Diary of an African Odyssey

Diary of an African Odyssey

All Africa Training Camp for Kenyan Athletes - 31/08/2011

It has been nearly 1 year since I was invited by the Kenyan officials to work alongside the Kenyan medical team whilst the athletes were training for the World Athletics in Daegu (South Korea), the 10th All Africa Games in Maputo (Mozambique) and Youth Commonwealth Games in Isle of Man (UK). 
The training camp started on the 11th of August and situated just outside Nairobi, hosted over 350 athletes. As part of the Kenyan medical team we were seeing approximately 40 to 50 athletes a day, treating various injuries from hamstring strains, ankle sprains to wrist injuries and low back sprains. The athletes and their coaches were impressed with our use of dry needling as this was new to their treatment regime.
We spent 2 weeks in the company of these amazing athletes, who despite their superstar status in the world of athletics were very welcoming and humble people. Here the Olympic, World, Commonwealth champions and world record holders mixed well with young athletes for whom this was the first time in such a training camp.
The atmosphere in the camp was very relaxed, Lucy was invited by the Judo team to practice with them, Zoe had personal tuition by the Karate vice-captain and I was invited by David Rudisha (800 meter world record holder/ Olympic and now world champion) to train with him.
Having come back from Kenya and now watching these athletes on TV makes me feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to work alongside them. 

Pratik Visaria

All Africa Training Camp for Kenyan Athletes - 16/08/2011

Having arrived in Nairobi on 11^th August, I met up with the chief medical officer for Athletics Kenya ( The governing body for sports in Kenya) to organise the schedule for the forthcoming 2 weeks.

There were to be 3 teams based at the Kasarani National Stadium, one heading out to the World Championships (Daegu , South Korea), one to the All Africa Games (Maputo, Mozambique) and one to the Commonwealth Youth Games (Isle of Man, UK).  A Total of 350 athletes were preparing for their respective games in the 2 week period.

Zoe and Lucy arrived on 13^th August, after a 20 hour trip, to go straight to work on meeting the medical team in charge of all the athletes.

To date, we have had the privilege of working on some of the top middle and long distance runners in the world, the national basketball team and the national Karate team. The injuries are wide ranging, from ankle sprains to hamstring strains to bruised shoulders.  The training regime is quite relaxed to the point that children were allowed to play football in the middle of the track whilst the training is ongoing.  Although seemingly relaxed the athletes are there for their final preparations and spend long hours training.

Pratik Visaria

The Woodside team with the Kenyan team bus

Lucy Baker taking a warming up session for the womens handball team

Zoe acting as patient for a treatment demonstration