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Special Reports: World Cup 2010
Check this out to see what we have on Health24 relating to the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Dealing with World Cup blues
Irritable? Sad? Feeling empty? It could be post-World Cup withdrawal. How are you going to get your life back?
Is the Vuvuzela the only culprit?
You love ‘em, you hate ‘em and boy, oh boy, you sure can hear ‘em (for now anyway).
'Kaka was not fit for duty'
Brazil team doctor Jose Luiz Runco admitted that star midfielder Kaka, who failed to shine at the World Cup, was not properly fit and wouldn't have played at a lesser event.
Dope-free World Cup so far
The 2010 World Cup has become the fourth consecutive tournament to be free of doping so far, FIFA said Sunday.
Soccer superstitions
Tiresomely eccentric French manager Raymond Domenech has supposedly said that isn't superstitious, as it brings bad luck. But superstitions are rife among footballers.
How to tune out a vuvuzela
It happens to the most patriotic of us: at some point or another, one gets annoyed with our country’s national instrument, the vuvuzela.
Muti to help Bafana
To increase Bafana Bafana's chances of making it through the first round of the World Cup tournament, people are burning, brewing and smoking.
Who are the hooligans?
Why do some fans get disorderly and violent - all because of something as benign as a soccer match? According to experts, it's got everything to do with "the lizard brain".
SWC matches boost mental health
Scientists say that fans who feel personally invested in a team or who attend games and cheer along with like-minded fans, reap the mental health benefits that come from a feeling of social connectedness.
Blowing your own vuvu
The vuvuzela has helped to spread the soccer fever like never before, and even though some people decry its sometimes deafening sound, it is here to stay.
Predictions and possibilities
As soccer fever grips the country, Dr Ross Tucker, FitnessDoc looks at what the fan actually cares about - the result. Here are his predictions.
Don't share your vuvuzela
Enjoy your vuvu experience, but just remember two important things: don't share your vuvuzela (and risk catching germs), and protect your ears with ear plugs.
Vuvuzelas and your pet
There has been much hype around the vuvuzela and hearing damage, but what about the effect the noise has on our furry friends who have far more sensitive hearing than us?
Top 10 World Cup health tips
Excitement, nerves, patriotism and energy are building...can you feel it? The World Cup is finally here. Follow these health tips for the world's biggest sporting event.
20 basics for soccer virgins
If your soccer knowledge gets naught out of 10, read on.
Inside SAs doping control lab
The South African Doping Control Laboratory is the official drug testing lab during the World Cup and uses equipment worth R3.9 million to analyse random samples supplied by FIFA.
Foreign med scripts not valid
World Cup visitors will need foreign medicine scripts to be validated by an SA doctor, the chairperson of United South African Pharmacies has advised.
SWC travellers: SA health info
Here are 40 things you need to know about preparation, medicines and a first aid kit before you hit the road for the SWC.
Amazing soccer moments
Have a look at this clip and see why they call it "the beautiful game".
Soccer martyrs' gallery
Soccer is a collision sport. Even heroes get injured. Check out our gallery.
Soccer is just a game - or is it?
The World Cup's official message is this: football is a vehicle of harmony, uniting all nations in peace under the banner of sport. But what if the truth were not so pretty?
Science lifts lid on soccer myths
Science has changed football. Here are some examples of how science has helped to change football, answer riddles and end hearsay.
How a soccer player trains
Judging from the physique of most soccer players, fitness for them is second nature. But what goes into their training? We spoke to a registered biokineticist at SSISA to find out.
Anthem sing-along
So the World Cup has unleashed the patriot inside of you. But you have one major shortcoming: you don't know the national anthem. We give the opportunity to save face.
In defence of referees
Referees and linesmen who come under fire from armchair fans for misjudging an offside call can take comfort from a new study.
Becks won't play in World Cup
David Beckham's ruptured Achilles tendon has been repaired and he is doing well, but he will not recover in time for the World Cup, the surgeon who operated on him in Finland said.
Strike fears for World Cup
Emergency staff on strike and budget constraints are among the concerns confronting the health department as it puts final touches to its preparations for the Soccer World Cup.
SA winter ups World Cup H1N1 risk
The World Cup kicks off at the height of SA's winter, bringing in hundreds of thousands of visitors during peak flu season and raising concerns aboout a resurgence of swine flu.
Condom supply beefed up for 2010
Condom supplies will be beefed up at the 2010 World Cup.
Vuvuzelas a hearing hazard
Blowing your vuvuzela may be good for team spirit, but it's bad for your ears.
SA medics to be ready for 2010
South Africa has to position itself as a destination of choice for medical healthcare ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, Deputy Health Minister Dr Molefi Sefularo said.
Height a factor in fouls
Football referees forced to make a snap decision on a questionable foul are more likely to rule against the taller player in the challenge, according to new research.
