‘Knife in the Fast Lane–A Surgeon’s Perspective from the Sharp End of Sport’ Is Out Now
Bill Ribbans has been a doctor and orthopaedic surgeon for over 40 years. His passion is on sports and he has specialised in the care of athletes across many sports including Michael Schumacher, Matt Dawson, Christine Ohuruogu, Andrew Flintoff, Greg Rutherford, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Paula Radcliffe–while also working for the British Boxing Board of Control, Northampton Saints, Northamptonshire cricket club and England’s rugby union team.
The book explores the legal minefields and ethical dilemmas faced by medics in sports. It deals with current issues like a concussion, depression, drug-taking and the dangers of sporting academies. It also asks whether the enormous resources poured into elite medical care have really reduced harm to athletes or made them so fit, fast and strong that it threatens their long-term health. The book also covers the impact of COVID-19 on sports.
Knife in the Fast Lane charts the history of care for sportspeople from the expert view of a doctor and orthopaedic surgeon with over 40 years’ experience. Bill gives you the inside track on the life of a surgeon operating on some of the sport’s biggest names. From looking after world champions from eight different sports and Olympians with 27 medals between them to having his actions scrutinised by millions at Twickenham, Bill’s experiences are interwoven with fascinating, surprising and controversial subjects from the annals of sports medicine.
In the sporting world, Bill has been involved in elite sports since 1981. He was a Foundation Fellow of the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine. He has been Honorary Orthopaedic Surgeon to the English National Ballet for over 20 years, Northampton Saints (1996–2009) Northampton Town FC (1999–present), Chief Medical Officer to Northants CCC (2012–present) and a member of UKA (United Kingdom Athletics) International Panel of Sports Medicine Experts (2011–present). He has looked after many Olympic medallists, World Champions and members of international teams.
