"We participated in a medical security training session, ran another trial for the first aid and treatment for athletes, and learned more about the equipment, supplies and zoning of the medical center of the FISU Games Village's medical center," said Liu Xihui, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) attending physician from Sports Medicine department, Sichuan Provincial Orthopedic Hospital. 

Liu and her colleagues headed to the FISU Games Village (hereinafter referred to as the Games Village) on July 10, to get ready for the medical security work of the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games (hereinafter referred to as the Games).

Left to right: Zhou Xiaosheng, Liu Xihui and Chen Ke, from Sichuan Provincial Orthopedic Hospital in the Games Village. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

"When it comes to servicing major sports events, the TCM practitioners in Sichuan have never been absent. We will continue to play TCM's unique advantage in providing medical service as well as in culture demonstration, contributing to the Games with our strength," said Tian Xingjun, secretary of the leading Party members group and director-general of Sichuan Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

As the Games draws near, the Sichuan TCM practitioners are already in position.

It is reported that Liu Xihui and her colleagues will work as members of a provincial expert team that provides instructions and help for the medical teams in game venues, the medical center in the Games Village and designated hospitals, providing TCM service for the athletes. 

Both the Wuhou site and Tianfu site of Sichuan Provincial Orthopedic Hospital have been assigned as designated hospitals for sports injuries during the Games. Now, the two hospital sites have opened a special express lane and planned a special diagnosing and treatment zone for the Games. All the medical staff of the hospital are well prepared for any emergency, acting as the most dependable medical security guard for the Games.

Left to right: Wang Jiaying, Huang Jichao, Lu Huaimin, Liu Zhiyang and Li Yan from Affiliated Sport Hospital of CDSU (Chengdu Sport University) in the Games Village. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

What's more, all the work related to physical medicine and rehabilitation in the Games Village Medical Center are led by the Affiliated Sport Hospital of CDSU. In line with the medical department's working plan of the Executive Committee of Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games, the hospital pooled efforts from various parties and formed a compound medical security team that features sports medicine scientific research and medical treatment, and sent a team of 14 members to the Games Village, including seven as a back-up force. 

Meanwhile, the hospital has sent out another two medical teams to provide medical service for the opening and closing ceremony of the Games, as well as for the venue of rhythmic gymnastics competitions. The hospital is also a designated hospital for the Games; it will also open a special zone for the Games, safeguarding the smooth running of the Games.

TCM Culture Demonstration & Experience Zone in the Main Media Center (MMC) of the Games. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Besides the provision of medical service, a TCM Culture Demonstration & Experience Zone was also set at the Main Media Center (MMC) of the Games. There, samples of traditional Chinese drugs, food that could be used both for normal dining and medical treatment, an acupuncture bronze figure as well as TCM antiques are displayed; a recreation of the famous painting "A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains" decorated by filiform needles and moxa floss is also on display. Here, people could experience TCM massage Tuina and learn Chinese traditional exercises like Baduanjin (Eight Section Brocade) and Wuqinxi (Five-Animal Qigong). Herb sachets are also prepared as gifts. After a trial run, the zone officially opened on July 25. Athletes from all over the world, officials from FISU, and friends from the press can come and enjoy the charm of TCM in Sichuan, the homeland of TCM and the database of traditional Chinese drugs.

Sichuan TCM practitioners are never absent from major sports events.

For a long time, Sichuan TCM has been playing a unique role with its advantage in major sports events, as it has been providing injury prevention, treatment and rehabilitation service for athletes. During the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Sichuan province sent out 18 experts from Sichuan Provincial Orthopedic Hospital and Affiliated Sport Hospital of CDSU, who acted as team doctors or worked in the medical security group; these doctors managed to do a satisfying job in carrying out real-time physical condition monitoring, TCM constitution identification and integrated treatment measures of TCM and western medicine for athletes, which was acknowledged by the Winter Sports Administrative Center of General Administration of Sport of China.

Zhang Qing helping Su Yiming (L) get prepared before training. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Zhu Jiangwei, an attending from Sichuan Provincial Orthopedic Hospital, worked as the team doctor for China's national free-ski big air and slopestyle team for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Zhu accompanied the team to Austria, Switzerland, and America, providing medical services for the team's training and competitions. During the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Gu Ailing won a gold medal in the free ski big air event, and TCM experts contributed to that. Based on Gu's physical features, Zhu Jiangwei gave her proper physical treatment using Zheng's Traumatology techniques, providing injury prevention advice for her functional exercise and training, which reduced her injuries before the Winter Olympics, and laid a solid foundation for her championship. 

Zhang Qiang, another attending from the same hospital, also worked as the team doctor of China's national free-ski big air and slopestyle team; he was a member of Team China in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and was responsible for Su Yiming's healthcare. Su had sufficient confidence in Zhang and his techniques from Zheng's Traumatology. Before the game night, Zhang Qiang gave Su treatment as usual, which helped him adjust his body conditions to the best for the game.

Liu Xihui performing an exam using musculoskeletal ultrasound equipment. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

"During the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games, we will adopt techniques from Zheng's Traumatology to provide medical services for athletes, giving them an experience of TCM's application in sports medicine," said Liu Hui. 

What's so special about Zheng's Traumatology that could service the Olympics? According to experts in the Games Village, the founder of Zheng's Traumatology is Zheng Huaixian, who was not only a specialist in TCM orthopedics and traumatology, but also a martial artist. Zheng summed up 13 basic manipulation methods for traumatology Tuina, 12 manipulation methods for acupoint massage, and concluded 55 acupoints for Zheng's Traumatology. He was the founder of sports massage, which could give athletes injury prevention, treatment, fatigue alleviation and improvement in function with his original Tuina methods. These could help athletes stand on the arena with a relaxed body.

From the Beijing 2008 Olympics to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Sichuan's TCM practitioners provided injury prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services for athletes; every year, more professionals are providing their services more frequently. Their services are not limited to the Olympics. In six decades since the 1962 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship, Sichuan TCM has almost served every major sports event including the National Games of China, Asian Games and other world sports competitions.

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