Preliminary Scientific Programme

Day 1: 25 October 2024

08h30-09h00: Session 1:

Welcome and Introduction by the Chair of the IOC Medical and Scientific Commission (Uğur Erdener) (10min)
IOC Medical Educational activities and goals of the IOC Athlete Respiratory Care course (Lars Engebretsen) (20 min)

09h00-10h00: Session 2: General introduction to IOC Course on ‘Respiratory Care of Olympic Athletes’

Online (mentimeter) series of probing questions (strongly agree to strongly disagree) (10min)
‘Fireside chat’ - An overview of acute respiratory illness in the athlete – why is this important for the sports and exercise medicine physician? (Panel discussion: Chair - Martin Schwellnus with all faculty and audience participation) (30 min)
The spectrum of respiratory issues in athletes – what do you need to know (James Hull) (20min)

10h00-10h30: Coffee break

10h30-12h30: Session 3: Acute respiratory infections (ARinf) in the athlete

Introduction to acute respiratory infection (ARinf) in the athlete (Martin Schwellnus) (5min)
Epidemiology and risk factors – How can I reduce the risk of ARinf in my athletes? (Maarit Valtonen) (15 min)
Clinical presentation (syndromes) of ARinf in the athlete (Martin Schwellnus) (10 min)
Diagnosis of ARinf in athletes – clinical assessment (Maarit Valtonen) (10 min)
Practical demonstration: Taking a nasopharyngeal swab for point of care diagnostic testing to identify pathogens causing ARinf (Maarit Valtonen) (5min)
Assessment for severity of ARinf and evidence of multi-organ involvement in athletes with ARinf (Martin Schwellnus) (10 min)
Management of acute ARinf in my athletes: non-pharmacological and pharmacological options including antibiotic stewardship (Wayne Derman) (15 min)
Clinical decision making for the return-to-full performance process in athletes with ARinf (Martin Schwellnus) (15 min)
Questions and discussion (Panel) (15 min)
Practical demonstration: Point of care diagnostic testing to identify pathogens causing ARinf (Maarit Valtonen) (20 min)

12h30-13h30: Lunch break

13h30-15h00: Session 4: Nasal conditions in the athlete

Introduction and classification of nasal conditions in athletes (Martin Schwellnus) (5 min)
Clinical approach to allergic rhinitis in the athlete – recognition, diagnosis, and management (Wayne Derman) (15 min)
Recognizing, diagnosis and managing nasal obstruction in the athlete (Martin Schwellnus) (15 min)
Clinical approach to non-allergic rhinitis in the athlete – recognition, diagnosis, and management (Wayne Derman) (10 min)
Practical: Screening tools, clinical examination and special investigations for nasal conditions in the athlete (Martin Schwellnus, Wayne Derman) (30 min)
Questions and discussion (Panel) (15 min)

15h00-15h30: Coffee break

15h30-17h40: Session 5: Asthma and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in athletes (Lower airway dysfunction - LAD)

Epidemiology and risk factors for asthma / EIB in athletes (Paolo Palange) (10 min)
Recognition and clinical diagnosis of asthma / EIB in athletes (Tod Olin) (15 min)
Special investigations including direct and indirect provocative tests (Hege Clemm) (15 min)
Therapeutic options for athletes with asthma / EIB, including anti-doping regulations (James Hull) (15 min)
When is asthma / EIB not asthma / EIB? – other causes (Hege Clemm / James Hull) (15 min)
Practical demonstration: Spirometry, exercise challenge test, EVH (James Hull, Martin Schwellnus, Hege Clemm) (50 min)
Questions and discussion (Panel) (10 min)

08h30-10h30: Session 6: Exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO) in the athlete

Epidemiology and risk factors for EILO in athletes (Tod Olin) (15 min)
Recognition and clinical diagnosis of EILO in athletes – distinguishing EILO from asthma (Hege Clemm) (15 min)
Therapeutic options for athletes with EILO (with interactive sessions) (Hege Clemm, James Hull) (15 min)
Special investigations including continious laryngoscopy during exercise (Hege Clemm) (15 min)
Practical demonstration: Performing the continuous laryngoscopy during exercise (CLE) test (Hege Clemm) (45 min)
Questions and discussion (Panel) (15 min)

10h30-11h00: Coffee break

11h00-12h30: Session 7: Screening and prevention of acute respiratory illness in athletes

Breathing pattern disorders (BPD): screening and assessing the interplay between psychology, performance, and breathing (Tod Olin) (30 min)
Preventing acute respiratory infection in individual athletes and among larger groups (Maartin Valtonen, Wayne Derman) (30 min)
Preventing non-infective acute respiratory illness in athletes (James Hull, Hege Clemm) (30 min)

12h30-13h30: Lunch break

13h30-15h00: Session 8: Pulling it all together - Clinical cases and discussion

Presentation of cases (e.g. nasal obstruction, allergic rhinitis, infection (Mild), infection (with complication), EILO, asthma / EIB) (All faculty) (20 min)
Break into smaller groups and discuss cases (diagnosis, management, return to sport, prevention) (40 min)
Review of cases and question / answer session (All faculty) (30 min)

15h00-15h30: Coffee break

15h30-16h30: Session 9: Summary and conclusion of course with online self-assessment

The first IOC Course on Respiratory Care of Olympic Athletes took place in Rome, Italy from 25 to 26 October 2024.