The Badminton Herald

Using game psychology in badminton

Posted on 7:10:00 AM No Comments
Labels: Badminton psychology, Strategies techniques and training

We all know how superb athletes "psych up" before and during their games that most of us wonder will it work for an ordinary athlete like me?We've seen it in any type of sport, group or individual alike. We've seen sheer determination fuel an amazing game comebacks in tennis, basketball or in every sport. But in our daily games of badminton? Will we be able to study game psychology and use it? More importantly, how can psyching up be applied to your daily game plans.

I have seen many badminton players win games just by looking at their game psychology strategy. This is specially true with opposing players who are both equally effective in their badminton fitness and skills. The strategy is always to outwit the opponents, not by skills alone but by providing an environment of an overwhelming presence and superiority.

Personally, a strong offensive play with smashes and net attacks put opponents on the defensive. The other strategy is to direct shots at your opponents weakest or in doubles, the perceived weak partner. Tight body shots also shakes one psyche. Power smashes directed onto your opponents body are psyche shattering and emotion awakening to the opponents thus destroying a stable game plan.

However, "psyching up" for a game had to requisites: One is that you're in tip top shape and second, you have very good focus and composure. Or your game psyching will go against you. That needs no explanation.

What about you guys?Do you use some form of game psychology in your everyday games?Leave your comments here.

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Badminton racket strings and regutting techniques

Posted on 5:34:00 AM comments (5)
Labels: Badminton gears and equiptments

Almost a month has passed that I haven't strung my racket yet. I broke all the strings of my three badminton rackets in one week! How unlucky you can be, huh?! Anyhow, the problem was it's all too inconvenient for us players here to have our rackets strung. The nearest, most reliable place we send our rackets for stringing or 're-gutting' as we call it, is about 25 kilometers away and it will take us the whole day just to wait our rackets re-gutted so we can bring it back home!

The other thing about badminton racket strings is personal preference. There's a plethora of strings and re-gutting "factors" you should consider before you even submit your racket for re gutting. Most likely, it will depend on your badminton playing level, the tension you're at ease with, the strength of your wrist and fore arm as well as how often do you use your badminton racket. Personally I prefer a high tension, tightly strung badminton string for my power smash and relaxed return of shots. So for you guys, what string and re-gutting technique do you prefer??

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Our own unforced errors beat us!

Posted on 6:36:00 AM comments (3)
Labels: Badminton Tournaments, Strategies techniques and training

"Our opponents only needed to return our shots flat. We made unforced errors that gave away our chances of winning a semis slot.".

This is what me and my doubles partner rated our game post mortem. Playing on the men's doubles category, we were booted out early of the recent 4th FTC Kadayawan Badminton Tournament held in Davao City. Sadly, the same error that gave us a win in the elimination, also brought our downfall in the succeeding game.

Excuses aside, we learned a lot from this tournament agreeing unanimously to work on those errors during our practice sessions. Among these "controllable factors", familiarity with the tournament court and with our opponent's game seems to be ta crucial factor. Being newbies to tournaments, this came as a wake up call. Endurance is another factor. Most of the elimination games happened during daytime, where the temperature is at its hottest and taking a toll on our fitness level and hydration status.

Our game aggressiveness is ineffective also. We couldn't even hit most of our simple shots.. Our attack play and smashes, if it succeeded in landing in the opponents court, is easily deflected. Our follow up play is even poorer to totally non existent. My service shots were high enough for our opponents to make an ambush return to our weak side. We weren't able to anticipate their return of service "ambush" , giving away easy points for our opponents.

We were unable to capitalize on our opponents mistakes, such as indecisive midcourt returns or half hearted netshots.We can handle their smashes but never had used it to upset their game play. Shot variation and accuracy seem to be low on our side. We couldn't return the shuttle cock to their weak side.

This tournament gave us a good glimpse of the skill levels in competitions and tournaments in centers like Davao City. That it is important to not only improve your game but also to seek out as many as competitive opponents as can be to develop a plethora of defensive skills and attack plays. Never be too complacent of just winning games with your usual weekend opponents. It may be too late to know, the game level out there is far more advanced than what you already mastered!

