Sports Doctor - Untold Stories

Ensuring the best physical condition for every team member, taking care of their health or treating them when they are sick or injured is a common task of doctors for sports teams.

Midfielder Duong Thi Van and striker Pham Hai Yen had a minor collision during a training session but were taken care of so they could recover in time to play in the opening match against the US team at the 2023 Women's World Cup. Midfielder Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha was still able to play against Portugal after getting sick in a series of friendly matches before the tournament... That shows that the doctors of the Vietnamese team are very good at treating and taking care of players.

Martial arts and football go hand in hand

When deciding to call up the women's team to participate in the 1997 SEA Games, the Sports Committee at that time appointed Mr. Tran Thanh Ngu - Head of the Sports Department of District 1, Ho Chi Minh City - as head of the football delegation - a rare record that has not been repeated to this day. However, the team lacked many important positions. Mr. Ngu had to bring along two accountants from the department to act as "nurses" for the team; hired two doctors, one specializing in Eastern medicine and one specializing in Western medicine, to take care of the health of the female players.

When asked about this, physician Vo Khai Nghiep, at the age of 76 but still very clear-headed, recalled: "At that time, I taught at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City, and Mr. Nguyen Van Chau worked at the District 1 Medical Center. Mr. Tu Ngu invited us to join the team to take care of the players. I specialized in dislocations and bone and joint adjustment, while Mr. Chau took care of Western medicine treatment for other types of pain and illness."

Two doctors Nguyen Van Chau, Vo Khai Nghiep (right cover) and the coaching staff of the women's team won the gold medal at the 1997 SEA Games pre-tournament. Photo: DONG LINH

"The players call me dad and always ask me to take care of post-match muscle massage, acupuncture or acupressure to relieve pain. Chau provides modern medicine, first aid and treats minor injuries caused by collisions. Female players often snack, and I always keep a lot of dried plums in my medicine bag. Every girl wants me to give her a few lozenges to warm her throat during the match. Some girls come to me when they are on their period, which affects their performance. There are cases where I do acupressure or give them pain medication, but in many cases I have to refuse acupuncture because I'm afraid it will affect their future lives. When the players get married, it will be difficult to have children," Mr. Nghiep recalls.

From a martial arts specialist, physician Vo Khai Nghiep has gained valuable experience in a sports team environment. From here, this physician has more time to work with women's futsal, taekwondo, judo teams as well as go abroad to spread his experience in sports medicine.

Proud to be associated with the early history of women's football in the country, having a team before the national championship and winning the bronze medal at the 19th SEA Games on the first trip abroad, Mr. Nghiep has a lot of affection for former female players or former athletes. He always gives them free medical examination and treatment. He used to be the General Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Judo Association, a sixth-degree black belt judo master.

Part-time doctor

The story of the Vietnamese women's volleyball team having to rely on a Vietnamese-Australian doctor to support them during the FIVB Challenger Cup 2023 in France, or the track and field team participating in the recent Asian Championships without a doctor to take care of nearly 20 players is something that makes fans wonder and worry. Even in the doping scandal at the 31st SEA Games, some "insiders" still believe that the doctors of the sports delegation in charge of the track and field division did not provide adequate advice to help them avoid violations.

Doctor Vo Khai Nghiep gives first aid to striker Luu Ngoc Mai at the 1997 SEA Games. (Photo provided by the character)

Medical care is actually a common problem in many sports teams because not every place has the ability to regularly "staff" a doctor, including a nurse, to take care of the members. Doctor Huynh Tan Hien - a famous expert with a good hand, who once treated volleyball player Tran Thi Thanh Thuy - was invited by Binh Dien Long An Club to work during each stage of the team's competition.

Doctor Hien said: "I have a degree in traditional medicine and a bachelor's degree in physical therapy and rehabilitation. I can help players with minor problems such as fever, cough, runny nose... to treating musculoskeletal injuries or post-surgical recovery."

According to Mr. Hien, in charge of taking care of the health of female athletes, in addition to ensuring professional skills, it is also necessary to maintain discretion and distance, especially with young female players.

"When the coaching staff meets with athletes or the team's executive committee in the head coach's room, there are always a few members and the door is always open. Me too, when an athlete needs treatment, I will go to their room and there are usually a few fellow athletes present. I never call an athlete who needs treatment to my room. When it comes to medical ethics, it is very important. I just keep in mind that I must always do my best at my job, help athletes recover quickly, maintain prestige and ethics to avoid gossip" - Doctor Hien confided.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/the-thao/bac-si-the-thao-nhung-chuyen-chua-ke-20230730213930013.htm