Tackling Sports Medicine

Gabrielle Geiger

English III Honors

Mr. Piatak
February 27, 2014

Gabrielle Geiger

Mr.Piatak
English III
February 16, 2014
Tackling Sports Medicine
Medicine knows no limits, especially not its own. This quote originates from health economist,
Gerhard Kocher who received a medal of honor in Germany (Medicine Quotes). This quote
displays a wide known fact about medicine in general. The goal of medicine tends to reach
beyond its own limits. Medicine and medical research seem to always reach above and beyond to
find new advancements within technology and practices. Sports medicine remains a large part of
the medical world that uses this idea as a basis (Epstein). A branch of medicine concerned with
health and injuries related to athletic activities pertains to area of medicine called sports medicine
(Sports Medicine). Those within the sports medicine career prove this quote true. Sports
medicine has progressed greatly over the years. Many technological and medical advancements
have developed from sports medicine research (Lock, Last, Dunea). In order to obtain a career
within sports medicine one must go to school for many years. Nevertheless, if one has interest in
sports medicine, they have a wide variety of careers to choose from. Sports medicine opens up
many opportunities for different career pathways (American Orthopaedic Society for Sports
Medicine). In order to enter the well-developed career of sports medicine, one must obtain a lot
of education on techniques and practices. Sports medicine, although it may seem unimportant for
many people, truly does impact the world more than one would think.
Sports medicine, often described as a branch of medicine that concerns the treatment of
injuries or illness that result from athletic activity has many different ways of characterization

(Word Net). Sports medicine embodies the research and practices of medicine. But while using
medicine as an influence, heavy focus on specific exercise and sport, help those within the sports
medicine career produce prevention, therapy, and rehabilitation tactics that will benefit the
athlete or patient. Sports medicine can often have the description of single factions such as
emphasis on only injury. In fact, sports medicine evinces a high level of cooperation between the
specialist, the athlete, the athlete's body, family, coach, and in some cases, media or sponsors
(Lock, Last, Dunea). Along with widespread cooperation within the career of sports medicine,
specialists within this medical pathway take on many other responsibilities. The job of a person
within the career of sports medicine frequently boils down to educating their patient. Specialists
educate their patients on how to avoid injury, how to treat an injury, and how to lead a healthy
lifestyle overall. Within a one on one setting, a sports medicine specialist helps athletes and
patients improve their overall performance after injuries. They pinpoint different problems that
lead to specific injury, and then recognize ways to correct the injury and prevent further
complications to the affected area. A sports medicine specialist helps their athletes bounce back
quicker and help them return to normal activities as soon as possible. Sports medicine specialists
do not always see athletes in an office setting. Often they will work in more of a real time
situation, providing emergency care. Sports medicine specialists will attend games, meets, and
competitions to provide any medical care needed throughout the process of an athletic event
(Gillis). Whether they remain in the office or on the field, a sports medicine specialist will
always stress the main ideals of sports medicine; education, prevention, therapy, and
rehabilitation. Although sports medicine embodies many features of General Practice Medicine,
sports medicine differed from General Practice Medicine in many ways. The techniques,

practices, and approaches of sports medicine, set this career field apart from any other.
Medicine in general practice tends to have more conservation in nature, whereas sports
medicine has become very goal oriented and aggressive. This implies that in general medicine,
physicians and practitioners go with the flow throughout treatment and do not make any drastic
moves. Those within sports medicine set high goals for themselves and for patients and strive to
achieve the goals set for them. (Goldsmith). Although general medicine and sports medicine take
different approaches within the medical field, both areas of medicine achieve their set goals
within healthcare.
In the area of general medicine, doctors, nurses and surgeons base their practices, and
techniques, and approaches off of research. The field of general medicine has developed
beneficial research over the years and this continue to aid those who work in this field today
(History of Medicine). Sports medicine does frequently use research and advancement as tools
for success, but in general, it has the tendency to utilize more innovative thoughts and processes.
(Goldsmith). Those within the sports medicine field show more instinctual actions and base
information off of personal intelligence.
In addition, medicine in society generally follows a process from assessment, to
treatment, and then to recovery whereas sports medicine responds to the need of the situation.
Sports medicine usually involves shortcuts, especially within high performance sports.
(Goldsmith). In sports medicine, practitioners do whatever they can in order to help their
patients, no matter how they do it.
Additionally, Medicine in Society generally practices independently, meaning contact
between the physician and the patient. Most physicians within general medicine typically do not