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Bao Chunlai (China) beat the hell out of Boonsak Ponsana's(THA) badminton fitness

Posted on 4:59:00 AM No Comments
Labels: Badminton Tournaments, Sports Blogging

Yes, that how Bao defeated Boonsak in the finals of Singapore Open Men Singles, 21-19, 16-21, 21-15 (see the final score here)

Not without a great fight though, with Boonsak Ponsana (BP) showing tremendous badminton talent that brought him the title last year in the same arena. Bao Chunlai (BC) was as fiery as he is before, showing his experience and fitness stamina that erased BP's mindset. Not a few referee (net touch) and line calls were contested by BC. Near the end of the third set, BC regained his composure and capitalized in his great fitness form to dominate the now obviously tired BP.

The Men's singles finals showed some amazing shots and retrieval in the whole tournament. Cross court jump smashes and dives by BP. Bao Chunlai also asserted his dominance over the net shot, but BP was equally capitalizing on this to prepare for an attack shot. In the end, both players showed heart and passion for badminton- a great match up of the young and upcoming, the experienced and composed.

Maybe if BP wasn't gasping for air near the second half of third set, he might have retained his title. But then, that is just maybe, because for sure BC would pitch all his badminton skills and tactics to gain this championship.

(All photo credits taken here at Badminton Central)

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Kido/Sentiawan (IND) annihilated by Clark and Robertson(ENG) in Singapore Open

Posted on 2:47:00 AM comments (1)

Well I just saw the biggest upset in badminton's Mens doubles history. The current world number one, Olympic champions Kido and Sentiawan humbled by ranked 19th newly paired Clark and Robertson in just two sets! The Indonesians barely made it to the double figure mark, getting only 10 in the last set. Now the unthinkable has happened.

The road to the finals however is much harder but sweatier for the English pair. They have to defeat the powerhouses Malaysia (KKK/TBH) and China (GZ/XC). The Indonesian pair on the other hand, had to overcome Singapore(Wijaya/Saputra) and Swiss (Rassmussen/Paaske) en route to the finals.

(Robertson with that confident smash during their semi final match vs Chineses Taipei. Photo credits from here)

But it was the mind games that got into the Indonesians. The very tight returns and almost error less shots of the English pair pushed the Indonesians to a mostly defensive play and rarely mounting a strong attack play they're known for. The fast push return of service shot by Clark to the mid court rattled the game play of the Indonesians pushing them to commit errors and not mount a offensive attack.

Rumor has it that Kido is nursing an injury and Robertson got a yellow card during their match with the Chinese. And while Clark is known for his sharp tongue on court, games has to go on. Winners are always those who have a strong determination to win it, despite every obstacle they have. For the Indonesians, they might have loss a game, but the battle for Badminton's MD supremacy is far from over yet. It just got very exciting!

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Badminton Clubs Amity team Championships

Posted on 8:43:00 PM No Comments
Labels: Badminton Tournaments, Philippine Badminton

The local badminton clubs here in South Central Mindanao is organizing a Badminton Club Amity Team Championship to be held sometime in July. This is according to the main proponent Mr. Atayan of Smashing Champs Koronadal City. Patterned after the famous Sudirman Cup Word Team Championships, the aim of such "friendship" badminton game is to foster fellowship among badminton clubs here in Mindanao. Initially targeting (but not limited to) four clubs, the First Amity Cup will be hosted by Smashing Champs then rotated amongst the competing clubs. Rules has yet to be laid out but the organizing club is assuring of a strict adherence to players age and leveling policies. No individual prizes will given but a huge badminton cup, just like that of Sudirman's Cup is up for the teams grab. A fellowship night with bands and party after the awarding ceremonies is expected to be a main attraction of the said event.

This on paper is definitely a a very nice and welcome development to grassroots badminton and to clubs who play badminton for fun. For us aging players and weekend warriors, its a way to strengthen sportsmanship and friendliness while we sweat out excess fat. Indeed, the vast majority of badminton players are not the Class A/Open badminton enthusiast that beat our heavy assess to no end. Its high time we have tournaments like this to cater to such huge group of badminton player has been. Has been very supportive of badminton I mean.

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Playing Badminton again after three weeks of hibernation

Posted on 6:41:00 PM comments (1)
Labels: Strategies techniques and training

I have been off the court and off the sweats for almost a month before yesterday. I feel kinda heavy and sluggish not to mention easily tired and fatigued. In badminton, the effect of a long time absence sans training or fitness training, always take toll on your game consistency and skills.

