During the 2023/24 season, we piloted the implementation of a pre-participation evaluation (PHE) questionnaire specifically designed for athletes observing Ramadan fasting (1). This proposal sought to address the complex challenges facing our Muslim players during the holy month, including balancing energy levels, maintaining hydration and nutrition within limited eating windows, and managing disrupted sleep schedules(2, […]
Tag: ramadan
Managing Ramadan on the move: perspectives from the African Nations Cup Qualifiers
Personal perspectives on facilitating optimal performance with the Egyptian Men’s National Football team My background with “The Pharaohs” Since 2015, I have been the head of sports medicine at the Egyptian Football Association (EFA). Being Egyptian myself, it gives me a lot of pride to be able to plan and provide advice to the technical […]
The Ramadan fasting athlete; competing in good health and for optimum performance.
A pre-participation evaluation medical questionnaire to support the fasting athlete. Introduction The month of Ramadan presents a unique challenge for Muslim athletes, with regards to planning for competition and training, whilst fasting. During this month, many Muslim athletes abstain from consuming food and fluid during day light hours (from dawn to sunset), increasing their focus […]
Nutrition for the (Ramadan) fasted athlete; optimising food and fluids intake for fast breaking time (iftar)
For the competing athlete, refraining from the intake of food and fluids for religious or spiritual reasons during Ramadan can be a physical and mental challenge. Many athletes cite improved concentration, focus and discipline gained from this month – but recognise the physical challenges to maintain peak performance during this month. We discuss practical steps […]