Sports medicine

Sports medicine or sport medicine is an interdisciplinary subspecialty of medicine which deals with the treatment and preventive care of athletes, both amateur and professional. The team includes specialty physicians and surgeons, athletic trainers, physical therapists, coaches, other personnel, and, of course, the athlete.

The future of sports medicine

Many believe that sports medicine will make its most significant future contributions in the area of prevention.

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According to Dr. David Janda, orthopaedic surgeon and director of The Institute for Preventative Medicine in Michigan, prevention is sports medicine's final frontier.

Related Topics:
David Janda - The Institute for Preventative Medicine - Michigan - Final frontier

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The risk of injury will never be entirely eliminated, but modifications in training techniques, equipment, sports venues and rules based on outcomes of meaningful research have shown that it can be lowered.

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One rapidly advancing field with great potential for applications in prevention is the study of the body's neuromuscular adaptations.

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For example, a study of specific preseason neuromuscular training in soccer players demonstrated a significant decrease in the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament tears.

Related Topics:
Soccer - Anterior cruciate ligament

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In another investigation by Janda et al., serious injuries in recreational softball were reduced by 98% when breakaway bases were used.

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Participation in all forms of physical activity at all levels is a huge part of everyday modern life and its benefits to health and quality of life are clear.

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Sports medicine will continue to grow and develop so that these benefits can be fully and safely realized.

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