Expert Tasks Athletes On Fitness

A medical officer has ob
served that some national players taking part in the ongoing Lagos State tennis Governor’s Cup are not physically fit.
Chief Nursing Officer, the Medical Centre, National Stadium,  Tajudeen Sule, has observed that the players had not been performing well because they lacked fitness.
Sule, one of the officers in charge of medicals at the ongoing tournament, told newsmen that he reached that conclusion from the complaints the players made about their health.
The officer said that many of them had been coming to the medical stands to report mainly cramps and exhaustion because they did not train enough to be fit to play.
“Most of our players will rather play their games with pains and retire before the end of the matches.
“They know they are not fit to play but will rather go and play to lose and pay less attention to their health.
“With such a poor attitude, they lose both ways, and in some cases, end up with injuries,” he said.
The officer said that the ailments being reported by the players were mostly cramps and exhaustion.
Cramps are normal occurrences that can happen to any tennis player because it has to do with the muscles.
But when cramps are reported too frequently, it shows that such athletes have not been exercising regularly.
“Often times, players do not heed to their coaches’ instructions; they avoid training sessions that could have helped them to fine-tune their muscles in preparation for tournaments,’’ he said.
The officer added that exhaustion was another major challenge to players.
Exhaustion has to do with the rapid loss of fluid from their bodies due to improper feeding habits and irregular intake of water.
“When it occurs, it leaves the individual weak and tired;  such a player may even end up fainting, if care is not taken,’’ he said.
Sule said that pains in joints, wrists, elbows and shoulder blades could hinder a player from performing optimally in competitions.
He added that change of equipment by a player could also take its toll on his performance.
According to him, players can end up with blisters on their palms from use of new racquets or on toes from wearing new shoes.