call on colleagues and peers as frequently as they do in sports medicine. Sports medicine requires
much teamwork (Goldsmith). Teamwork can be interpreted as advice from colleagues and peers,
or even a high level of cooperation between the specialist, the athlete, the athlete's body, family,
coach, the media or sponsors (Lock, Last, Dunea). To sum it up, sports medicine differs from
general medicine because it requires more communication from different parties.
Sports medicine has come a long way since the very beginning. Surgeries that once only
repaired injuries have advanced to full on reconstructions. These surgeries enable athletes to
return to their sports quicker and more efficiently (Epstein). The advancements in sports
medicine show that the research in medicine has so much farther to go, and how much more
there is to learn about sports medicine and the human body.
It all started with Herodicus, the Father of Sports Medicine (Advancement of Sports
Medicine). He single handedly combined sports with medicine for the very first time in fifth
century BC. He worked as a sports teacher, and later studied medicine at the medical school of
Cnidos, one of the most prominent in Greece. While studying medicine, Herodicus formed his
own perspective of medicine. He came about the conclusion that bad health came from an
imbalance between diet and physical activity. He always recommended the treatment of a strict
diet, and frequent physical activity and training to his patients (Georgoulis, Kiapodou,
Velogianni, Stergio). Sports medicine embodies this standard of health today.
The next evidence of sports medicine in history takes place within the age of the
gladiators. Evidence has shown that Roman Gladiators took stimulants and hallucinogen to fight
fatigue and enhance their intensity in fights (Advancement of Sports Medicine). Although these
gladiators took sports enhancing drugs, they also led a healthy lifestyle and developed eating

habits that would make any sports medicine practitioner proud. Roman Gladiators ate a healthy
balance of protein, which mostly consist of plants because plants contain higher levels of
strontium than most animal tissues. People who consume more plants and less meat will build up
measurably higher levels of strontium in their bones. This diet gave strength, endurance, and
deadly efficiency to those fighting machines known as Roman Gladiator (The Best Athletes in
Ancient Rome were Vegetarian). These diet techniques appear as recommendations to athletes
today.
In 1780, Jean-Andre Vennel established the first orthopedic institute (Advancement of
Sports Medicine). Venel worked as a Genevese physician, and studied dissection at Montpellier
at the age of 39. He established an orthopedic institute at Orbe, in Canton Waadt. This institute
acted as a model for hospitals throughout Europe and the rest of the World (Foundations Of
Modern Orthopedics). This institute set precedence for all other medical institutes from that point
on.
Within the year of 1895, German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen took the worlds very first
X-Ray photograph (Advancement of Sports Medicine). X-Ray photographs influence patient
treatment tremendously today, the modern sports medicine world not be the same without this
advancement in technology.
In 1903, the very first ligament repair took place by surgeon F. Lange of Munich
(Advancement of Sports Medicine). He performed an Anterior Cruciate Ligament replacement,
and used braided silk as a ligament substitute (Colombet, Allard, Bousquet, De Lavigne, Flurin).
This advancement in surgery led surgeons to the successful techniques used today.
Many advancements in technology and research of medicine have come about over time.

These advancements have created the sports medicine career field, and have helped it progress
greatly over time. This shows that sports medicine can only go further and advance more into
knowledge and research of medicine within sports and the human body.
Very similar to general medicine, the career pathway of sports medicine opens up the
opportunity for many different careers. Sports Medicine has become such a developed field of
medicine, and now provides many employment possibilities for those who may have interest in
this career field. (Sports Medicine Overview).
A Team Physician plays a major role in the medical care of athletes. The team physician
works and oversees the overall health of an athlete. Although the team physician does work with
others like a physical therapist, trainer or nutritionist, the team physician acts as a leader of this
team of healthcare professionals. Team physicians can work with ameteur athletes, as well as
professional and collegiate athletes. As a physician, these team doctors work hard to prevent
injuries, accurately diagnoses injuries, and treat injuries. Team doctors have the responsibility of
conducting physical examinations prior to the athletes participation in a sport, as well as making
return-to-play decisions for athletes after an injury. Frequently team doctors provide medical
coverage on an athletic event, as well as consult athletes in an office setting (American
Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine).
To become a Team Physician, requires many years of education. Students interested in
medicine, should complete a bachelors degree with a pre-medicine or science concentration. A
student should complete their bachelors degree with the intent of applying to a medical school.
This means the student should complete all courses with excellent grades. The University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Washington rank as the top medical schools

in the United States (Top Medical Schools). Once accepted into medical school, a student
interested in sports medicine tends to complete a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine or a Doctor of
Medicine degree. These degree programs generally involve four years of academic coursework
in biology, biochemistry, anatomy, pathology, psychology, physiology, medical ethics and
pharmacology (How to Become a Sports Doctor). Dr. Patrick Fry, a well-known local physician
states, My advice for someone going to or through medical school is to recognize that this is a
unique time in your career. There will be times when just getting through the day or doing well
on the next assignment is a priority, but remember to try to get something from each class, each
professor and each physician you encounter. What you get from medical school is proportionate
to what you put in. Although it seems like a long time - you only have those few years to take
advantage of the vast opportunities to learn. Look at it as an opportunity rather than a delay or
obstacle in getting to be a doctor. (Fry). After completing a doctoral degree program, medical
students must complete a residency program, to help them gain clinical experience. After
completing a three to five year residency, doctors interested in specializing in sports medicine
must complete two additional years of fellowship training in sports medicine. With the
completion of these multiple years of education the student will have gained the title of a Sports
Medicine Physician and could start searching for jobs with a Sports Team of any sort (How to
Become a Sports Doctor).
An Athletic trainer plays a key role in the medical care of the athlete. Often the athletic
trainer that reaches an athlete first following an injury. Athletic trainers attend sports events and
work as emergency medical caretakers during a game or competition. Like Team Physicians,
Athletic trainers heavily involve themselves with injury prevention by implementing of strength

