Sports Medicine

Sport and physical activity medicine is a medical specialty that studies athletic injuries and sports medicine, with a focus on injury prevention and rehabilitation. Some sports medicine physicians and physiotherapists, such as orthopaedic surgeons and athletic trainers, are also often trained as physical therapists. Physiotherapy is a subspecialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation that has a similar background and includes assessment and management of musculoskeletal disorders. Physiotherapists may be referred to as a sports physio or a physiotherapist (PT). Orthopaedic surgery is an important part of sports medicine. Physicians involved in sports medicine include sports orthopaedic surgeons, physical therapists, and other physicians. Athletic trainers or team physicians may also be involved in sports medicine. The main goals of sports medicine is to keep athletes as injury free as possible, to rehabilitate athletes safely, and to educate athletes on proper techniques for injury prevention.