The simple reason to this would be that our body adapts to the kind of "stress" we constantly subject it. If you don't use your muscles, joints, nerves etc, chances are your body tries to redirects the energy intended for such "memory" job and then redirects it to current energy requiring efforts. Reflexes will be dulled, movements will be sluggish, flexibility will be less and so on. Thus, the importance of consistently maintaining a skill and fitness level in badminton. What constitute a "regular" interval of playing is really a matter of discussing it with your coach trainer.

During my last game I learned a few more tactics that I knew readily in paper but couldn't execute well on court. I have been struggling before to counter the return of of service to my backhand side especially when I'm positioned at the center of the court when my partner serves the shuttle. If in my sufficient anticipation this will be the return tactic of my opponent, I position my right foot forward on defense and tries to get the shot with a backhand clear or drive. Sometimes I do the round the head forehand clear but this is too tiring for me and I'm pretty slow in returning to my defense rotation.

A little left-my preferred position now when my partner serves on the right half of the court.(picture from badzone uk)

What I do with my men's double partner now is ask him to get ROS in front of him as well as those in his forehand side up to the mid court. I take the rest of the return shot. I position my self defensively more on the left side half of our court when he serves on the ride side. If he serves on the left side of the court, I stay In the middle of the court taking care of all return shots on the forehand from mid court to back court and the back hand side on the back court.

I find these tactic rather more plausible and relative easy and less tiring. During the last game, we made better percentages on our return of service shots.

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Sudirman Cup:Fighting for the Second Best Team

Posted on 9:15:00 PM No Comments
Labels: Badminton Tournaments

With the latest sweep of the Sudirman Cup (World Badminton Team Championships) by China, I wonder where else could this team be ever defeated. They played so dominantly, it has been awhile before they'd be beaten in this cup. They held on to this cup for eight years and was only beaten in the finals once by Korea in 1994.

I wasn't able to watch all of the matches (which you can download in videos in badminton central) but I did see Men's Singles Finals and Mens Doubles finals on Solar Sports TV. The Chinese players (Lin Dan especially) were all in their best form and skills. No wonder they beat almost everyone in the tournament.

Rumor has it that with the Sudirman Cup, all the other teams are vying for is the second best. Now, we know why.

So where to next now? World Championships?

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The Sports Herald, here and soon!

Posted on 3:13:00 AM No Comments
Labels: Sports Blogging

I am a badminton geek that's for sure. But I've been mulling for a while now of adding more to this blog than just badminton. You see, I may have been overindulgent with badminton as my sport, but I follow a lot of other sports than I can muster.

Like I've been avidly following Manchester United and Ronaldo for so long I begun to like soccer football as a game. I also felt Le Bron James somehow deserve more NBA attention than Kobe Bryant should get. Or that Nadal seem to be without finesse (compared to the silent Federer) on top of ATP rankings. Well, I don't know golf (not yet) but, can Tiger Woods make a comeback??

And then there's Manny Pacquiao. Its inexcusable if you miss this southpaw powerpuncher.

So, what do you think? Should I venture into sports as a whole? I mean sports blogging?
The Remaining part here

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I'm playing on a badminton tournament!

Posted on 7:05:00 PM comments (2)
Labels: Badminton Tournaments, blogging about badminton

It's final, I'm playing in an upcoming tournament in a nearby city. A friend asked me to be his doubles partner. All I promised was the best of what I can play. I played with this friend before on several occasions and save for a few unpolished moves, we both complemented our badminton skills. Preparation wise, that's all we got- previous game pairing during tune up games. Nothing close to any tournament preparation that I knew. Actual "inventory" of my armamentarium revealed no sizable munitions to speak of. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed even with the loud taunts (by snickering mirons) of a championship trophy and honors.

I'm not laying out our game strategy for now as this may find its way to our opponents. Some of them happen to read this blog.

I'll post some more about this later. And by the way we whipped a higher level/class doubles team last night. That was some feat!

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Badminton Hiatus

Posted on 2:12:00 AM No Comments
Labels: sports medicine in badminton

I'm off badminton game for one week now. I'm nursing a flu. Shucks, I hate it when I'm down with this epidemic. You'll really loose skills and concentration. And its so darn hard to get back to your "rhythm" when you step back in the game!

But as I've previously wrote here, playing while nursing a flu is not a good idea at all. In fact, it will predispose you to more serious injuries that may possibly incapacitate you from playing any badminton at all! Read here.