The wit and wisdom of soccer
When they're not being dour and gloomy, many football managers have become known for their daft statements. No one is quite sure where the wit starts and the foolishness stops.
No science, only human error
Following England's defeat to Germany in the Soccer World Cup and the goal that was not to be, Dr Ross Tucker adds his opinion on science versus human error.
15 things to do with your vuvu
Getting bored with your vuvuzela and looking for new ways to express your creativity? Here are some ideas for putting your vuvuzela to good use until long after the World Cup.
Yes to sex, no to beer
Brazilian soccer player Branco said that having sex helped him win the 1994 World Cup. If he's right, then it's too bad Bafana Bafana won't be given the same advantage.
Why do we cheer?
What is it about sports that makes us shrug off our inhibitions, scream at the top of our lungs? Experts say it dates back to our tribal hunter-gatherer ancestors.
The best player on the pitch
Objective criteria now can be used to determine who are the best footballers on the pitch, thanks to a researcher who developed a computer model to quantify players' performance.
Weirdness at the World Cup
Soccer teams getting lost on their way to the stadium, defenders shouting loader than the noise from vuvuzelas - there have been some weird incidents at the world cup.
Football analysed
FitnessDoc looks at the physiological side of football and finds out what it takes to play a 90 minute game while making some interesting comparisons between rugby and football
How to blow a vuvuzela
After the noisy but fun moment on Vuvuzela Day, many people complained of swollen lips from incorrect blowing technique on the vuvuzela. Watch these videos on how to blow it right.
The formula for World Cup success
Do soccer players from poor backgrounds have an advantage over their middle-class team mates? Dr Ross Tucker, Health24’s FitnessDoc comments.
Soccer hooligans ready for SWC
60 Argentine soccer hooligans, also known as "barras bravas" are bunking in the Christian Progressive College.
Stampede: how it happens
Even a happy, peaceful crowd can suddenly transform into a deadly weapon. Why does this happen and how can you protect yourself?
Injuries a great concern before SWC
The growing list of injuries to high-profile players ahead of the World Cup has become a concern for Brazil.
World Cup blimp?
Watching the World Cup for the next few weeks? The only thing getting a workout will be the sofa. Right? Here's how not to turn into a blimp.
Weirdest soccer injuries
Soccer is no stranger to violent injury on the field – and off. In fact some of the weirdest accidents have happened outside game-time and far from the pitch.
Cup trafficking fears dismissed
Sex work researchers have dismissed fears of a rise in human trafficking for the World Cup, saying cash-strapped NGOs could be tagging onto the event to win extra resources.
Fake injuries and other theatrics
Some serious injuries occur on the football field. These aren't any of those though.
Child labour a concern during SWC
The World Cup could see an increase in child labour linked to the "economic bonanza" that will accompany it, United Nations Children's Fund child labour specialist Aida Girma said.
The science of the penalty
Scientists see penalties in soccer as a duel between shooter and goalkeeper where biomechanics and psychology can give either side a critical edge.
Referees can be swayed by crowd
Professional referees are quick to throw back the charge as wrong, a slur or sour grapes. But studies have shownhow the ref can be swayed, albeit unconsciously, by crowd pressure.
How to not get sick
You've been looking forward to the Soccer World Cup for months and the very last thing on your mind is getting sick. Follow these guidelines to make sure it doesn't happen to you.
Performing under pressure
What is it that makes so many golfers fade on the last day of a major, experienced soccer players miss penalties, and hardened rugby players turn to jelly when the pressure is on?
Soccer goalies should wear red
Soccer players are less likely to score on a penalty shot if the goalie is wearing red, a new study shows.
Becks tears Achilles' tendon
David Beckham's torn Achilles' tendon may end his chances of playing in the World Cup, but the injury is hardly surprising - especially for an elite athlete.
40,000 prostitutes coming for SWC
As many as 40,000 women are expected to arrive in South Africa ahead of the Fifa World Cup to work as prostitutes, the Central Drug Authority said on Thursday.
SAfricans biggest threat to Cup
South Africans may pose the biggest problem to health care services during the Soccer World Cup, health officials said on Saturday.
H1N1 outbreak threat at World Cup
South Africa faces a possible health crisis if a swine flu outbreak strikes during the soccer World Cup this year, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi told parliament.
SWC: health sector 90% ready
South Africa's health sector is "90%" ready for the soccer world cup and working quickly to close the gaps, Deputy Health Minister Molefi Sefularo said on Monday.
Simple test may spot concussion
A simple, inexpensive test of reaction time may help determine on the sidelines whether an athlete has suffered a concussion, according to research.
Soccer players sleepless after game
Professional soccer players are more likely to suffer a sleepless night after a big game than before, a study on sleep patterns among professional soccer players has found.
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