How can medical staff support athletes during Ramadan?

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Published Jul 1, 2025
https://doi.org/10.62438/tunismed.v103i7.5763
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Vol. 103 No. 7 (2025): Tunis Med Jul 2025

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Jaouher Dhouibi
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Fattouma Bourguiba Hospital, Monastir. Faculty of Medicine of Monastir, University of Monastir, Tunisia
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1267-575X
Anis Jellad
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Fattouma Bourguiba Hospital, Monastir. Monastir Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir. Medical Imaging and Technology Laboratory, Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research Centre LTIM-LR12ES06. Monastir. Tunisia.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1848-2103
Hakim Chalabi
Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar. Medical General Director, Paris Saint Germain. Paris, France
Helmi Ben Saad
Research laboratory LR12SP09 ‘Heart failure’, Farhat Hached Hospital, Sousse. Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse, Tunisia
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7477-2965

Abstract

Introduction. Ramadan, a sacred month for Muslims, presents a unique challenge for athletes of this faith, combining religious requirements with athletic performance. This period requires adjustments in nutrition, hydration, sleep, and recovery. The medical staff, composed of various health professionals, plays a crucial role in supporting athletes to maintain their well-being and performance.


Methods. This document analyzes the roles of different members of the medical staff, including the physician, physiotherapist, strength coach, and nutritionist. The focus is on the prevention, diagnosis, and management of the effects of fasting on athletes.


Results. The sports physician focuses on preventing risks related to fasting, such as dehydration and fatigue, by conducting thorough medical evaluations before Ramadan. They also ensure continuous follow-up to quickly diagnose potential problems. The physiotherapist adapts rehabilitation programs to prevent injuries related to the physical constraints of fasting. The strength coach adjusts training schedules and intensity to maximize performance without compromising health. The nutritionist develops specific dietary plans to ensure adequate energy intake. Multidisciplinary support is essential to help athletes balance their religious practices and athletic performance during Ramadan. Each member of the medical staff contributes to this adaptation through specific strategies, ranging from injury prevention to optimizing nutrition and training.


Conclusion. The success of Muslim athletes during Ramadan relies on a collaborative approach, where each health professional plays a key role in balancing religious and athletic demands.

Keywords:

Athletes, Exercise, Intermittent fasting, Physiological adaptation, Public health

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Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Author Biography

Helmi Ben Saad, Research laboratory LR12SP09 ‘Heart failure’, Farhat Hached Hospital, Sousse. Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse, Tunisia

  • Professor of Physiology and Functional Explorations at the Faculty of Medicine of Sousse - Tunisia, Department of Physiology and Functional Explorations at EPS Farhat HACHED - Sousse - Tunisia.
  • President of the College of Physiology and Functional Explorations (terms: 2014-2017 and 2021-2023).
  • Master's degree in Biological and Medical Sciences from the University of Montpellier I, France.
  • World expert in spirometry (ranked 1st in Africa): https://expertscape.com/ex/spirometry/c/afr.
  • Diploma of Advanced Studies in "Human Movement Sciences" from the University of Montpellier I, France.
  • Interuniversity Diploma "Pathophysiology of Exercise and Functional Exercise Explorations" from the University of Montpellier 1, France.
  • International PhD in Sciences between the Universities of Montpellier I (France) and Monastir (Tunisia).
  • European Spirometry Driving License Part 1 (theory only) and the European Spirometry Training Program (Part 2: knowledge and competence in practice) and the European Spirometry train-the-trainer course.
  • Invited speaker at numerous international congresses on respiratory functional explorations.
  • Author of over 250 scientific articles in indexed and impact factor journals.
  • Potential reviewer for over 100 indexed and impact factor journals and potential external reviewer for the University of Cape Town (South Africa), uwait (Kuwait) and Mutah (Jordan).
  • Winner of the Sadok BESROUR Award for Excellence in Medical Research (2021).
  • Web:
  1. http://scholar.google.fr/citations?hl=fr&user=oeV_0OwAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdatehttp://www.researchgate.net/profile/Helmi_Ben_Saad
  2. https://publons.com/author/602231/helmi-ben-saad#profile
  3. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Helmi_Ben_Saad

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