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What's coming from the badminton geek

Posted on 8:10:00 AM No Comments
Labels: blogging about badminton

It must have been eons since my last post here. Not that I ran of badminton related topics to post. Certainly, excitement saturation is nowhere near my fave sport. To give you a glimpse of what's ahead in this blog, here are my updates.

We went back to back Men's Doubles champion in the recently concluded SKMS badminton sport fest. How to win "weekend tournaments" the hard way.
Badminton and sports injuries. The sad reality about playing and winning for the week end warriors.
Betting among opposing in local tournaments. Is it really helpful for your game?
Blogging about the grassroots and not the star players. Who's who in badminton.
Philippine Badminton: Where are we heading to?

These and more will be featured here in this blog. Watch out for it!

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Lateral Epicondylitis: Tennis elbow in Badminton?

Posted on 8:12:00 AM comments (6)
Labels: Hazards accidents and injuries, sports medicine in badminton, Strategies techniques and training

In badminton, when sport injuries occur, it occurs successively if you're unwise enough. "When it rains, it pours".Just as I am talking of getting fit for badminton and ankle injuries a while ago, here I am again ranting about another blunder I made.

I sustained a lateral epicondylitis or "tennis elbow" on my racket hand. It is an injury on the extensor muscles and tendons of the wrist that results from repetitive or overuse of this muscle. It is commonly seen among tennis players (who uses a wrong backhand grip or small racket grip size), but can also occur in any racket playing sports who uses wrist extensors repetitively. (For a detailed definition or description, management and prevention of this injury, read the Mayo Clinic article on Tennis Elbow) Badminton players for one, are definitely prone to this injury.

A wrong backhand clear grip plus an "under prepared" and overused wrist extensor muscles is the culprit in my case. I was so happy perfecting my past body, overhead backhand clear with a slightly altered (thumb resting on the angle of the grip rather than flat surface) backhand grip . I was also practicing a perfect cross court backhand smash with this grip. I know from the very start that this "unorthodox" grip was not the usual backhand grip taught by coaches on backhand clears. To be able to do this overhead backhand clear, you should have a sufficiently strong and warmed extensor muscles that could forcibly throw, hit the shuttlecock in front of your body and a good footwork so you can have a better stance executing the stroke. That because because Lin Dan (CHN) or Taufik Hidayat (INA)can do it perfectly, like in this picture, I can do it also.

Well TaufiK Hidayat can do this perfectly alright. But not me. I do know that superstars can get away with any unorthodox grip they invent so long as they can deliver a winning shot. This is not so in my case. At least not for now.
On grip and stroke analysis, I've been using this grip size for long now that I only had minimal wrist extensor pain before. But I'm definitely trying an unorthodox grip for a weak, wrist extensor muscle and a relatively new, unfamiliar stroke. Somehow, my slow footwork "pushed" me to use this grip to reach a shuttlecock past and up in my backhand corner, angling my racket a bit downwards (downward return) overextending my wrist extensors (contracting) and still absorb the energy from the shuttlecock! This is what sports medicine physicians call an "elbow leading" backhand stroke that demands so much power from your extensor muscles. The results, a hurting extensor mechanisms in my forearm!

So for at least two weeks, Id be off strenuous activity that will aggravate my "badminton elbow", on daily 5x 15min cold compress, until pain subsides, then will start on with wrist muscles strengthening exercise before going back to badminton. Also, I'd be using an elbow counter force band from now on, rest my wrist while typing or blogging, and moderate my other wrist extension activities!

Knowing these, it is quite clear now, what needs to be done and corrected upon. Right grip, adequately stretched and strengthened wrist extensor muscles, faster footwork and the right sized racket grip!

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Watch out! Changing shoes could be detrimental to your ankle!

Posted on 4:59:00 AM No Comments
Labels: Hazards accidents and injuries, sports medicine in badminton

Of course if you do this haphazardly and with much stupidity, you sure will end in the injured list. That's what I learned from last week's pre-tournament change of badminton shoes.

I got bored using my old Nike Court Shuttle during one badminton game I switched to an Umbro GT5-AIN Futsal rubber shoes. I tried to lunge with my right foot (with the Umbro shoe) and felt a faint, sharp, jabbing pain in my posterior ankle region. I continued playing and wasn't actually bothered by it during the whole game. My ankle is swollen and the pain is magnified the next day. Definitely, an posterior lip ankle injury. Worst it could have been a cartilage injury. So I stopped playing for one week and went on to nurse the sprain. I slowly stretched my ankle joint after 3 days and went on ankle strengthening exercises, prior to returning back to any game. And switched back to my old Nike Shoes.

