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Sports Medicine

Definition:

Sports medicine treats injuries resulting from sports and exercise, as well as focusing on physical fitness

  • Sports medicine is also for active adults and kids, not just for sportsmen and sportswomen
  • Sports medicine physicians have a specialty such as orthopedics, pediatrics or family medicine and also have training in sports medicine
Sports medicine

Why is it needed?

  • Sports medicine includes preventative measures such as conditioning, injury treatments like osteopathic manipulation, injections and rehabilitation
  • Physicians often treat athletes suffering from back pain due to injury and strain from playing sports such as weight lifting, bicycling, running, golf, etc.
  • Sports medicine physicians maximize non-surgical treatment, refer to orthopedic surgeons when needed or to occupational therapists

Facts and Figures

  • The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) was established in 1954
  • Members of ACSM are doctors, physical educators, and university researchers to advance the study as well as understanding of physical exertion on the body

Other professionals associated to sports medicine

  • Physical therapists who help in recovering from injury and rehabilitation
  • Orthopedic surgeon
  • Certified athletic trainer
  • Kinesiotherapist
  • Strength and conditioning specialist
  • Registered dieticians
  • Professionals specializing in sports nutrition, sports physiology, sports psychology, sports dentistry, sports vision, podiatry and chiropractic
Sports medicine

Injuries commonly treated in sports medicine

  • Fractures
  • Ankle sprains
  • Shoulder and knee injuries
  • Heat illness
  • Exercise induced asthma
  • Tendonitis
  • Concussions
  • Cartilage injuries
  • Eating disorders
Injuries commonly treated in sports medicine

Advantages

  • Helps athletes improve their game
  • Rehabilitation
  • Preventative Care
  • Increases oxygen utilization
  • Benefits on metabolism
  • Improves glucose tolerance
  • Reduces cardiac work
  • Induces weight loss
  • Strengthens bone structure
  • Favors diabetes treatment
  • Reduces clot formation in the arteries
  • Reduce hypertension
  • Reduces stress, anxiety, depression
  • Increases self-esteem
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