MANILA, Philippines - On Jan. 20 2009, Dr. Alran Bengzon, Chief Executive of The Medical City and Dr. Lydia Echauz, president of Far Eastern University (FEU), led the ribbon-cutting ceremony that marked the official launch of the SPARC Sports Performance Center. Located on the ground floor of the Technology Building of FEU along Nicanor Reyes Street, Sampaloc, Manila, SPARC was established to assist athletes, non-athletes and weekend warriors to enhance and strengthen their performance and to provide remedies for their recovery from injuries.
SPARC is a collaboration between medical and sports science specialists. The facility houses orthopedists who treat a variety of conditions and rehabilitation medicine consultants who complement them.
Dr. Mikey Bengzon, president of SPARC and son of Dr. Alfredo Bengzon, explained that “While skill has an impact on athletic talent, it does not equate to overall fitness. Skill alone does not guarantee an athlete a great career in sports”. At SPARC, an athlete’s performance can be quantified, measured, and monitored with the help of state-of-the-art technology and equipment. Sports science consultants at SPARC train the athletes to regain their previous athletic performance levels (when they are injured) or improve such levels through strength and conditioning, fitness and physiological screening, and body fat screening among others.
Dr. Bengzon added that since the risk of getting injured in sports is extremely high, a good rehabilitation center is imperative to help athletes recover quickly. SPARC’s clinical services include orthopedic rehabilitation and occupational and functional rehabilitation.
“We wanted a venue where we can treat sports-related injuries using superior equipment and professionally-trained rehabilitation therapists,” said FEU’s Anton Montinola who explained that this was the vision for the facility from its inception.
Last year, FEU Tamaraw Mac Baracael figured in an accident which resulted in a punctured lung. In less than 6 weeks Baracael recovered, thanks to cardiopulmonary rehabilitation at The Medical City and training under the sports performance enhancement programs. These services are now available at SPARC.
Members of SPARC’s clinical team are all internationally-trained and work in The Medical City’s Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Sports and Arthroscopy Unit of the Department of Orthopedics.