Aside from the relatively poor posterior ankle support of the Umbro Futsal shoes, the insole and the gum sole felt horribly like a rocker. So when you lunge and land with your shoe flat and your distal leg behind your foot, there's no shoe posterior lip support that would thwart your ankle from over bending, hence the injury.

I've learned my lesson well. Glad It wasn't tournament proper when I sustained those injury. Or I'll be damned!

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You don't play badminton to get fit, you get fit to play badminton!

Posted on 5:38:00 AM comments (3)
Labels: Hazards accidents and injuries, sports medicine in badminton

The "ease" of playing badminton is attractive to "I-wanna-be- fit- fast" type of fitness junkies. The slimmer physique may look enticing on seasoned players but this may not be the case among newbie players. Worse, such misplaced attitude predisposes unfits to badminton related injuries if physical conditioning and fitness for badminton is taken lightly.

In a year of playing badminton and acting as a sports physician for mostly less fit players, I saw not a few patients who joined this badminton fitness craze and sustained injuries that are otherwise totally preventable! One extreme case is of an obese newbie who actually fractured his ankle (bimalleolar fracture) during a lunge! He twisted his ankle and the stress loads on his seemingly unconditioned physique forced the ankle to give in!

A recurring pattern of overuse injury and excessive demands on a less conditioned physique is a common finding among these newbie players. Surprisingly, this doesn't seem to stop them from acquiring more self inflicted injuries! I said 'self inflicted' because most injuries are results of over doing and mishandling one's physique while playing! The do-it-yourself type of badminton training also contributes to these 'self-inflicted' injuries.

This famous one liner among sports physicians and seasoned athletes is obviously taken out of context in badminton.

You don't play any sports to get fit, you get fit to play any sports!

From a sports physician's perspective, here is my advice on wannabe fit type of badminton players. Do these before even trying to step into the court!

Have a medical check up to assess your physical fitness capabilities. This is not limited to persons who have illnesses and diseases but to all would be badminton players! The sports physician can actually examine you and give you some specialized conditioning to improve muscle coordination, balance and fitness aside from what you can get from your trainer.

Get a good trainer or coach. Not a player, not your neighbor and definitely not your friend. These guys are poor trainers because of their tendency to be "biased" on their "judgment". Get certified trainers and stick to them. Good trainers starts with the basics, discusses fitness training first and start monitored badminton training and drills before even allowing you to hold a badminton racket.

Get serious about your fitness. Concentrate on physical fitness conditioning and training first rather than whacking off shuttlecocks at first sight. You do not expect to do jump smashes when your leg muscles couldn't even lift your body weight off neutral ground. Or you can't expect to reach that drop shot via a lunge when you can't even run.

Start with off court training and drills . Perform interval training on a graduated, flexible schedule that you can maintain. Monitor your health and training improvement via your trainer. Set goals for every training session.

Get badminton gears and equipment that is right for you. No fancy rackets, shoes or clothes. Grip sizes for example vary and the wrong grip size for you may just start a "tennis elbow" (common term for lateral epicondylitis). Your trainer can help you on this.

Monitor your health condition and fitness. If you feel pain in any part of your body, that is because the body is signaling you that "stress" has already strained that part of your body. There's a fine line between pushing your physique to the limits (so it can be developed) and that of sports related injuries. A well planned, guided and monitored training will definitely increase your chance of avoiding these injuries.

If you sustain any injury, have it checked by your sports physician. Playing with an injury is definitely not a smart way to get fit!

I guess that's all I can sum up for now. These are common advices I gave to my over eager and injured patients. Good articles on badminton injuries and prevention can be read here, here and here. Do these and hopefully, I wouldn't see you in my clinic!

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Leveling the playing field on badminton courts and professional practice

Posted on 5:20:00 AM No Comments
Labels: my early years in badminton, sports medicine in badminton

(This is a 'repost' from my other blog, The Orthopedic Logbook)
I've been playing badminton for almost a year but never enjoyed any other sport as much as I enjoyed whacking shuttle cocks now. I have long accepted the limits of my innate athletic ability. But when my fitness level went off scale after med school and residency, I went berserk in panic search for a sport that would trim down excess calories.

"I am awfully fat. Period."

