Hospital da Luz ensured clinical assistance to the 32 nd EDP Lisbon Half-Marathon and Vodafone 10k Run , which took place on March 12. The event involved over 26 thousand athletes, with considerable international participation, including 170 collaborators of Luz Saúde. The athletes started on the bridge 25 de Abril and covered the respective distances – 21 km and 10 km – to the finish line, near Belém Cultural Centre. The clinical assistance was ensured by around 200 health professionals, among doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and emergency technicians, supported by 18 ambulances and 14 motorcycles with the respective medical staff. The athletes were assisted in the main medical centre set up near the finish line and in the four advanced medical posts along the course. Physicians, nurses and emergency technicians also carried out an initial screening at the finish line, to those athletes showing heavier signs of effort. Overall, 140 participants were assisted in the medical centre. It is worth noting that Hospital da Luz has signed a partnership agreement with Maratona Clube de Portugal for the editions from 2022 to 2024 of Lisbon marathons. This partnership is part of the continuing bet of Hospital da Luz on Sports Medicine, as demonstrated by the already long connexion to sports clubs, such as SL Benfica, Vitória Futebol Clube, Os Belenenses, Cascais Rugby, Associação Académica de Coimbra, Varzim Sport Clube, Beira-Mar, Sporting da Covilhã, among many others. With its new Sports Medicine Centre, Hospital da Luz Lisboa has the capacity to provide clinical follow-up to any physical exercise practitioner – from recreational to high-performance –, along his active sports life. The strong investment in facilities, equipment and human resources allows the new centre to offer presently: A 20-meter running track with sandbox; Pools; High-end equipment, such as the AlterG (anti-gravity treadmill, used for instance in astronaut training) and the cryosauna, besides a series of biomechanical and biodynamical equipment; A multidisciplinary team, including specialists in sports medicine, orthopaedics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, cardiology, imaging and general surgery, as well as physiologists, nutritionists, physiotherapists, psychologists, and podiatrists, among others, focused on performance, but also on the rehabilitation and fast recovery of athletes.
