Orthopedic clinic supports sports medicine training at the University of Kassel

Students at the Institute for Sport and Sport Science at the University of Kassel can not only count on first-class lecturers from within the institute. Doctors from the Vitos Orthopedic Clinic Kassel also take on teaching assignments.

An Institute for Sports and Sports Science (IfSS) and an orthopedic clinic with a focus on sports medicine in the same city - that calls for close cooperation. And so the University of Kassel and the Vitos Orthopedic Clinic Kassel (OKK) have now formalized their cooperation in university education and training with an agreement. Students of all teacher training courses in the subject of "sport" benefit from the knowledge of experienced sports physicians from one of the largest orthopedic specialist clinics in Germany with its own sports medicine examination center.

Lecturers and guest lecturers from the OKK teach the university's future sports teachers on the subject of "Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Issues for School Sports", whereby the students learn, for example, about typical injuries to the various joints such as the shoulder, elbow and knee, as well as preventive and rehabilitative measures. The medical director of the OKK, Prof. Dr. Guido Heers, has the teaching qualification for the department of orthopedics and is allowed to give the exams. In order to secure sports medicine training at the University of Kassel, the Institute for Sport and Sport Science has been working with OKK for some time. Prof. Heers: "Now we have manifested and intensified this cooperation." The medical director greatly appreciates the cooperation with students. "They are always motivated and eager to learn, and a very fruitful climate is created in these courses," says Heers, who has been lecturing at universities for 20 years.

Prof. Dr. Armin Kibele, head of the Training and Exercise Department at the IfSS, is pleased about the cooperation: "Through the cooperation with the OKK, we can offer our sports students important insights into the prevention, sports medical treatment and rehabilitation of typical injuries that occur in school sports. The seminars at OKK thus represent a significant component of our sports medicine training for future physical education teachers." Together with Kathryn Hassel (OKK), Kibele coordinates the cooperation between the university and the clinic. Both are contact persons for the preparation and implementation of the teaching activities, take care of preparatory meetings, mutual coordination and quality assurance.

Vitos Orthopädische Klinik Kassel
The Vitos Orthopädische Klinik Kassel is one of the major specialist clinics for surgical and conservative treatments of the postural and musculoskeletal system, as well as for pain medicine, manual therapy and naturopathic treatments. It covers the entire spectrum of orthopedic and pain medicine therapy. Since 2013, the OKK has been certified as a maximum care EndoProthetikZentrum and thus as a center of the highest care level for artificial hip and knee joints.

Contact Vitos Orthopedic Clinic Kassel (OKK):

Stefanie Hadding
Communications Manager
Tel.: 0561 30 84 319
E-mail:stefanie.hadding[at]vitos-okk[dot]de

Contact University of Kassel / Institute for Sport and Sport Science (IfSS):

Prof. Dr. Armin Kibele
Professor of Exercise and Movement Science
Tel.: 0561 804-5397
E-mail: akibele[at]uni-kassel[dot|en