At Aspetar Sports Medicine Journal, we believe it is essential to discuss topics prevalent within our community. The holy month of Ramadan—which is marked by fasting from sunrise to sunset—is a central part for many athletes professional and recreational, engaging in the spiritual act of Islamic worship. For athletes, achieving excellence requires a great deal of discipline and resilience, qualities that are tested in unique ways during Ramadan among Muslim athletes who are exercising in a fasting state.
Our special collection ‘Ramadan and Sports Medicine’ provides practical recommendations to support athletes throughout the holy month of Ramadan. Athletes who remain active during the Ramadan season can face physiological challenges affecting several variables including their dietary habits, sleeping schedules, fluid intake, etc.
We present our collection of published papers meticulously selected by our Editor-In-Chief Prof Dr. Nebojsa Popovic, spanning crucial topics such as nutrition, hydration, psychology, sleep, heat, and more. The special collection offers an overview of the effects of fasting on sports performance and injury while emphasizing essential strategies for athletes, coaches, and community members to integrate within their lifestyle during the holy month of Ramadan.
In addition to the papers on Ramadan, we have selected Padel to be the featured sport in this collection due to the surge in its popularity amongst all age groups within the local community. The racket sport offers a unique blend of physical challenge and social interaction, making the sport especially appealing when the fast has been broken, with energy and nutritional levels being replenished. This sense of community and social interaction reflects the essence of Ramadan, where the spirit of unity is as prevalent as ever. Engaging in team sports can further foster a sense of social cohesion and collaboration among members of the community.
I would like to thank the Marketing & Communications team at Aspetar for their collaboration on this special collection. Their efforts have been pivotal in creating content that resonates with our audience, catering to the needs of recreational athletes, sports medicine professionals, community members, and anyone else interested in the effects of fasting on performance levels.
I would also like to thank our Aspetar Sports Medicine Journal Team for their support in developing this collection, and all the authors involved for their generous contributions in making this special collection possible. A special thank you to Nasim Al-Abbi for the cover photograph. Lastly, I would like to extend my gratitude to the photographers Martin Simonsson, Moudhi Al-Hajri, and Amal Al-Moussa for sharing their art with our readers. Collectively, their work adds a great level of relevancy and visual representation of Qatar and its culture to this edition.
To all our readers, I hope you enjoy our special collection ‘Ramadan and Sports Medicine’, and I wish you a blessed month of Ramadan.
مبارك عليكم الشهر
Ramadan Mubarak
Edited by Fai Al-Naimi