Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif recently made headlines after her April 23 fight at the iconic Salle Wagram in the French capital against German boxer Julia Igel was postponed.
As per the officials, she injured her left shoulder while training and was forced to postpone the fight scheduled for later this month in Paris.
What do the medical reports reveal?
Medical examination revealed "a painful syndrome in the left shoulder,” and due to the intensity of the biomechanical demands involved in high-level boxing, the medical team decided to go forward with the decision to postpone the fight.
A painful syndrome in the shoulder for a boxer is often characterised as a painful shoulder syndrome or rotator cuff impingement syndrome (also known as swimmer's shoulder or rotator cuff tendinitis).
The causes for shoulder impingement are almost always an overuse injury, as per the Cleveland Clinic. It happens over time when an activity or motion repeatedly puts too much stress on your shoulder.
Treatment options:
Athletes with this injury are advised to rest, undergo physical therapy, use ice packs and pain relievers. Exercises that can strengthen your shoulder and improve its range of motion will be suggested by medical experts.
Some experts might also recommend surgery if other treatments don't work. Recovery time depends on the severity and can range from a few weeks to a few months.
Khelif won the Olympic gold at the 2024 Paris Games amid international scrutiny on her and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting — another gold medal winner — and misconceptions over both boxers’ sex.
For more information, consult a health expert.
(With inputs from AP)
