Dr. Ny Aina Andrianantenaina Randriamiarisoa, President of the Malagasy Association of Sports Medicine (AMMS), explains the role of sports medicine in the health and performance of athletes.
What role can sports medicine play in improving athletic performance?
Sports medicine is essential for protecting the health of athletes while guiding them toward the best possible performance, within the limits of their physical and mental capacities and in compliance with medical and sports ethics. It plays a role in the fight against doping, education, research, and information. It also helps prevent injuries, conduct medical and physiological assessments, adapt training loads, and improve recovery.
What are the main obstacles to the development of high-level sports medicine?
The difficulties are numerous: a lack of equipped sports-medical facilities, a limited number of specialized professionals, insufficient equipment and technology for physiological and biomechanical assessments, as well as financial constraints. Collaboration between doctors, coaches, physical trainers, physiotherapists, and nutritionists must be strengthened. Furthermore, sports medicine remains insufficiently integrated into high-level sports development policies.
How can collaboration between doctors, coaches, and other professionals be improved to optimize athlete performance?
We must strengthen teamwork around the athlete by bringing together sports doctors, coaches, physical trainers, physiotherapists, and nutritionists. This approach must be carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Malagasy Olympic Committee, and sports federations. The goal is clear: to place the athlete’s health at the heart of the pursuit of performance.
What should be done to better utilize sports medicine in the pursuit of performance?
The sports doctor must be considered an integral part of preparation, not just someone who intervenes in case of injury. The AMMS organizes annual scientific days dedicated, in particular, to doping. Sports doctors also issue medical certificates and raise awareness among athletes about prohibited drugs and substances. Ultimately, Madagascar must strengthen its sports-medical system to better prevent injuries, protect the health of athletes, and make sports medicine a true lever for sustainable performance.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-29 06:23:56 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/ny-aina-andrianantenaina.html