Sports medicine is a branch of medicine that deals
with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of injuries and other disorders
related to sports. Injuries related to sports include muscle, tendon and
ligament injuries. Injuries also include knee, hip, ankle, elbow, back and
neck injuries. Disorders related to sports include stiffness in joints, joint
pain, tendonitis, tennis elbow, dehydration, disordered eating and dietary
deficiencies. Sports medicine is also concerned with performance enhancing
drugs. Sports medicine deals with specialized approach that encourages optimal
performance and promotes a physically active lifestyle for athletes.
Sports medicine is not a single specialty area and it includes health care
professionals, researchers and educators from a wide variety of disciplines.
The sports medicine team includes physicians, physiologists, surgeons,
athletic trainers, nutritionists, coaches, physical therapists and athletes.
The sports medicine team helps athletes to enhance their performance and
realize their full potential. Sports medicine team works for professional
leagues, various organizations, high school sports teams and college teams.
There are specialized sports medicine teams for women athletes.
The sports medicine team offers a variety of recovery programs and promotes
general health and fitness. Physical therapists in the team are skilled in the
treatment of various sports injuries. They provide expert evaluation and
develop exercise programs for athletes. Dietitians in the sports medicine team
provide a thorough evaluation of eating habits and also provide guidance for
athletes. Nutrition programs include training diets, weight reduction and
muscle gain. A sports medicine team includes a skilled sports psychologist who
provides guidance in handling sports issues such as performance anxiety,
stress and time management. The physical conditions of the athletes are
evaluated by concerned specialists such as orthopedic surgeons and
cardiologists.
Treatment and prevention programs in sports medicine include different
exercise programs for increasing strength, flexibility and endurance.
Treatment programs also include use of protective equipment in sports
activities. Some sports injuries can be treated only with surgeries.
