Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/237831
The Medical Time-Out is limited to three (3) minutes of treatment. However, at professional events with prize money of $25,000 or less, the ITF Supervisor/Referee may extend the time allowed for treatment if necessary. A player is allowed one (1) Medical Time-Out for each distinct treatable medical condition. All clinical manifestations of heat illness shall be considered as one (1) treatable medical condition. All treatable musculoskeletal injuries that manifest as part of a kinetic chain continuum shall be considered as one (1) treatable medical condition. Muscle Cramping: A player may receive treatment for muscle cramping only during the time allotted for change of ends and/or set breaks. Players may not receive a Medical Time-Out for muscle cramping. In cases where there is doubt about whether the player suffers from an acute medical condition, non-acute medical condition inclusive of muscle cramping, or non-treatable medical condition, the decision of the Physiotherapist/Athletic Trainer, in conjunction with the Tournament Doctor, if appropriate, is final. If the Physiotherapist/Athletic Trainer believes that the player has heat illness, and if muscle cramping is one of the manifestations of heat illness, then the muscle cramping may only be treated as part of the recommended treatment by the Physiotherapist/Athletic Trainer for the heat illness condition. Note: A player who has stopped play by claiming an acute medical condition, but is determined by the Physiotherapist/Athletic Trainer and/or Tournament Doctor to have muscle cramping shall be ordered by the Chair Umpire to resume play immediately. If the player cannot continue playing due to severe muscle cramping, as determined by the Physiotherapist/Athletic Trainer and/or Tournament Doctor, he/she may forfeit the point(s)/game(s) needed to get to a change of ends or set-break in order to receive treatment. There may be a total of two (2) full change of ends treatments for muscle cramping in a match, not necessarily consecutive. If it is determined by the Chair Umpire or ITF Supervisor/Referee that gamesmanship was involved, then a Code Violation for Unsportsmanlike Conduct could be issued. A total of two (2) consecutive Medical Time-Outs may be allowed by the ITF Supervisor/Referee or Chair Umpire for the special circumstance in which the Physiotherapist/Athletic Trainer determines that the player has developed at least two (2) distinct acute and treatable medical conditions. This may include: a medical illness in conjunction with a musculoskeletal injury; two or more acute and distinct musculoskeletal injuries. In such cases, the Physiotherapist/Athletic Trainer will perform a medical evaluation for the two or more treatable medical conditions during a single evaluation, and may then determine that two consecutive Medical Time-Outs are required. 13