Aspetar launches first clinical guideline on Ramadan fasting and exercises

DOHA: Aspetar, Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, has issued the first of its kind clinical guideline to address Ramadan fasting and exercise for healthy individuals.

This Aspetar guideline, developed according to international best practice, is the result of extensive collaboration amongst specialists in Qatar and international experts representing scientific and educational institutions in Tunisia, Malaysia, Singapore, Morocco, Italy, Canada, and New Zealand.

The guideline will be reviewed and updated regularly to integrate current best evidence and expert opinions from all relevant specialists and athletes involved with training and competing during Ramadan.

The 21-page guideline discuss topics related to exercise and health practices in healthy individuals and professional athletes during the month of Ramadan.

While discussing the right time to train before and/or after Iftar, the guideline also addresses the principle of repetition, intensity of the exercise, time, and type for optimal training.

In addition, other important aspects are also discussed including nutrition, hydration, and cooling strategies, without neglecting the psychological and spiritual effects, and social and cognitive aspects of exercising during the holy month.

Stressing the importance of this guideline, the authors emphasized that fasting during Ramadan not only affects the athlete’s ability to train and compete, but also hinders the general community from exercising while fasting. Some athletes’ daily training and competition performance are also impacted by fasting.

Professor Karim Chamari, Guideline Development Group (GDG) lead and Aspetar Scientific Researcher, said: “The main purpose of this guide is to define the appropriate management of healthy, adolescent, and adult athletes who are exercising during the month of Ramadan.

“The second purpose is to provide meaningful advice for healthy members of the general community as  a helpful reference for doctors, physiotherapists, nursing staff, and health education officials to enable them to provide appropriate advice to athletes, trainers, and members of the community at large.”