All about sports medicine

There’s a whole-day seminar on sports medicine at the Megatrade Conference Center, SM Megamall, this Sunday and it’s a can’t miss proposition for athletes, physical fitness buffs, weekend warriors, enthusiasts and those interested in the finer points of physical therapy.

It’s not often you get a chance to listen to the country’s top sports medicine practitioners under one roof in one day so this is a rare opportunity.

Making it happen is the Summit Team Specialists Sports Medicine Center (STSSMC), a facility dedicated to sports medicine and work-related injuries. It’s one of the top sports medicine centers in the country today.

STSSMC was established four years ago to provide goal-oriented care for professional, amateur and aspiring athletes and active individuals with superior cost-effective rehabilitation programs using the best protocol and techniques available. Its center is at the Green Valley Country Club, Pasig, and offers an aggressive approach to different sports and work-related injuries through the latest rehabilitation procedures. Among the services the center provides are acupuncture, patient education, physical and manual therapy, therapy assessment and medical consultation.

On top of STSSMC’s operations is the chief executive officer/president Dondi Narciso, a University of Santo Tomas (UST) physical therapy graduate, the former chief physical therapist of the Philippine Orthopedic Institute and the San Miguel Beer pro basketball team physical therapist the last 10 years. A recipient of the UST Institute of Physical Therapy Most Outstanding Alumnus award, he was in the medical staff of the Philippine delegation at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan. Narciso trained at the world-famous Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic where the Los Angeles Lakers go for treatment in Inglewood, California.

In the STSSMC Board of Directors are Narciso, Dr. George Canlas, Roy Lazaro and Eski Feria.

Dr. Canlas is the country’s leading orthopedic surgeon. A champion varsity trackster at the Ateneo and the University of the Philippines (UP), Dr. Canlas is the section chief of the Institute of Sports Medicine at St. Luke’s Medical Center and the Asian representative in FIBA (Federation Internationale de Basketball). He took his fellowship training in Minneapolis and has headed medical teams for the Philippine delegation in events like the Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Games in Bangkok and Busan and the Olympics in Sydney and Athens.

While highly-paid injured Filipino athletes used to go to the US for surgery and rehabilitation, now they’re confident of getting equally competent (if not better) treatment from Dr. Canlas and his team. Even injured Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) imports entrust their playing careers in Dr. Canlas’ capable hands. That’s how much he’s respected.

Lazaro is also a UST graduate and was the head physical therapist of the Philippine Center for Sports Medicine. He practiced in Illinois before deciding to settle here. Lazaro is the head physical therapist for the Talk ‘N’ Text pro basketball team and previously worked for the Purefoods squad. He gained invaluable experience in in-season training and injury prevention and treatment during a visit with the Minnesota Timberwolves last year.

Feria was the topnotcher in the Philippine licensure exams for physical therapists in 1993 and was the chief physical therapist at the Philippine Orthopedic Institute. He was once the physical therapist of Talk ‘N’ Text.

Narciso said STSSMS’ doors are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, and 8 to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Four physical therapists are ready to provide the necessary care.

Lazaro is STSSMS’ chief therapist himself. Joann Leano is the senior physical therapist with Rufina Balanquit and Leomil Adriano as junior physical therapists. Abigail Garcia takes care of administration. Visiting medical specialists are Dr. Rodrigo Ong and Dr. Jose Syquia. Managing consultants are Lizette Ludan and Sirikit Carol Tan.

This Sunday, STSSMS is holding a seminar/workshop on "Physical Therapy Coverage in International Sports Events" in function rooms A and B, Megatrade Conference Center, fifth floor, Building B, SM Megamall. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and Narciso will welcome the participants at 10 a.m.

Narciso said at the end of the sessions, participants should be able to appreciate the role of physical therapists in sports, identify common medical emergencies, assess and provide first-aid treatment to medical emergencies in sports, demonstrate proper transfer techniques of injured athletes, identify and evaluate common sports injuries, educate athletes in preventing injuries through proper dynamic stretching, know the appropriate taping technique to be used for specific injuries, demonstrate proper taping techniques and apply basic principles of manual therapy.