13th
EFSMA Congress of
Sports Medicine

Crowne Plaza Bucharest
September 25-27, 2025

Explore the sessions

Welcome to the Sports Medicine Congress – Shaping the Future of Athlete Care

Join us at this premier event uniting global leaders in sports medicine, science, and performance. With three dynamic tracks — Olympic and Paralympic/Elite Sport: From Paris to Los Angeles, Physical Activity and Exercise Prescription: The Pathway to Positive Health, and MSK Sport Medicine: Innovations in Practice — this congress delivers cutting-edge research, expert insights, and actionable solutions. Explore topics like REDs, regenerative medicine, anti-doping, and athlete health for all ages. Engage with world-renowned speakers, participate in thought-provoking sessions, and connect with peers advancing athlete care and performance. Together, we’ll pave the way for success in sports and medicine.

  1. Session 1 Clinical Scenarios in Athletes – Expert Insights and Practical Solutions

    Explore complex cardiac challenges faced by athletes, featuring experts like Prof. Domenico Corado and Prof. Michael Papadakis. Learn diagnostic strategies for cardiac conditions and screening master athletes.
    What You’ll Learn
    • Diagnostic and management strategies for cardiac conditions in athletes
    • How to approach screening and follow-up for master athletes
    • Expert perspectives on stopping, monitoring, or intervening in athletes with cardiac issues.
  2. Session 2 The Way to an Athlete’s Heart – From A to Z

    Join experts like Prof. Ruxandra Jurcuț, Assoc. Prof. Flavio D'Ascenzi, Gherardo Finocchiaro for insights into ECG evaluations, imaging techniques, and genetic testing for athletic hearts.
    What You’ll Learn
    • ECG interpretation: understanding the nuances in athlete evaluations
    • Imaging in sports cardiology: when it helps and when it complicates
    • The role of genetic testing in assessing and managing athletic performance.
  3. Session 3 Pediatric Cardiology – Advancing Heart Care for Young Athletes

    Led by experts like Prof. Georgia Brugada, Prof. Eliza Cinteză, Prof. Radu Vărășescu, this session explores innovative approaches to pediatric heart care for athletes.
    What You’ll Learn
    • Innovative approaches to pediatric heart care for athletes
    • Insights into early detection and intervention strategies
    • Practical solutions to optimize the cardiovascular health of young patients.
  4. Session 4 Opening Pandora’s Box – Are There Contraindications to Exercise?

    Addressing safe participation for athletes with chronic conditions. Experts include Prof. Anca Streinu-Cercel, Prof. Dana Craiu, Prof. Adrian Covic.
    What You’ll Learn
    • Medical considerations and contraindications for athletes with chronic diseases
    • How to balance health risks with the benefits of physical activity
    • Practical strategies to ensure safe and effective exercise programs for at-risk athletes.
  5. Session 5 Simplify the Complexity of Hip and Groin Pain in Athletes – ESSKA Consensus

    Led by global experts like Prof. Per Hölmich and Prof. Vikas Khanduja, this session discusses ESSKA consensus statements on hip and groin pain.
    What You’ll Learn
    • Standardized approaches to hip and groin pain terminology and diagnosis
    • Evidence-based strategies for clinical and radiological evaluations
    • Practical application of injections in treatment plans.
  6. Session 6 Sport Orthopaedics – Optimizing Care for Professional Athletes

    Explore advances in sport orthopaedics, covering knee osteotomies, hip impingement, and more.
    What You’ll Learn
    • Cutting-edge approaches to managing medial ankle instability
    • Innovative solutions for atypical knee osteotomies and hip impingement
    • Optimal treatment strategies for shoulder instability in high-contact sports.
  7. Session 7 Romanian Shoulder Institute – Tackling Overhead Athlete Injuries

    Focus on shoulder health in overhead athletes.
    What You’ll Learn
    • Debunking myths around subacromial impingement
    • Advanced management strategies for rotator cuff and biceps-labrum injuries
    • Evidence-based guidance on returning overhead athletes to peak performance.
  8. Session 8 FEPSAC Meets EFSMA – Psychological and Medical Factors in Athlete Support Teams