I jumped at any sport that came my way- swimming, mountain biking, marathon, volleyball and even basketball, to name a few. I dabbled at a sport for some time and then moved on to another if it bored me to death already. But when my nephews invited me to a badminton game in our backyard, my affair with rackets and shuttle cocks never stopped since then.

" I gotta have one of those "Yonex" MP racket, promise!"

I got hooked and seriously believed that being "geeky" on badminton would somehow improve my nominal athletic skills to competitive level and burn fat at the same time.

I almost thought this was "MI 4".

I started training- albeit non formally, with the help of my nephews and friends. I read books, searched the net, watched training videos, international matches, and then applied what I saw on and off court. I stalked coaches, watched former national players' matches, and asked endless questions to athletes often shunned as an obnoxious behavior.

"That was an awesome cross court shot don't you think?"

Whilst a beginner, I joined matches and insisted taking on better skilled opponents. Obviously my ass got whipped left and right. I lost count of the times I was floored on court chasing shuttle cocks and losing balance. Most veteran players laugh at my mistakes. Some ridicule me at my clumsiness and shun off my competitive attitude on court.

Like Rudy in Rudy.

But I was serious not just on winning but also on improving my game and losing some extra calories. I took notes of my mistakes, applied new skills whenever possible and consistently improved tactics through drills and training. Results were barely tangible at first.

Until, I first won my class E championships.

Almost a year passed and I have improved a lot from where I started. Everyone seem to notice the "fit body" and weight loss (~30lbs) I incurred from playing this sport almost daily. Modesty aside, I learned a number of skills, improved my stamina and then pushed the limits of my athletic ability to levels I only dreamed of before. Given an equally skilled partner in a doubles match, I can deliver my previous court "tormentors" a smash past their speed limits or give them hard time winning matches against me. Interestingly, you gain more friends with more skills you learned!

At the bottom of this improvement is the commitment to learn, accept, improve, train and apply new skills to beat your handicap and win friends. Have I started this type of attitude and training 30 years ago, I would have given Lin Dan a run for his spot in badminton world rankings!

But that is purely speculative I guess. Thirty years later.

Professional practice in the business of medicine is analogous to learning and improving in a new sport, like badminton. Like it or not, when you are a newbie entering a competitive medical or surgical practice, chances are, you'd eat dust and be shunned away by "colleagues" for dabbling at "their craft".

Or crap.

Medical practice is basically of skills and competition. Clinical and patients skills and the competition to earn one's practice. You gotta learn some skills and improve on it. And almost always, it's lonely being a newbie in the business of medicine.

The field is not without "he-who-went-there-first" type of people, who have been comfortable in their share of patients' pie, but forgot to acknowledge the need for "new blood" to be infused in the learning process. These 'colleagues" will feel threatened by your aggressiveness and learning skills. Either they whip your ass or shun you away from "the practice". Worst, you will be shot at first sight, and will offer you lots of excuses to do so.

In one interview I attended, an interviewer admonished a training program applicant for signifying his intention of practicing in the same place where this guru is comfortably practicing. On surface, the excuse was "it's too crowded". Yet, on deeper prodding you'd find no clear evidence that it is in fact the status quo. The patient to specialist ratio is still wanting and that new skills have to be learned for specific type of diseases. This is where the newbie trainee is hoping to fit in. He has new skills, an updated learning, a conscious effort to improve and a love for the community. In my opinion that's all he need to be in this "game" of competitive medical practice.

My take on this and my advice for newbies ? Learn your craft, improve your skills, create a market for your expertise, stay on the side of the patient, and just ignore the rants thrown at you. I'm pretty sure that later, when you have grasp firmly on new found skills and niche, you'll never be threatened by anybody on account of "overcrowding".

And maybe shame them all by extend help to newbies entering into the practice.

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Hazards of playing badminton while nursing a flu!

Posted on 7:43:00 PM No Comments
Labels: Hazards accidents and injuries

I 've been off the bad court recently because of one big reason-I' nursing a flu. My day wouldn't be complete though without "visiting" the badminton court and watch baddicts (badminton addicts) play their adrenaline driven games. I often get cajoled and tempted to hold a racket and whip a shuttle cock once or twice, but I decline in grace. "Doc, pag di ka nag laro mas lalong hihina ang katawan mo! (Doc, if you're not going to play, you'll be more sick than ever!").

Flu can get you into trouble, like this one, during a badminton game!

