Many athletes focus on their training, strict diets, and supplements to maintain their physical conditioning and performance. However, rest often goes unnoticed, which is also an integral part of training. Rest is important as it helps the body recover and adapt to exercise.

During physical activity, there’s muscle damage and inflammation, which triggers a cascade of biochemical processes for its repair and growth. Without adequate rest, the muscle will continue to be under tension, accumulating damage, pain, and fatigue. Which will cause a decrease in performance and development in training.

Other benefits of rest in athletes are the reserve of energy and both physical and mental recovery. When exercising, mainly during exhaustive exercise, the energy reserves of our body that we obtain from our food (including carbohydrates, fats, and proteins) are depleted. Being able to take a break and continuing proper nutrition can replenish energy for the next workout.

In the case of mental recovery, athletes often experience different levels of pressure and stress, which can affect their mental health, mood, and performance. Rest will help reduce stress and promote relaxation. This can improve performance in training and between competitions.

Athletes must prioritize rest and integrate it into their training programs as something essential, as mentioned above, it is a critical component for muscular development that can maximize their potential, avoid injuries, and achieve optimal sports performance. It is also crucial to mention that rest does not mean inactivity, you can rest doing an active recovery with low intensity exercises and stretching, which helps with recovery and with muscle pain.

Just as it is important to follow the exercise routine of an expert, when integrating rest breaks into the training program of any athlete, a specialist such as a sports medicine doctor should be consulted to maintain comprehensive and personalized care, since it is essential to know and take individual needs into account for the rest plan. There will be athletes who need less rest than others, or their rest intervals will depend on the intensity of the training, previous injuries, age, among others. The most important thing is that adequate rest periods are taken for a safe recovery and to maintain sports performance.

Vitamin C is a vitamin known for its important role in our immune system and the prevention of scurvy (disease caused by deficiency of this vitamin). It is an antioxidant vitamin that also helps prevent cell damage and is found in foods like oranges, kiwis, and bell peppers. It has also been used within modern treatments and therapies such as intravenous therapies to treat different conditions. Intravenous therapy, also called IV therapy, involves the administration of fluids, medications, vitamins, or minerals directly into the bloodstream. Much has been said about intravenous vitamin C (IVC) therapy, so we will mention its most common uses, myths, and benefits.

Uses for intravenous vitamin C have been added in a variety of medical conditions, including viral infections to reduce the severity of symptoms and boost the immune system. It has been used as part of adjuvant treatment for chemotherapy and radiation in cancer patients. It has also been used in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis to reduce symptoms, and studies have been carried out on its use in cases of sepsis due to its antioxidant effect that can mitigate tissue damage.

Despite its benefits, uses, and studies, there are also many myths surrounding this therapy. One of the most common myths is that vitamin C can cure cancer. Although some studies have shown its efficacy to use together with chemotherapy (as we mentioned above), it is not a cure, nor should it be the only treatment applied for that diagnosis. Another myth is that intravenous vitamin c can prevent COVID-19 or other infections. Vitamin C helps boost the immune system, but there is no evidence that it can prevent it. Vitamin C may reduce the risk of getting sick, it helps with the severity and duration of symptoms, but it is also not a cure for the common cold.

Benefits of intravenous vitamin C

Despite the myths, the benefits of vitamin C outweigh them. The most common benefits are:

• Improving the appearance of the skin due to its antioxidant properties and its role in the production of collagen.
• Helping increase the absorption of iron in our body, reducing the risk of anemia.
• Increasing the healing process by helping to repair tissue and reducing inflammation damage.
• Strengthening the immune system by increasing the level of white blood cells.
• Reducing fatigue and depression by regulating neurotransmitters and protecting from oxidative stress.

Although we have mentioned its uses and benefits, it is essential to consult a doctor before administering any therapy. In this case it is important to see a physician to make sure that the Vitamin C therapy is adequate, also depending on the reason, he will determine the dose and the number of sessions necessary for each patient. Finally, you should also go to a clinic specialized in this treatment or if it is a home consultation, it should always be applied by health personnel in case of any adverse effect.

Intravenous or IV therapy has become a well-known therapy nowadays and is in very high demand. It is a minimally invasive procedure that consists of the administration of liquids through a catheter directly into the vein. This allows elements (medications, vitamins, minerals, etc.) to reach the organism faster.

The type of therapy will depend on each patient and their needs. There are IV therapies for hydration, to treat pain, to improve the immune system, to recover from a sports competition, among others. Benefits include:

• Efficiency in absorption since it bypasses the gastric system
• Quick administration
• It is better for treating certain nutrient deficiencies
• Rises the levels of energy
• Helps control symptoms and pain faster
• Improves the immune system
• It is a low-risk therapy

Depending on the case, the type of therapy is indicated, the most common causes are usually dehydration, muscle pain or stiffness, administration of analgesics when the patient cannot take them orally, getting sick recurrently, although there are other indications such as for skin treatment, to relieve stress, or treat other conditions such as osteoporosis.

