Consumer Info

Sports Medicine

. Sports medicine specializes in preventing, diagnosing and treating injuries and illnesses related to participation in sports and/or exercise. However you certainly do not have to be an "athlete" to consult a sports physician. The patient may have an acute or overuse injury that has occurred at home, work or play. Furthermore the problem may have had a gradual onset and be part of normal ageing (for example osteoarthritis).

. There is a misconception that sports-related problems are solely musculoskeletal problems. Sports medicine can encompass an array of specialties including cardiology, neurology, respiratory medicine, rehabilitation medicine, environmental medicine (heat/cold illness, altitude/diving), exercise physiology, biomechanics, sport psychology and pharmacology/drugs in sport.

. Sports medicine also encompasses the challenges of exercise and sport for special populations such as children in sport, pregnant athletic women and also older athletes.

. The sports medicine "team" includes specialist sports physicians and orthopedic surgeons, physiotherapists, dieticians, sports scientists, athletic trainers, podiatrists, coaches, as well as the athlete himself/herself.

. Because of the competitive nature of many sports, a primary focus of sports medicine is the rapid recovery of patients to health, which drives many innovations in the field.