It's a myth among us Pinoys, that a body rest (as opposed to doing nothing) while nursing a flu, will make you more sick than ever. Not true baddicts! Here is why playing with a flu is actually detrimental to your health and your game!

It predisposes you to more severe injuries on court.The inflammatory process in your body (a result of fighting off viral or bacterial infections) spurn chemicals to ward off toxins. Theoretically a protective and healing strategy of our body, such chemicals also affect your muscles and joints. Inflamed muscle are less flexible, easily strained and do not easily recover from injury. Ligaments are affected the same way, and thus joint stability (which is stabilized by both muscles and ligaments) is compromised during sickness. Imagine loading your, knees, and ankles with huge amount of stress (such as during badminton play) in such states.
Dehydration comes in unnoticed. During sickness, our body has difficulty balancing electrolytes as a result of a temporary disruption in its chemical balance. Our body then tries to compensate with the "thirst mechanism" and thus the endless water breaks during a game. Drinking pure water without electrolytes during such states will actually "dehydrate" your body
Sluggish reaction time. Often, you miss a shot that would otherwise be a simple, no fanfare stroke for you. No your not getting dull. The "sluggish" response is a result of an overall delay in brain-muscle coordination, somehow affected by the on going inflammatory process in your body.
Sore muscles. A painful muscle is difficult to use. and it easily breaks. Worse, it would take time to recover. If your core temperature is off normal limits and you still play, our body starts to 'eat' up muscle protein- a quick first order energy source use by our body in emergencies. Remember, the priority of the body is to ward of infection and then settle down inflammation. Add another stress to that and our body will have to burn other sources of fuel. Play longer and you'll get into so many other problems, like ARF.
Loss of balance. Maintaining a center of gravity for badminton play is very important. When this is affected by sluggish reaction time, or a delay in brain to muscle coordination( as a result of an inflammation) you fall or get injuries more often.The caveat is, most player doesn't recognize this until they already have major or sever injuries!

The net effect of all this is a noticeable decrease in stamina, agility, balance and flexibility while playing. Worse, playing badminton while nursing a flu predisposes you to more severe injuries while playing! So think a hundred times before playing when your sick!!!!

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"To cut for living" a new blog about the "business" of medicine

Posted on 8:24:00 AM No Comments
Labels: blogging about badminton

Sounds like two different worlds, but "business" and "medicine" in reality, co-exist in a very subtle way. While economics have so much impact on the healthcare industry, not a subject is included in med school to prepare us for such very complex issues. Even simple "practice economics" and the art of "earning a living" as a physician, is shunned if not generally considered a taboo in our Filipino culture.

Which makes me feel kind of lost, as I begin my journey towards establishing a career as a physician. Well, broke as I am right now, I also couldn't afford a financial planner or adviser. So I will take financial matters into my own hand (temporarily), read about it, learn by doing, ask authorities on such issues and then blog about it.

Yes, I'm blogging about it, in my new blog"to cut for living". Maybe you and me will have a enlightening time discovering our road to financial freedom!

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I'm going to miss our "Mayor's Cup Badminton Tournament!

Posted on 4:21:00 PM comments (1)
Labels: Badminton Tournaments

A highly competitive open Badminton tournament done quarterly in our city, I'm going to skip this tournament for a very important work related commitment. It has been like this since I came home here and played badminton. Indeed I look forward to every Mayor's Cup thats going to happen here but it seems it's not yet time for me to test my playing skills.

Maybe next time. I hope I wouldn't have any more important commitments by then.

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We won the POA Badminton Tournament this year!

Posted on 9:35:00 PM No Comments
Labels: Badminton Tournaments

I always thought that winning in badminton is just an attitude, second only to skills training and fitness. But there is nothing more glorious than receiving a recognition for a skill improvement and a badminton trophy- as champions. I joined the Annual Philippine Orthopedic Association 4th Badminton tournament for the first time and we (me and my partner) won the Doubles championship trophy this year. I'm talking here of joining and competing it out with sport surgeons (who's passion for badminton is only surpassed by their love for their family and practice) and showing them too, you're worth their opponent. I was glad I made them lose probably a liter of perspiration and gave them a competitive game. And winning the games, the tournament, unbeaten all the way to championship match, is all too glorious!

Congrats too to my very good partner Dr. Siatan (POC) who despite fighting off his cramps, gave the winning smash!

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