18th EFORT ANNUAL CONGRESS VIENNA 2017 MAIN THEME: SPORTS ACTIVITIES AND ORTHOPAEDIC PRACTICE

Sport has become a major part of everyday life. Professional sport activities are very well appreciated and are broadcasted all over the world every day. Many of us are active in sport activities at a much lower level but are stimulated and impressed by the performance of these professional sportsmen and women. For many years, work-related physical activity has been reduced and therefore physical activity can only be found in our free time in the form of sport or fitness. There are many studies showing that we really need to increase our physical activity to live a longer and healthier life.

With so many people active in sport and fitness, these activities also play an important role in orthopaedic practice. Some patients present with acute or more chronic sport injuries, but they may also have complaints related to overuse injuries specific to their sport. Others would like to start their favorite sport or fitness activity again after their orthopaedic treatment. Many patients ask their surgeon which activities are acceptable after total knee or total hip replacement.

So sport and fitness activities are not only influencing the work of orthopaedic surgeons specialised in the field of sport medicine. These activities influence almost all orthopaedic surgeons in their practices.

The European orthopaedic community has an important role in keeping the population fit and active by providing the best orthopaedic care. Sharing our knowledge and science with colleagues may stimulate and improve the European orthopaedic care standard. The annual meeting of EFORT covers all subspecialties and new developments.

The EU promotes health-enhancing physical activity on behalf of all European countries. As the Federation of all National European Societies of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, the EFORT annual meeting 2017 will provide orthopaedic surgeons with the knowledge and experience to support this ambition and keep our patients active and healthy throughout life. In 2017, Vienna will be the optimal place for our meeting because before and after the congress there is much to visit or to walk around.

So my invitation is: come to Vienna!