First sports medicine course for Junior Doctors Academy participants

On Sunday, 15 February, the RSU Sports Science Interest Group held a joint course with participants from the Junior Doctors Academy (JDA) at the Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Laboratory of Sports and Nutrition Research.

This course was made possible by the University’s merger with the Latvian Academy of Sport Education (LASE) and the establishment of the Laboratory of Sports and Nutrition Research, which enabled discussions on sports medicine. The initiative not only created new educational opportunities but also highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation in medicine and sports science.

During the course, members of the RSU Sports Science Interest Group provided the participants from JDA with an overview of sports science, introducing various methods used in both research and clinical practice. The students also covered topics such as sports and nutrition, the role of water and electrolytes in sports, and demonstrated practical methods and tests, including spirometry, dynamometry, and resting metabolic rate measurement. Participants had the opportunity to calculate their basal metabolic rate.

The pupils showed great interest in all the activities, asking questions and engaging actively. This experience was valuable, providing them with insights into the practical applications of sports science and sparking their interest in medical and health sciences.

Assoc. Prof. Ingus Skadiņš, Vice-Dean of the RSU Faculty of Medicine and Head of the JDA, says:

‘By incorporating new topics and approaches, JDA participants gain a broader perspective on the field of medicine, including physical fitness, rehabilitation, and sports medicine. Healthcare and sports science are closely linked, and professionals in both fields must collaborate

to promote public health and prevention. During this course, participants had the chance to explore how sports science methods can be applied in patient care and health promotion.

This first JDA course with the Sports Science Interest Group marks an important step forward in the development of the JDA and may lead to broader collaboration in the future, equipping junior doctors with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills.’

We would like to thank Marta Štromberga, Head of the Sports Science Interest Group, Dace Reihmane, Head of the Laboratory of Sports and Nutrition Research, and Linda Laizāne for organising the JDA course.