and conditioning practices. Most also have expertise in brace and orthotic use to prevent injuries
or to allow the athlete to safely carry out athletic activities with an injury. Athletic trainers can
also perform ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and phonophoresis to enhance the injury healing
process (American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine ).
To become a Certified Athletic Trainer one must graduate from a bachelors or masters degree
program that receives credit from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training
Education. East Carolina University, College of Charleston, and The University of South
Carolina all provide Athletic Training major programs for those who show interest. (Search for
Accredited Programs). A candidate that completes an Athletic Training degree must also pass a
certification examination conducted by a Board of Certification. After completing the degree
program, and gaining an Athletic Training certification, an individual may begin working as an
athletic trainer with any athletic association (How Do I Become a Certified Athletic Trainer).
A Physical therapist, just like a team physician and an athletic trainer, help to rehabilitate
patients and athletes recover from injuries or medical illnesses within the nervous, muscular, or
skeletal system. Physical therapists can work in hospitals, clinics, private offices, and home care
programs. Physical therapists tend to work under the leadership of a physician. Athletic teams
frequently employ Physical Therapists to help assist injured athletes rehabilitate quicker and
more efficiently (American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine).
Depending on the University, most physical therapy programs offer four-year
undergraduate degrees, while others require an undergraduate degree followed by a masters
degree in physical therapy. Curriculum for physical therapy majors generally include biology,
anatomy, exercise physiology, bio-mechanics, kinesiology, neuroscience, behavioral sciences,

communication, cardiovascular and pulmonary, endocrine and metabolic, and musculo-skeletal.

The majority of education for physical therapy takes place in a classroom setting, with a small
concentration dedicated to clinical education. Completing this degree program would guarantee a
physical therapy certification. After graduation and certification, many physical therapists
continue their educations through residencies or fellowship programs. A physical therapy
residency that consists of post professional clinical education for physical therapists that
significantly advances the physical therapist in patient care services. While completing a
residency, a physical therapist has the opportunity to gain clinical supervision and experience
from mentors. For physical therapists interested in a specific area of physical therapy, many
complete a fellowship program. A fellowship provides education in a specific area of clinical
practice related to physical therapy. Fellowship programs typically offered for physical therapists
are Cardiovascular and Pulmonary, Neurology, Orthopaedics, Womens Health, and Sports
Physical Therapy. A physical therapist interested in working within the athletic sports medicine
field would take part in the fellowship program for Sports Physical Therapy (Physical Therapist
Education Overview).
In order to achieve their peak performance, an athlete must consider their nutrition as an
essential part of the performance process. Nutritionists typically assist athletes by constructing a
healthy diet that may help an athlete to lose or gain weight, depending on the sports
requirements. A nutritionist can help athletes stay healthy, all the while improving the
performance of the athlete (American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine). Typically
before preparing a meal plan for an athlete, the nutritionist will categorize the specific athletes
physical activity into one of the following: Endurance, High Intensity, Moderate, and Low

Intensity. After categorizing the athletes physical activity, the nutritionist will conduct a
specialized diet to the athletes needs by adjusting calorie, carbohydrate, protein and fat levels
(Winning Sports Nutrition). A nutritionist usually completes a four-year undergraduate degree in
the field of food sciences (American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine).
Interest in the psychological aspects of athletic performance has heightened recently. The
impact of the brain during sports activities of all levels of competition from the recreational
league level to the collegiate or professional athletic level has become a topic of analyzation
recently. A sports psychologist helps athletes of any kind deal with sports injuries, and stress due
to athletic participation. The role of a sports psychologists proves to explore different areas of
an athlete when compared to a physical therapist, nutritionist, trainer or a physician, but this
career has begun to gain a better definition and appreciation. Many professional and collegiate
teams have begun to hire sports psychologists to give aid to their athletes performance. The
person entering this field of psychology will generally complete an undergraduate degree in
psychology and progress to a masters degree, and finalizes it with a doctorate in psychology and
specialized training within sports psychology (American Orthopaedic Society for Sports
Medicine).
The pathway to sports medicine opens many opportunities for careers. Some careers may
focus on the rehabilitation of an athlete, and some may focus on the psychological aspect of
athletics. Although these well-known careers in sports medicine differ greatly, all professionals
within them have a common goal. The common goal for all professionals within sports medicine
relates to helping the athlete. No matter what task these professionals take on, they each work
hard to achieve that goal and help an athlete reach its full potential, allthewhile staying healthy

and safe (American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine).

The branch of medicine concerned with the treatment of injuries or illness resulting from
athletic activities known as sports medicine has influenced the world greatly over the years. The
innovations of sports medicine have aided many athletes over the years (Epstein). The most
fantastic aspect of sports medicine is that all of the discoveries and innovations made have not
only helped athletes, but other patients not related to sports medicine. Sports medicine
researchers and professionals have achieved more than ever thought possible, and will continue
to achieve as time goes on. This medical field has developed greatly and will continue to impact
our society each and every day.

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