessment and diagnosing of athletes´ musculoskeletal injuries.

Roald Bahr - president in the FIVB Medical Commission

Also professor Roald Bahr, the other co-chair of the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center had a central role in London.

Roald is president of the Medical Commission of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), and member of the IOC Medical Commission - Medical and Scientific Group. In London, he was responsible for the sports medicine service at the volleyball and beach volleyball events, and for those athletes´ doping controls.

Roald probably had the nicest office with a view over center court at Horse Guards Parade, and with the Buckingham Palace and Downing Street 10 as closest neighbors.

Ben Clarsen – close on the Norwegian athletes for 10 months

Besides his contribution to the IOC academic program for health personnel, the primary role of Ben Clarsen was being the physiotherapist for the Norwegian road cyclists.

However, for 10 months prior to London, he was responsible for the injury and illness surveillance for the whole Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic teams.

The next article in his PhD-thesis will describe the illness and injury profiles of these athletes during their preparation phase.

We are looking forward to the results following all research activities in London to the best of the athletes´ health.

The Norwegian handball team - gold medalist in London 2012.