Hi everyone. I’m Dave Simon, an orthopedic surgeon in Ottawa, Ontario.
I’m the lead physician for the Canadian men’s national soccer team.
A lot of the work happens between camps, including communication with players and their clubs. They’re spread across North America and Europe, so we’re always collecting data and information from the clubs’ medical staff.
In camp, we do a lot of intake medicals, including head-to-toe physicals and clinical reviews of all the players. We adjust their nutrition and training loads as needed, and manage any chronic conditions or acute illnesses that come up.
FIFA mandates that there has to be a physician on the field or on the bench at all times. If there’s a suspected major head injury or sudden cardiac arrest, we enter the field immediately.
One of us will lead the assessment, while the other looks after the needs of the remaining players on the field — things like water or cramping, for example. We then have to communicate very quickly back to the bench: does the player need a few minutes and can continue, or do we need to take them off for treatment or suturing? Or have they sustained an injury that requires them to be substituted out of the match?
The needs of the general population and those of elite athletes are fundamentally the same — they just differ in intensity and degree.
Everyone needs to learn how to move well, build strength, eat well and recover properly. These are key fundamentals you can apply whether you’re in sports medicine, family practice or a specialty.
For me, it’s the old adage: you have to look after yourself before you can look after others. What works for me is a 4:30 a.m. wake-up, followed by an hour or two in the gym. Regardless of what happens the rest of the day, I know I’ve done something for my own health and wellness right at the start.
I’m really looking forward to our athletes and our team inspiring adults and kids to get off the couch and go play soccer. Put away the devices. I’m hoping we’ll see a big increase in registrations, with more kids and adults playing. Anything I can contribute, even in a small way, to help improve public health in the country is really exciting.