Japan Today: Sumo association looks at ways to reduce injuries

["Rowan Klein" <rowanchan@hotmail.com>]

http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=6&id=248070

Sumo association looks at ways to reduce injuries

Sunday, February 2, 2003 at 14:00 JST
TOKYO ? The Japan Sumo Association (JSA) took the first step in a concerted 
effort to fight injuries Saturday, holding a meeting of doctors and medical 
experts familiar with wrestlers' health problems.

A total of 27 experts on sports medicine and doctors from JSA-designated 
hospitals and clinics in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka, where sumo 
tournaments are held, discussed ways to minimize injuries that have plagued 
the sport.

Participants studied recent injuries by using videos of bouts, X-rays and 
medical charts at Ryogoku Kokugikan in the first-ever gathering of its kind 
sponsored by sumo's governing body.

"Today's meeting was very significant and this kind of approach should be 
taken periodically," said Hiroyuki Yoshida, a doctor at the Ryogoku 
Kokugikan clinic.

The JSA will hold a health care and sumo medicine seminar next week aimed at 
sumo elders and the wrestlers in the top two divisions.

The sense of crisis has been growing among JSA officials over a host of 
injury-forced absentees in recent tournaments, notably among leading 
wrestlers.

In November, Musashimaru pulled out after aggravating a wrist injury while 
fellow yokozuna Takanohana was absent for the eighth time in nine 
tournaments due to a chronic knee injury. Two of the five wrestlers in the 
second highest rank of ozeki also withdrew.

Earlier this month at the New Year meet, Takanohana retired after a failed 
comeback bid from the injury, with Musashimaru and three ozeki sidelined. 
(Kyodo News)



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