A total of 50 traditional Chinese medicine practitioners will provide treatments to athletes at three venues of the Summer Universiade, marking the first time on-site TCM services will be offered at the global event, according to Taipei City Government’s Department of Health Aug. 17.
On-site TCM therapies available during the Aug. 19-30 games—the largest international sporting competition ever staged in Taiwan—comprise acupressure, cupping, medical bandaging and tendon-soothing treatments. They will be provided at Taipei Gymnasium, Taipei Tennis Center and Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City.
Jeng Fang-fann, commissioner of TCG’s Department of Sports, said the incorporation of TCM into the Universiade health care program, which also consists of comprehensive dentistry and Western medical services, will aid participating athletes in delivering stellar performances by providing them with a greater variety of treatment options. It will also foster international awareness of the diversity of services on offer in Taiwan’s top-notch health care system, he added.
Lin Tsan-hon, president of Taipei Chinese Medical Association, said Taiwan has played an important role in the promotion of TCM therapies like acupuncture and cupping, which are effective at treating a variety of common sports injuries such as bruises, sore muscles and sprains.
To ensure the highest standard of services, on-site TCM practitioners were required to complete 48 hours of specialized training spanning such areas as injury prevention and sports injury emergency care. In addition to the non-invasive treatments provided at the competition venues, a clinic offering a wider array of traditional therapies will be open to participants throughout the games at the Athletes’ Village in New Taipei City’s Linkou District.
According to DOH, a total of 3,945 medical staff consisting of 1,054 doctors, 1,950 nursing staff, and 941 health care professionals like first-aid technicians have been recruited to deliver services during the Universiade across nine fields: TCM, dentistry, emergency treatment, family medicine, general internal medicine, gynecology, ophthalmology, orthopedics and rehabilitation, as well as ear, nose and throat medicine.
Also known as the World University Games, the Universiade is an international sporting and cultural festival staged biennially in a different city worldwide. The 29th edition in Taipei involves 7,699 students from 141 countries contesting 21 sports at 38 competition venues in Taipei, Hsinchu City, Hsinchu County, New Taipei and Taipei cities. (CPY-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw