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How did he save the U.S. ice hockey team from injury in the Olympics? Medical experts' secret weapon!
In the hockey world, the risk of injury has always been a focus. However, there is one medical expert whose tireless efforts and expertise have made it safer for the U.S. ice hockey team to perform at the Olympics. Known as the authority on sports medicine, Michael J. Stuart is not only an experienced sports doctor, but also an important figure in the American ice hockey community.
"We need to pay attention to strength and flexibility in training to reduce sports injuries."
Stewart is currently the associate director of orthopedics at the Mayo Clinic in the United States, focusing on the field of sports medicine. He has extensive research experience in injury prevention and treatment for ice hockey players and has authored more than 370 journal articles and 50 book chapters. Today, his research focuses on how to reduce the risk of injury through increased training and awareness.
Stewart has participated in several hockey summits in the past, focusing on concussion research. He emphasized that the safety of young athletes must be taken seriously by relevant personnel. His research shows that the use of electrophysiological techniques (such as electroencephalography) and specific eyeball tests (King-Devick Test) can effectively improve the diagnostic accuracy of concussion.
"The diagnosis of concussion requires a more scientific approach rather than relying solely on manual observation."
With the efforts of him and his team, USA Hockey has implemented a number of safety regulations and education programs for young athletes. The promotion of these measures has significantly reduced the number of injuries in hockey. Throughout this process, he always emphasized that proper technique training and awareness of the competition environment are the keys to reducing injuries.
Professional and Practice
Stewart's medical career began in medical school. During this time, he became aware of the challenges that come with sports injuries. The research for his thesis "Sports Injury Epidemiology and Prevention" attracted widespread attention, making him one of the experts in the field. He even presented his research on the impact of face protectors on eye injuries to the NHL Players Association in 2004.
Driving change
Stewart not only pays attention to the physical health of athletes, but also participates in promoting changes in the rules of ice hockey. After his promotion, checking in ice hockey was banned before the age of 13. This was to protect young athletes who are still growing and reduce physical and mental harm to them.
"Young players need to develop in a good and safe environment so that they can concentrate on training."
As the chief medical officer of USA Hockey, he not only provides professional advice on sports medicine, but also assists in organizing the medical team to ensure that every athlete can participate in the game in a safe environment. He said that for ice hockey players, the biggest challenge is not only fighting opponents, but also controlling the risk of injury.
Calling for social attention
Stewart is also an active advocate for head injury awareness and promoting community attention to concussions and their consequences. Among the changes to the fish school policy, he emphasized the prohibition of fighting to reduce unnecessary injuries. This policy was discussed in depth while taking sportsmanship into consideration.
At the recent 2022 Winter Olympics, he once again emphasized the responsibilities required of sports medicine personnel. The team he is responsible for not only deals with athletes' injuries, but also follows international COVID-19 precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of all athletes.
"Protecting the health of sports painters is not only the responsibility of doctors, but also the common mission of the entire sports community."
Faced with the challenges ahead, Stewart remains committed to promoting scientific research and normative changes in the hockey community. He is working with a team at the Mayo Clinic to study biomarkers in blood and saliva to learn more about the effects of mild concussions, a study targeting youth hockey players to guide how to effectively protect their health.
Stewart’s story is a vivid illustration of the critical influence of sports medicine, and the safety measures he promoted benefited countless athletes. In the future, will other sports follow his footsteps and adopt more scientific and humane care measures to improve the safety and health of athletes?
