The Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health’s Professor James Hull chaired a team of expert physicians who worked with the British Thoracic Society to produce clinical guidelines on the management of respiratory health of athletes.
The guidelines - which are the first of its kind, provide a national and international framework for clinicians working in primary and secondary care offering concise and pragmatic guidance, to aid them in delivering the most effective care when managing athletic individuals with breathing or other respiratory related issues (E.g. cough or wheeze). They have been developed to act as a ‘go-to’ source of information in this area of speciality and provide best practice from recreational level to the elite / professional level and include sections on how to help consider anti-doping considerations where relevant and the impact of returning to sport following infections. There is also a section on COVID related issues.
The guidelines were required as there are some important differences and considerations when an athlete is seen with breathing problems. Often they are treated as having ‘asthma’ with a blue inhaler and yet there are a number of other important causes for symptoms. Thus a key aim of this document was to highlight these conditions and to present ways to assess this clinical issue in the most effective way.
Dr James Hull said: ‘‘It was a pleasure to Chair this British Thoracic Society clinical statement / guideline on how to assess and treat athletic individuals with respiratory issues. My hope is that it will help athletic individuals get the right diagnosis and treatment to help them continue to partake in and enjoy sport.’’
To read the published guidelines, click here.