MEDICAL
Unlocking the Importance of Mental Health in Athletes
One cannot separate physical and mental health as essential components of the performance and well-being of elite athletes. There is growing recognition of the impact that mental health issues have on athletic performance. However, estimating the prevalence rate of these illnesses in athletes during competition or training is challenging not only in the Arab world but worldwide.
It is crucial to identify the mental challenges that riders may face so that the medical team can ensure proper mental health support, which will positively affect performance. Mental health disorders may include anxiety, depression, substance misuse, etc. Elite athletes, compared to the general population, are exposed to different and significant stressors and pressures, putting them at risk of developing mental health issues. They endure longer training hours, longer recovery times, and other stressors such as performance anxiety, financial pressures, social and media scrutiny, and early career retirement due to injuries.
An IOC consensus statement provides recommendations for the management of mental health disorders in elite athletes. One of the main recommendations is the need for screening tools to identify mental health disorders and provide necessary support. A screening tool, the Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool 1 (SMHAT-1), has been developed and validated to comprehensively screen and identify athletes prone to mental health issues, enabling further assessment and clinical support as needed.
Recognizing the importance of mental health and implementing best practices to prevent mental injury to riders in the Arab region, the questionnaire has been translated into Arabic and is currently undergoing validation. The outcome is expected to be launched subsequently. This step is crucial for establishing mental health guidelines for Arab riders.
Currently, the international questionnaire is available in English, French, Spanish, and Dutch languages. Further collaboration will be undertaken to include the questionnaire in Arabic language version.
MEDICAL RULES
Medical
Elite athletes should have access to specific medical tracking. The objectives of such tracking include maintaining riders’ health and reducing risks during training and competition. Teams and National Federations must establish a medical program that monitors health and assesses competitors’ capabilities to provide riders with the best and safest conditions possible for competition.
The Arab Cycling Federation implements international standards and regulations to ensure the better health of Arab riders. The UCI International Cycling Federation has issued Part 13 of the Cyclizing Regulations, which covers Medical Rules and serves as a core reference standard for all federations. Important topics highlighted by the UCI include prohibitions on injections, the prohibition of tramadol usage during competition, concussion management, and protocols for competitive comebacks.
MEDICAL MONITORING
CONCUSSION
Concussions are a very common injury that occurs during crashes. It is challenging for the medical team to understand, identify, and manage a rider with suspected concussion in the field. Proper management is crucial to decrease complications, ensure a shorter recovery, and avoid serious injury. If the rider returns to sport despite having symptoms, the risk of potential serious and permanent neurological effects is high, such as Post-Concussion Syndrome, Second Impact Syndrome, and Multiple Impact Syndrome. Concussions affect a rider’s balance, focus, and reaction time, which are vital criteria for any athlete in this sport. Early return to sport without medical clearance can increase the risk of more crashes, putting the life of the injured rider and those around him in danger.
It is important to follow the return-to-sport guidelines, which make it easier for the medical team to manage riders with concussion and ensure that their health and safety are properly managed.
