Sports medicine

At Capital Clinic Riga clients are consulted by Dr. Ugis Kreitenbergs

The physician has more than 10 years of work experience at State Spots Medicine Centre with athletes of various level and age groups. Since the Capital Clinic Riga was established in 2014, works here as a physician of sports and functional medicine. Ugis Kreitenbergs is certified for ECG exercise testing method.

Advice on sports medicine.

• Performs ECG exercise testing, veloergometry stress testing, cardiopulmonary or complex stress testing, Holter monitoring.

• Manages the check-up program "Physical fitness assessment" Read more>>

What is sports medicine?

Sports medicine includes theoretical and practical medicine. It studies impact of movement, training and sports as well as lacks of movement on people of all age groups, both healthy and those with an illness, with an aim to make the findings useful in athletes' health prevention, therapy and rehabilitation. This explanation of German physician Wildor Hollman in 1977 became an official definition of International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS). 

What is the difference between a sports medicine specialist and others physicians?

The specialization of sports medicine is the non-operative treatment of musculoskeletal conditions (injuries and illness) resulting from sporting activities. To treat injuries and illnesses a sports physician works in close cooperation with other specialists - traumatologists, radiologists, general practitioners, physiotherapists, fitness trainees. They shall have necessary knowledge on various fields of medicine - traumatology, cardiology, pharmacology and functional diagnostics. Kind of sports and level of an athlete sports medicine specialist works for are of great importance. The kind of sports determines what should be the key subject - in traumatic kinds of sports, such as boxing, football, physician should have a sound knowledge of traumatology, but with running and skiing - to be on top of cardiovascular and breathing systems. Sports medicine specialists counsel not only professional sportsmen, but amateurs and those who go in for health promoting physical activities as well.

Scope of sports physician

The specialist fixes the relationship between the body's functions and physical loads, as well as prevention, diagnostics, treatment and rehabilitation of physical activity and sports related injuries and illnesses.

During an appointment the doctor questions on overall health state, physical activities, their impact on health; questions on chosen kind of sports or routine activities; if you want to start training, - measures blood pressure and pulse, performs electrocardiogram, if necessary, orders other kind of examinations - analysis, consultations, exercise testing etc. When the results are summarized, provides a report on physical health and strength, advice on most suitable kind of sports for the person, load intensity, sports nutrition and other key issues. In case of an injury or overload, prescribes most appropriate treatment and rehabilitation.

Way of treatment

Functional diagnostic testing helps to determine individually optimum physical load. To determine the most suitable physical activity a patient's age, health condition, current and previous illnesses, fitness level, sports skills, current physical activities, personal motivation, goals and feasibility should be considered.

Prior to starting workouts, check-up has to be performed, consisting of various examinations - ECG at rest, veloergometry or Complex cardiopulmonary exercise testing, blood count, urine analysis, complete blood biochemistry. In case of complaint, the doctor may recommend other testings, analyses and specialist advice as appropriate.

Having assessed the results of laboratory findings and examinations, a sports physician will advise a person on most suitable kind of sports, load frequency, intensity and duration.

Repeated check-up at sports physician is necessary at least once a year. In case of any changes or new complaints, more frequent monitoring is required.

When to see a sports doctor?

1. If you are a sportsman or the one who keeps to a healthy lifestyle, without a known supervising sports physician.
2. If you want to start active workouts.
3. If your profession (policeman/ fire-fighter, pilot, driver etc.) involves increased physical and emotional load.
4. If you have sports-related injury or overload.
5. If you experience heartbeat, breathing problems, blood pressure disorders or other complaints during physical activities or at all the rest time.
6. Children and teenagers prior to joining active sports trainings.

What you should know about the testing

1. During exercise testing you will need sportswear, towel for a shower (testing causes sweating).
2. To carry out an ECG, the upper part of the body has to be undressed, you will be asked to put off trousers or skirt as well.
3. To obtain the test results, electrodes have to be attached to a body, therefore men have to take off the undershirt, and for women a sports bra is advisable.
4. To estimate respiratory system activity a face mask is used during cardiopulmonary testing.
5. The average exercise testing lasts for 30 – 45 minutes.
6. The exercise testing shall not be performed, if a person's body weight exceeds 160 kg, or as determined by the doctor.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing –non-invasive method, allowing to evaluate at at once the activity of cardiovascular, respiratory and muscular system at rest, during precisely measured physical exercise and during recovery period, to define more precisely physical work capacity and the reasons restricting it. Thus allowing early detection and evaluation of cardiopulmonary function disorders and to develop effective training program. To evaluate ananaerobic threshold more precisely, the blood lactate level is measured during the test. Read more>>

HOLTER monitoring - 24 hour ECG registration. With the help of this method a doctor can evaluate heart rhythm disorders. It is used in young patients with periodically fast heart rate (pulse), as well as in athletes and elderly patients having heart problems. This examination is performed if a patient experiences dizziness, faintness, or feeling like his heart is skipping a beat as well. In such cases the recordings made by the monitor helps your doctor distinguish between heart rhythm disorders and cerebrovascular insufficiency. During Holter monitoring, electrodes are attached to a patient's chest, connected to a small recording device. Electrodes and recording device are easy to wear, they makes no inconvenience to daily routine, - you just hide them under your clothes.

Biomechanical running analysis. Allows to assess running efficiency through all its' phases, based on musculoskeletal system movement pattern video recording analysis. This kind of analysis helps to determine repeated impact force absorption mechanisms, as well as stability of lower extremities, particularly feet stability. In case of deviation recommendations on improving running technique can be developed with the aim to protect the body from trauma caused by instability of a foot, by means of assistive technologies, involving footwear modification or specific physiotherapy. Read more>>

To apply for a consultation and learn more, please, call:

+ 371 66 333333, + 371 29334224,

e-mail us at: info@capitalclinicriga.lv

or use our electronic application system >>