    Examining the intersection of psychology and medicine in athlete health, with speakers like Prof. Maurizio Bertollo.
    What You’ll Learn
    • The physiological and psychological factors influencing athlete health
    • How sports psychology and medical strategies enhance athlete support
    • Practical applications for managing stress and performance in E-Sports.
  9. Session 9 Transgender Athlete Health – Guided by Science

    Chaired by Prof. Yannis Pitsiladis, this session addresses medical, ethical, and physiological considerations for transgender athletes.
    What You’ll Learn
    • Medical and hormonal considerations for transgender athletes
    • Balancing inclusivity with fairness in sports
    • Evidence-based approaches for managing athlete health.
  10. Session 10 Molecular Mechanisms and Biochemical Insights in Athletic Performance

    Explore molecular biology innovations transforming athletic performance and recovery.
    What You’ll Learn
    • Biochemical pathways critical for athletic excellence
    • Innovations in molecular research for performance optimization
    • Practical applications of these insights in sports medicine.
  11. Session 11 Endocrine Challenges and Innovations in Diabetes Management for Athletes

    This session addresses the unique endocrine challenges faced by athletes with diabetes, presenting innovative strategies for effective management.
    What You’ll Learn
    • Cutting-edge techniques for diabetes management in athletes
    • Balancing performance and health with innovative strategies
    • Case studies of successful interventions in sports medicine.
  12. Session 12 Nutritional Strategies for Elite Athletes

    Led by Mihai Niculescu and other experts, this session provides an in-depth look at advanced nutritional strategies tailored to elite athletes.
    What You’ll Learn
    • Personalized nutritional approaches for peak athletic performance
    • The role of nutrigenetics in optimizing athlete health
    • Evidence-based strategies for enhancing recovery and resilience.
  13. Session 13 Expert Guide to Ultrasound Injections in MSK Medicine

    This hands-on session, led by Zielinski and Prof. Nat Padiar, explores the use of ultrasound-guided injections for musculoskeletal injuries.
    What You’ll Learn
    • Best practices for ultrasound-guided injections
    • Indications and applications for MSK injuries in athletes
    • Case studies demonstrating successful outcomes.
  14. Session 14 Relative Energy Deficiency in Elite Sport Beyond the Female Athlete

    This session takes a comprehensive look at Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), expanding the conversation beyond the female athlete.
    What You’ll Learn
    • The evolution of REDs science and its relevance to elite sports
    • Current status and future directions of the IOC REDs consensus
    • Specific challenges and strategies for addressing REDs in male athletes.
  15. Session 15 Global Alliance for Physical Activity – Beyond the Hamburg Declaration

    Chaired by Prof. Yannis Pitsiladis and Prof. Fabio Pigozzi, this session explores the global movement toward promoting physical activity for better health outcomes.
    What You’ll Learn
    • The journey of the Hamburg Declaration and its impact on global health initiatives
    • Practical monitoring and recommendations for physical activity in people with obesity
    • Strategies to drive global change through collaborative efforts in physical activity promotion.
  16. Session 16 Empowering the Female Athlete at All Ages

    Explore the unique challenges and opportunities faced by female athletes throughout their lives.
    What You’ll Learn
    • Insights into balancing motherhood and athletic performance
    • Myths and truths about menopause and the female athlete
    • Overcoming challenges to unlock the full potential of female athletes.
  17. Session 17 ICRS Meets EFSMA – Emerging Therapies and Regenerative Medicine

    Discover the latest advancements in regenerative medicine and their application to sports injuries.
    What You’ll Learn
    • Innovative approaches to managing cartilage lesions in athletes
    • The potential of orthobiologics and PRP in sports injury recovery
    • Real-world applications of regenerative medicine to enhance athlete care.
  18. Session 18 Anti-Doping – New Approaches and Challenges

    Chaired by global leaders in sports medicine and anti-doping, this session addresses the evolving landscape of doping control.
    What You’ll Learn
    • The latest strategies in anti-doping to ensure fair competition
    • Challenges in identifying and addressing new doping methods
    • Collaborative efforts to safeguard athlete integrity and health.
  19. Session 19 Tackling Obesity in Athletes

    This session explores the unique challenges of obesity in athletes, offering evidence-based solutions for managing weight while maintaining performance.
    What You’ll Learn
    • Effective strategies for managing obesity in athletes
    • Balancing weight management with peak athletic performance
    • Tools for monitoring and supporting athlete health holistically.