SOn Sunday morning, Professor Tim Meyer stood on the edge of the training ground of the German national team in their EM quarters in Herzogenaurach and watched the players’ exercises. The 53-year-old has been the doctor in the German selection for 20 years, and since 2008 he has held the W3 professorship for sports and preventive medicine at Saarland University.
At lunchtime, Meyer had a special appointment: At the press conference of the German Football Association (DFB), only defenders Antonio Rüdiger and Lukas Klostermann were supposed to answer the reporter’s questions about the first group game against world champions France on Tuesday evening in Munich. But after the collapse of the Danish star Christian Eriksen the previous evening, the association asked Meyer to take a seat on the podium as well.
Meyer is also chairman of the medical commission of the European association Uefa. Before Meyer commented on the Eriksen case, the DFB spokesman sitting next to him emphasized that Meyer was here in his role as team doctor.
Professor Tim Meyer is a team doctor for the German national team
Source: pa / dpa / Oliver Dietze
Meyer initially wished Eriksen all the best. “You cannot imagine how happy everyone in the camp was when the news came that he was conscious and that he was stable.”
Although he was not the treating doctor. “But what you could see and what has already penetrated: It was clearly a cardiac event. So that means the heart was affected. The heart has evidently developed rhythm disturbances, acute. As a result, the player’s brain was temporarily supplied with insufficient oxygen – and he stumbled and then lay there. “
In response to a question from WELT, Meyer commented on the processes in the body in such a case as follows: “It looked like it was ventricular fibrillation. The player was shocked with a defibrillator and then returned to normal rhythm. “
“Fortunately, processes are fast”
To what extent the inevitable release of adrenaline played a role in sport is difficult to say. He couldn’t say which heart disease could be the basis of the whole thing. “There are quite a few that come into question. It is very important for the player that it is now identified what it was. “
Fortunately, the subsequent processes were very quick. “It is certainly an advantage if an emergency doctor sits directly on the edge of the field.” As far as he was told, the functions have been retained.
How can you prevent such a collapse? “We and other nations take two approaches. The first is to thoroughly and regularly examine players for any undetected illnesses. I think the DFB has a very differentiated system, if not the most differentiated, ”said Meyer. “It’s very extensive. I assume that the Danish system has a similar structure. “
The investigation system in Italy (Eriksen plays for Inter Milan) is considered exemplary. “It was the blueprint for various recommendations that have been made at European level.”
Meyer does not see a starting point for immediate consequences for his work with the German national team. “In my opinion, we will never be able to avoid these cases entirely.” But they are very well positioned. If he spoke as a scientist, he could not even justify some measures. “So you could also say: We are doing too much. The recommendations at European level are way below what we do. At least in the Bundesliga and in the second division. We have always seen it as the minimum of what we require in all leagues. “
“An absolute shock moment”
Even one day after the incident in Copenhagen there were questions from the German players to him and the team psychologist Hans-Dieter Hermann. Klostermann reported on the anxious moments on Saturday evening. “That was of course an absolute shock for everyone. Images that you have to process first – definitely, ”said the defensive professional from RB Leipzig.
The positive news of Eriksen’s stable situation provided relief. With a digital team photo with a picture of Eriksen in the background, they wanted to “send positive energy over” on Saturday evening, said Klostermann. “In his direction, get well soon and a lot of strength for him,” said Rüdiger. “I don’t think I could have continued playing,” said the defender. But he doesn’t want to decide right or wrong.
What mechanisms would take effect if a comparable case were to occur within the German team during a game?
Meyer: “I have an emergency backpack with me, there is always another defibrillator on the sidelines,” said Meyer. “Even the failure should be taken care of. Normally you agree on a sign with the emergency doctor and call him because he is probably more qualified for this specific situation. ”This chain of measures seems to him well defined,“ it has always worked well ”.
Team doctor recommends preventive examinations
Should every amateur athlete get examined for heart disease? “Basically this is a question that also has to do with costs / benefits and health insurance companies. In Italy, for example, there is a compulsory examination system for competitive athletes, ”said Meyer. “Is not available here. We have it for higher classes and national cadres. “
He would personally advise men over the age of 40 and women over the age of 45 who participate in competitive sports to have these examinations carried out. To do this, you have to go to your family doctor or cardiologist. “I would especially recommend this if you have stress-related complaints or inexplicable unconsciousness or complaints that can be attributed to the heart.”
.