This therapy is recommended for all its benefits mentioned above and for its diversity in treatments.

Although side effects are few and rarely occur, it is always recommended to receive IV therapy in a clinic or under the supervision of health personnel (in case it is administered at home).

Some complications are allergic reactions, bruising or swelling in the area of the catheter.

Before receiving any treatment, it is essential to see a doctor for the correct indication of the therapy and to rule out any contraindications.

Sports medicine is a medical specialty that focuses on the study, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of injuries and diseases related to physical activity and sports. This specialty also encompasses the biomechanics and physiology of exercise, as well as the study of nutrition and sports psychology. All these factors help patients and athletes to improve their physical performance or start a healthy lifestyle. It is important to know that seeing a sports medicine doctor is not only for high-performance athletes and is recommended for anyone regardless of gender or age.

Sports medicine carries out studies prior to a sport, such as a stress test, a physical examination, and a footprint analysis, as well as giving recommendations for safe physical activity. The most common injuries are sprains, tendonitis, tears, and shoulder injuries. Avoiding and treating these injuries also benefits getting fit without complications.

So how does sports medicine help you get in shape?

As mentioned above, the doctor will do a physical examination and clinical history accompanied by different tests (depending on the case) to know the physical and metabolic state of the person and rule out any complications. Musculoskeletal discomfort or problems such as joint pain or previous injuries are also ruled out. A healthy body is the first step to getting fit.

Once the patient’s objectives are identified, a personalized plan is made that includes the type of exercise that can be performed and in the case of athletes who return to physical activity, continuous monitoring is managed to increase their performance. Along with this plan, eating plans are also recommended, remembering that to be fit and healthy, a balanced diet is also required, also depending on the goals of the person. For example, it is not the same type of diet or exercise routine for a person who wants to gain muscle mass, to another who wants to reduce their body weight, or even for a person who is going to do vigorous physical activity.

If you are planning to start exercising or start a new sport to stay fit, go to a sports medicine doctor for a complete evaluation, in this way, in addition to ruling out any problems, the specialist will have a great overview of your physical condition and in this way will be able to guide you in a personalized and precise way during your progress.

Physiotherapy is responsible for promoting, restoring, and maintaining the movement and function of our locomotor system. They help in rehabilitation as well as in injury prevention. They also treat other conditions such as lung diseases, circulation problems, movement problems due to nervous system diseases, among others.

Physical therapy is for all types of patients of different ages, including athletes. Many people think that they can only go to therapy after an injury, but recurrent therapy helps prevent such conditions.

Therapy helps relax and strengthen muscles, helps with flexibility, relieves pain in certain areas, and improves range of motion in our extremities. This benefits athletes since their training is usually longer and more intense, putting them at risk of constant injuries, in addition to excessive use of their muscles.

The reasons for going to therapy in a preventive way include taking care of the body constantly so as not to diminish its performance. The ways that physical therapy helps athletes to prevent injuries are:

• Physiotherapy strengthens muscles through specific strength exercises
• Improves flexibility
• Helps with mobility and educates athletes on better postures
• Implements a specific exercise routine
• In case of a pre-existing injury, it helps a quick recovery and prevention of serious complications

Therapy can improve the performance and quality of life of athletes. In some cases, it is even recommended to include it as part of their training or routine. If you are an athlete, prevent an injury and go to therapy, it is also necessary to go to the sports medicine doctor for a physical examination, especially if you have had previous injuries.

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy is a non-surgical and minimally invasive treatment within regenerative medicine, which through acoustic or sound waves, has a therapeutic effect on injured tissues. It consists of sending these rapid impulses from the outside of the body where an injury is to relieve pain and repair soft tissues. There are two types of therapy, the focal ones that send the waves to a more limited area, but with greater depth, and the radial ones that send the waves to a wider area and the effect is more superficial.

This therapy is indicated in various pathologies and injuries, the most common are:

• Chronic tendinopathies
• Plantar fasciitis
• Muscle calcifications
• Lateral epicondylitis
• Painful shoulder
• Calcaneal spur
• Stress fracture

It is important to see a doctor for a diagnosis and identification of the painful area. Usually both are performed in consult by a physical examination and ultrasound. Once the area to be treated is located, gel is applied to help the waves applicator to transmit them in a fluid way. Once the treatment is completed, it acts by creating capillary microruptures, activating an inflammatory response, increasing collagen production, and destroying calcifications. Therefore, it encompasses great medical benefits for the patient, some of which are pain relief and tissue repair, as well as the increase in new blood vessels, dispersion of pain mediators, and improvement of the healing process.

At Olympia we care about your health, providing quality medical care and different innovative therapy options. Being a non-invasive and easy-to-use treatment, it can be performed in almost all patients. It is also a great alternative to surgical treatments for certain diagnoses. The number of sessions will depend on the pathology and its severity, but a usual treatment is from 6 to 10 sessions, which are spaced in one session per week. If you have chronic pain or a musculoskeletal injury, come in for an assessment with our sports medicine doctor.