International Cricket Stars Join Forces for Opening of

Sports Medicine & Physiotherapy Unit in Dubai

- Pakistan and South African national team players attend inauguration of new medical unit at Burjeel Hospital for Advanced Surgery
- Unit's Chief Physiotherapist Dr Faisal Hayat Khan brings international expertise to his new role

Dubai, UAE, November 10, 2013: International cricket stars from Pakistan and South Africa united yesterday for the official inauguration of Burjeel Hospital for Advanced Surgery's Sports Medicine & Physiotherapy Unit, ahead of this week's T20 matches.  The new unit at the hospital is managed by a team of experts who know more than most about the medical needs of sports stars - cricketers and footballers in particular – Dr Ottmar Siegfried and Dr Faisal Hayat Khan. 

Before taking on his new role with Burjeel, Dr Khan was the Physiotherapist for the Pakistan National Cricket Team and Chief Physiotherapist at the National Cricket Academy. He has also worked with the Australian National Cricket team and Australian softball and football teams throughout his illustrious career. 

Dr Ottmar Siegfried, head of the Sports Medicine department, is a German experienced Specialist in Orthopedic Surgery specialized in the treatment of sports injuries.  He previously worked as head of the Olympic Medical Base and as a team doctor for the national soccer, American football and the fencing team, where he honed his skill in Orthopedics. In particular, he has an excellent reputation in Sports-Traumatology and uses minimally invasive treatment for knee, shoulder and Achilles tendon injuries

The international cricket stars including players from Pakistan Cricket team Shahid Afiridi, Misbah-ul-Haq, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammed Irfan, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammed Akram; and players from South Africa Cricket team Ryan McLAren, JP Duminy and Wayne Parnell were joined at the hospital today by their managers, Moin Khan and Mr. Moosaje. During the inauguration Dr Khan and Dr Ottmar were able to share some last minute tips to ensure that both sides were in peak physical condition for the T20 matches at Dubai International Cricket Stadium (13-15 November). 

Dr Khan said: “Whether you're an international sporting superstar or a stay-at-home mum, my advice about taking care of your health and mobility is the same. I believe in adding movement to life and avoiding pills and surgery wherever possible. The main priority of embarking on any physiotherapeutic journey is to identify what issues each patient has with their body, and then to determine a course of treatment to maximize their life potential and increase their general mobility throughout the day.”

“With the implementation of treatments and rehabilitation, physiotherapy can create a drastically better living experience for a patient,” said Dr Khan. “At Burjeel Hospital of Advanced Surgery our dedicated Physiotherapists take a holistic approach, looking at the body as a whole rather than focusing on the individual factors of an injury or illness.  Although we have expertise in effectively treating sports injuries and pre-operative and post-operative physiotherapy sessions, we also welcome a wide range of patients presenting with injured, tight or painful areas as a result of everyday life, as well as injured workers, children and the elderly. For people from all walks of life, physiotherapy sessions can be the key to restoring and maintaining a level of physical function that permits independent or enhanced living.”

The physiotherapists at Burjeel Hospital for Advanced Surgery design tailor-made exercise programmes for patients, provide one-to-one attention and use a hands-on approach of massage and manual therapy techniques entirely focused on an injury or condition. Through its comprehensive range of assessment, therapy and rehabilitation services, the Burjeel team provides professional and caring support which makes a positive difference to patients' everyday lives.