Dr. Babette Pluim: Living the Olympic Dream

By Dr. Babette Pluim (@DocPluim) To work at an Olympic Games is a dream for every sport physician. So, in 2011, I applied to LOCOG as a volunteer. The minimum commitment was ten days, with an option to do both the Olympics and Paralympics. Nothing could hold me back at the interview. Yes, yes, yes, […]

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Guest Blog: Peter Brukner on Drugs and the London Olympics

DRUGS AND THE LONDON OLYMPICS A couple of days ago, London 2012 would have been regarded as a drug-free Olympics – that was before shot put gold medalist Nadzeya Ostapchuk (Belarus) tested positive for the anabolic steroid metenolene in samples taken both before and after her London competition. That was the first positive test by a […]

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Exercise for older adults: New UK guidelines!

By Ann Gates, @exerciseworks ‘Keeping Gran and Gramps fit and healthy’ should be part of the Olympic legacy in its truest sense and part of every nation’s health priorities. Regular exercise and increased aerobic fitness are associated with a decrease in all-cause mortality and morbidity. They are also proven to reduce disease and disability, and improve […]

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The legality of Pistorius: why ethics is more relevant than biomechanics. Guest blog @DrJohnOrchard

by @DrJohnOrchard I’m pleased to see Professor Lippi’s opinion piece on Oscar Pistorius in BJSM’s Online first [1], as it is a very important topic and the BJSM is a very appropriate forum to publish on this debate. Much of the article is a good neutral overview of the parameters of this debate. However I […]

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Guest blog: Do athletes with prosthetic limbs have an unfair advantage over able-bodied athletes?

    Abhishek Chitnis 3rd Year Medical Student Keele University Email: v0z55@students.keele.ac.uk The use of prosthetic limbs in medicine has helped many patients over millennia lead a more comfortable life, enabling them to continue their activities of daily living as well as to compete in sport. In developing countries, prosthetic limbs are mainly used because […]

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Mechanisms, persistence, and prevention of airway dysfunction in swimmers

Swimming is consistently one of the most popular Olympic sports. However, at BJSM we don’t care about Twitter gossip on Australian swimmer Stephanie Rice, nor are we particularly concerned if US Champion Michael Phelps wins more medals. We, of course, are interested in noteworthy research on swimmers’ health.   We focus today on Valérie Bougault […]

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BMJ’s Olympic Portal – clinical solutions, multimedia and more!

The global buzz for the 2012 Olympics in London  (27 July – 12 August) is growing rapidly. Beyond a world-class athletic competition, London 2012 is touted as  “THE social media Olympics” – where stories will be told by athletes, and professional and citizen journalists using multiple web-based platforms – on a massive scale. The BMJ is sharing […]

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Ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport brings consistency, but anti-doping debate will rumble on.

The CAS has ruled that the British Olympic Association cannot exclude dopers who have served their bans from future Olympic teams. The decision pushes Dwain Chambers back into the spotlight. He has kept a low profile over the past few months, although his agent, barrister Siza Agha, has been eloquent on his behalf: “Redemption is […]

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Cutting edge science at Mo Farah’s Oregon Training Camp

Guest Blog By Nick Smallwood Post script August 11th, 2012 – Congratulations @Mo_Farah for 5K, 10K double – delighted the world! Mo Farah knows the fine line between success and failure. At the World Athletics Championships last summer, he missed out on 10,000m gold by a quarter of a second. A few days later, he […]

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