What is a Sports Medicine Physician?

About Sports Medicine Physicians

Sports and Exercise Medicine (SEM) is the treatment by medical, surgical, and rehabilitative means of all structures of the musculoskeletal system that are affected by athletic activity.

SEM physicians specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of any medical conditions that physically active individuals or athletes encounter. SEM doctors treat injuries such as muscle, ligament, tendon, and bone problems, but may also treat chronic illnesses that can affect physical performance, such as exercise-induced asthma and diabetes. Common sports injuries include concussions, ACL sprains and tears, ankle sprains, shin splints, and muscle strains. SEM doctors also advise on managing and preventing injuries.

Team physicians working in elite sports also often play a role in performance medicine, in which, an athlete's physiology is monitored, and aberrations are corrected in order to achieve peak physical performance.

SEM physicians are specialist physicians who have completed medical school, and appropriate residency training, and then specialize further in Sports and Exercise Medicine. Specialization in sports medicine may be a doctor's first specialty (as in Australia, Netherlands, Norway, Italy). It may also be a sub-specialty or second specialization following a specialization such as physiatry or orthopedic surgery.

SEM physicians may work closely with Orthopedic Surgeons, Radiologists, Physiotherapists, Medical Massage Therapists, Rheumatologists, and Psychologists.

Useful Resources

Canada

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

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Quebec

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