Sports Medicine
Transcript: Sports Medicine is an area of health and special services that apply medical and scientific knowledge to prevent, recognize, manage, and rehabilitate injuries related to sports. There are many specialization areas within the greater field of sports medicine - from the athletic trainer who interacts with athletes on a daily basis to the fully trained medical doctor who might specialize in orthopedic surgery or cardiac rehabilitation. To get in the field of sports medicine you need an undergraduate degree in science and Doctor of Medicine degree (MD) and residency requirements. They must also complete a specialty in sports medicine and complete internships and fellowships. Many sports medicine doctors complete internships with hospitals specializing in athletic medicine, professional athletic teams, and sports associations. All states require sports medicine doctors to be licensed. Licensing requirements include graduating from an accredited medical school, completing a sports medicine residency program, and receiving a passing score on a licensing examination. Many sports medicine doctors specialize in a specific area such as orthopedics, respiratory, cardiac, and internal medicine. Many sports medicine doctors become board certified through the American Board of Medical Specialists (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). Sports medicine doctors often work with other medical professionals such as physical therapists, nurses, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, and sports psychologists to develop prevention and treatment plans. Physical Therapist Physical Therapist's treat a variety injuries. Many specialize in the treatment of sports injuries. They usually get a 4-year degree for this job. Sports Medicine Physician Sports medicine physicians have specialized training in the field in medicine that deals with sport or exercise-related injuries. Their primary focus is on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of injuries that occur during sports and other physical activity. Sports Science Sports Science is focused on the study of principals of physiology, anatomy, and psychology. They relate to the human movement and physical activity. Sports Medicine Specialist A sports medicine specialist is someone that specializes in education and training within sports. It focuses on the medical and therapeutic areas of sports participation and physical activity. Certified Athletic Trainer (CAT) A Certified Athletic Trainer is a highly skilled professional who has education and trained in the athletic health care field. To become certified, trainers must pass a test that covers a variety of topics that include: •Prevention of athletic injuries •Recognition, evaluation and immediate care of athletic injuries •Rehabilitation and reconditioning •Health care administration •Professional development and responsibility Main Injuries Improper gear and poor training practices while exercising can lead to sports injuries. Sprains One of the most common sports injuries are wrist and ankle sprains. Bones are connected at the joints with tissues called ligaments. Ligaments are torn or stretched when a sprain occurs. Swelling, bruising, pain, and being unable to move your joint are all signs of a sprain. A sports medicine trainer can fix these injuries by using devices that compress the area, icing the area, applying a flexible type bandage, and medication. You also have to rest a lot when you have a sprain. Knee Injuries The knee joint moves by the use of tendons and muscles. Ligaments, fluid, bone and cartilage make up a knee joint. Knee injuries can lead to surgery of some type if the injury is that severe. Sports medicine physicians may need to be consulted in more severe injuries such as to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) by a twisting motion. Fractures Sports injuries can also involve fractures which are breaks in the bone. There are many symptoms of a fracture such as limited mobility, swelling, bruising or bleeding, numbness and tingling, misshapen or out-of-place joints or limbs, and intense pain. Immediate medical care is needed for a fracture. A sports medicine physician or surgeon may put a splint on ther injury, cast the injury, or perform surgery to insert pins, screws, or even a plate to stabilize the bone. This all depends on how bad of a break it is. Physical therapy is used to help an athlete get back to their best state. It may include flexibility, endurance and strength exercise programs. A sports medicine trainer can be consulted in regard to fitness tests and the use of the right equipment so the athlete won't get hurt again. (National Athletic Trainers’ Association) The NATA is the professional membership association for certified athletic trainers and others who support the athletic training profession. This group was founded in 1950 and has grown to over 30,000 members today. Athletic trainers usually join this group because it supports their job and they also get membership benefits.