SPORTS AND EXERCISE MEDICINE

Sports and Exercise Medicine (or Sports Medicine for short) is a branch of medicine that deals with physical fitness and focuses on preventing, diagnosing

and treating sports or exercise related injuries. Sport Medicine doctors are physicians who have completed medical school and appropriate residency

training, and gained specialist qualifications in sports medicine. They can provide expert diagnosis and management of all musculoskeletal injuries for professional

and recreational athletes, adults, teens and children. Some specialise in looking after children and teens, whose growing bodies can need different treatment to

those of adults. They treat acute and overuse injuries that occur at work or during everyday activities and help those with disabilities who are trying to increase

mobility and capability. They can also provide exercise intervention to prevent and manage chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma and obesity. For

the elite athlete, Sports Medicine can help push the boundaries of physical performance.

The Sports Medicine team includes:

• Sports Physicians,

• Sports Orthopaedic Surgeons

• Sports Physiotherapists

• Sports Massage Therapists

• Sports

Trainers

• Sports Podiatrists

• Sports Scientists (Exercise Physiologists, Sports Dietitians, Strength and Conditioning Coaches, Sports Biomechanists, and Sports Psychologists).

Most sports teams have employed team physicians for many years but it is only since the late 20th century that Sports Medicine has emerged as a distinct and

fast-growing field of health care.