FIFA Director of Medical Department (FIFA Director of Medical Department) visited the Bangkok Academy of Sports and Exercise Medicine BASEM at Bangkok Hospital, the Center of Excellence in Football Medicine (FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence)
On the occasion that Thailand is hosting the FIFA Congress 2024 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center from 13 – 17 May 2024, which marks the 74th annual FIFA general meeting, with all 211 member countries attending. This is the first time in Thailand and ASEAN.
Air Commodore (Special) Dr. Paisan Chantraphithak, an advisor to the Director of Bangkok Hospital Special Activities Line and Chairman of the Medical Department of the Football Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage, stated that Dr. Andrew Massey, FIFA Director of Medical Department, attending the FIFA Congress 2024 in Thailand, visited the Bangkok Academy of Sports and Exercise Medicine (BASEM) at Bangkok Hospital’s headquarters, as BASEM has been certified by FIFA as a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence (FMCE) since 2012 (2555), in collaboration with the College of Sports Science and Technology at Mahidol University. This FMCE is the first and only one in Thailand and ASEAN, the third in Asia, and one of 49 worldwide that FIFA has certified as a center to comprehensively take care of footballers in that region. This includes injury prevention, educating footballers about science in football, referred to by FIFA as Football Medicine, to ensure footballers have good physical fitness, strength, and reduce injuries during matches.
In addition to treating football-related injuries by orthopedic and sports medicine specialists with modern technology and equipment in rehabilitation and physiotherapy, such as the Alter G Anti-Gravity Treadmill for running with reduced impact. There is also a synthetic football field for rehabilitation, known as Field Rehabilitation, enabling injured footballers to quickly return to play, comparable to leading medical institutes in the UK and Europe that treat professional footballers. Furthermore, FIFA emphasizes that every FMCE worldwide should be well-known among footballers in each region to serve as a reliable resource and continually increase in number.
During this visit, discussions with FIFA’s Medical Director will address supporting women’s football in Thailand from FIFA’s medical team, strengthening this area, which is a key policy of current FIFA and the Football Association of Thailand, led by Khun Nualphan Lamsam. This will help develop and enhance sports medicine potential, especially in football, to keep players in strong physical condition, reduce injuries, and ensure quick recovery from injuries.
Dr. Andrew Massey, FIFA Director of Medical Department said that attending this FIFA Congress in Thailand, he was impressed with the warmth of Thai smiles and hospitality. The FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence at BASEM is well equipped to superbly care for athletes, aiming to start training and educating youth in football medicine to develop strong athletes. He also strives to increase the number of FIFA Medical Centres of Excellence from the current 49 worldwide.
Lt. Col. Dr. Pornthep Mamanee, Director of the Bangkok Academy of Sports and Exercise Medicine (BASEM) at Bangkok Hospital, said that the Bangkok Academy of Sports and Exercise Medicine (BASEM) at Bangkok Hospital is an international leader in sports injury care with a center of excellence recognized by FIFA, serving people of all ages who love exercise and sports. The center provides comprehensive services, including physical fitness assessments, problem and cause analysis, diagnosis, injury treatment, physiotherapy, modern injury prevention, advanced minimally invasive surgery, and special rehabilitation and enhancement programs for athletes. These services are suitable for the general public, amateur athletes, professional athletes, seniors, patients, and those with chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and those who are overweight.
