ISEH consultant Dr Mike Loosemore has just returned from a stint as the England’s team doctor from the Women’s World Boxing Championships, held in Jeju, South Korea from 16 to 24 November. The England team were among the medals twice, with Lisa Whiteside winning silver in the 51kg category and Sandy Ryan silver in the 64kg category.
Ryan’s and Whiteside’s successes pave the way for potential success at the Rio and Tokyo Olympics, though both boxers would face challenges on the way. 64kg is not currently an Olympic weight category – the nearest current weight is 60kg, meaning the Ryan may need to lose weight to compete; while Whiteside might need to challenge reigning 51kg Olympic Champion Nicola Adams to fight at that weight in Rio.
As team doctor, Dr Loosemore’s priority is to keep the boxers fit and less susceptible to injury before competition, as well as treating any ringside injuries.
During a typical tournament a boxer may need to box five times, so endurance and resilience are essential: the winner will be able to sustain high performance throughout the competition.
Dr Loosemore credits part of the England team’s success is due to their strict weight management policy. “We weigh all our boxers before they travel to major competitions, and don’t allow them to travel if they are too far above the weight. Losing too much fluid to make the weight takes a physical toll: boxers end up having to spend hours between bouts sweating in the gym, leaving them fatigued and possibly dehydrated.”
During matches, the role of the ringside medical team is to treat any injuries and make a continuous assessment of a boxer’s physical condition. “The job is to try and see every punch that’s landed”, said Dr Loosemore. “We want to ensure a boxer says safe in the ring, and to minimise the risk of long-term injury – even if that sometimes means taking the difficult decision to withdraw a boxer from a fight.”
Dr Loosemore is Lead Consultant in Sport and Exercise Medicine at the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health and Lead Sports Physician (South of England) for the English Institute of Sport.
Photo: Lisa Whiteside celebrates her silver medal win in Jeju