Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital was founded in 2007. This is the first specialized sports medicine hospital in the Gulf region. Located in Doha, Qatar, Aspetar is recognized as a leading facility for the treatment of sports-related injuries, rehabilitation, and enhancement of athletic performance. In addition to providing world-class treatment in a state-of-the-art facility staffed by experts in sports medicine, Aspetar is heavily involved in medical training, education, and cutting-edge research in sports science.
Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics
Aspetar has become known in the sports world as a key destination for international athletes seeking expert diagnosis and treatment for sports injuries. The inpatient and outpatient sections are equipped with cutting-edge medical technology and rehabilitation facilities. The diagnostic imaging and radiology department provides a full range of services. These include plain films, DEXA scans, computerized tomography (CT), ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It additionally offers diagnostic and therapeutic image-guided joint injections.
In Aspetar’s surgical department, a team of highly skilled, internationally renowned orthopedic and trauma surgeons performs a full range of surgeries for sports injuries. These surgeries include open and arthroscopic procedures using the most advanced techniques and equipment. Aspetar surgeons are also working on innovative techniques. They publish research in peer-reviewed orthopedic journals and present at major orthopedic conferences around the world.
Sports Science: Performance Enhancement and Rehabilitation
Aspetar’s world-class physical therapy and rehabilitation programs are staffed by expert physiotherapists, physical therapists, and coaches. These programs help athletes recover and return to pre-injury levels of sports and performance wherever possible. The rehabilitation department offers services such as sports massage, hand therapy, and two temperature-controlled hydrotherapy pools. It also provides cold water immersion, hot/cold contrast therapy, a fully equipped fitness area, and on-field rehabilitation.
Aspetar also offers sports science services such as biomechanics, nutrition, sports psychology, and exercise physiology. These services help to improve an athlete’s performance and endurance, as well as prevent sports injuries. Aspetar’s “Riadh Assessment and Movement Analysis Laboratory” was inaugurated in November 2023. The Aspetar Altitude Dormitory, a purpose-built normobaric hypoxic facility, can reproduce an altitude range from 500 to 4500 meters. The facility has the potential to enhance endurance during training. It works by encouraging the body to increase red blood cell production and hence enhance oxygen-carrying capacity.
International Accreditations
Aspetar is fast becoming established as a global leader in sports science and medicine and has received multiple international accreditations:
- Official medical provider for the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) with accreditation as a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence
- The hospital collaborates closely with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to support Olympic athletes. It holds accreditation as an IOC Research Centre for Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health.
- Medical Centre of Excellence for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)
- Accreditation Canada Diamond Level Status
- International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
- College of American Pathologists (CAP)
- Patient Safety Friendly Hospital
Sports Surgery Training Centre
The Sports Surgery Training Centre (SSTC) at Aspetar is a state-of-the-art training facility and is the first of its kind in the region. The training center’s 10 fully equipped surgical stations, ultra-modern arthroscopic towers, and biometric security system enable real-time surgical training. This includes live surgery simulations, cadaveric workshops in the wet lab, sawbones in the dry lab, video demonstrations, and anatomical education.
Sports Medicine Education
Aspetar provides local, regional, and international healthcare professionals and students with high-quality, cutting-edge, evidence-based sports medicine and science education. Aspetar currently offers Clinical Specialist Fellowships in Sports Medicine, Orthopaedic Surgery, Sports Cardiology, and Musculoskeletal Radiology. In January 2024, Aspetar was granted ACGME-I Initial Accreditation, after meeting the required high standards in graduate medical education.
Aspetar also offers a range of continuing medical education courses and conferences for healthcare professionals. This includes both in-person and online events and training. The Aspetar International Radiology Conference will be taking place from 9th to 11th May 2025 in Doha. It will cover a wide range of topics, including cartilage imaging, muscle imaging, imaging for surgical or rehabilitation planning, AI in radiology, and much more.
Sports Medicine Research
Aspetar conducts extensive sports medicine research and collaborates internationally with world-class universities and research institutions. The Aspetar Centre for Evidence-Based Sports Medicine and Science project aims to provide clinicians with the tools to access, appraise, and apply the best available scientific evidence in sports medicine to their practice.
Aspetar is a member of the highly selective International Olympic Committee medical research network. It has more than 1,000 PubMed-indexed journal publications and 13,500 citations in the scientific literature. Additionally, Aspetar Sports Medicine Journal is a free print and online publication. It bridges the gap between traditional scientific publications and sports-focus magazines. It provides cutting-edge content to Sports and Exercise Medicine (SEM) professionals and others involved in athlete care.
Key Role in National and International Sporting Events
Aspetar Sports Medicine Facility in Doha plays a key role in Qatar’s national infrastructure for sports medicine and health. Additionally, it serves the international sporting community. Aspetar is the official medical provider for several sports organizations and events, including the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the FIFA World Cup held in Qatar in 2022. It also partners with national, regional, and international football clubs and other sports federations. Aspetar has medically screened over 18,000 athletes from around the world. It provides medical services to more than 100 national and international sporting events in Qatar every year.
Qatar’s dynamic and growing healthcare sector
Aspetar’s establishment as a leading facility for sports medicine, education, and research is just one story in the remarkable growth and development of Qatar’s healthcare sector over recent decades. Guided by the Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV), this Gulf state has strategically invested in establishing a world-class healthcare system and promoting medical research, education, and innovation.
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