3rd ReFORM Symposium : Injury prevention and racket sports

The 3rd ReFORM Symposium and the 11th SportS2 Conference, held on 13 and 14 October 2023 in Liège (Belgium), were a tremendous success, with more than 350 participants attending this edition. This year, ReFORM partnered with the SportS2 (Multidisciplinary Service – Orthopaedics – Rehabilitation – Traumatology – Athlete Health) of Liège University Hospital (CHU de Liège) for the organisation of the event.

Injury prevention and racket sports

Experts, researchers, healthcare professionals, field practitioners and renowned athletes came together to discuss injury prevention in the context of racket sports, a topic of crucial importance for both athletes and healthcare professionals. Presentations addressed the importance of injury prevention, technological advances to reduce injury risk, and innovative strategies to optimise athletic performance in racket sports.

Renowned speakers in attendance

Distinguished speakers shared their knowledge and experience with the audience, covering a wide range of topics.

On the first day, Isabelle Rogowski (Claude Bernard University, Lyon), François Tubez (University of Liège) and Daniel Dinu (INSEP, Paris) provided in-depth analyses of the biomechanics of racket sports, offering various approaches to optimise movement patterns.

The second session of the day focused on off-field factors. Serge Pieters (ADEPS, Brussels) addressed nutritional aspects. Anne-Charlotte Dupont (LIROMS and CHL, Luxembourg) provided valuable insights into exercising in hot conditions, highlighting the importance of adapting to such specific environments. François Bieuzen (INS Québec) presented practical strategies for managing jet lag during international travel.

On the same day, Jérôme Pauls (LIHPS, Luxembourg), Camille Tooth (University/CHU de Liège), as well as Jean-Roch Aubry (INSEP, Paris) and Didier Wolfstyn (INSEP, Paris), delivered highly practical guidance on injury prevention in racket sport athletes. Camille Tooth emphasised the importance of individualised care tailored to the athlete’s needs, while Jérôme Pauls highlighted the challenges associated with implementing prevention programmes in real-world settings.

The day concluded with a round-table discussion bringing together former elite athletes such as Jean-Michel Saive (President of the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee and former top-level table tennis player) and Réginald Willems (former elite tennis player and coach), as well as several coaches. The discussion focused on post-career transition and athlete reconversion, leading to rich exchanges between speakers and the audience. Their personal experiences added a valuable dimension to the debate.

A second day dedicated to performance

The second day also addressed various aspects of sports performance. François Delvaux (University/CHU de Liège) raised key questions regarding early specialization. Julien Delatte (CHU de Liège) discussed tennis-related overuse injuries (technopathies). Topics such as mental preparation and return to sport after shoulder surgery were also covered.

Highlighting the work of young researchers

For this third edition, ReFORM chose to highlight its early-career researchers by offering them the opportunity to present their work in the form of posters. In total, around twenty posters were displayed and discussed during the breaks, fostering fruitful exchanges between scientists and sport stakeholders—another way of bridging scientific research and field practice.

An undeniable success

With over 350 participants, the 3rd ReFORM Symposium and the 11th SportS2 Conference 2023 were an outstanding success. Participants were able to exchange ideas, challenge existing practices, and lay solid foundations for future collaborations. The lively discussions, inspiring presentations and new ideas generated during these events will undoubtedly contribute to improving athlete care in racket sports, both from a prevention and performance perspective.

Many thanks to the speakers for their presence and professionalism, to our partners for their support, and to all participants for their enthusiasm.

Watch the event again

If you would like to rewatch the symposium, the full recording is available here: