Sports Medicine is the field of medicine regarding prevention, diagnosis and treatment of injuries from participation in sports. Sports medicine physicians can provide services in: injury diagnosis, physical condition assessment, medication and supplement guidance, single and team pre-screening physical condition assessment, rehabilitation guidance, and general information to the public including coaches, teachers, parents and other parties.
In Canada, the Pan American Games of 1967 brought together athletes, physicians, athletic therapists and sports trainers. This interaction and exchange about sports and performance paved the way towards the establishment of the Canadian Association of Sports Sciences. The need for a team approach to athletes in terms of their training, preventative care, injury treatment, rehabilitation, and ongoing health was again addressed in 1968 after the Olympic Games in Mexico. This led the way to the forming of the Canadian Academy of Sports Medicine (CASM). With the increasing interest in health and fitness, sports medicine has evolved well beyond the scope of the elite athlete. According to the CASM, its mission is to “forge a strong, collective voice for sport medicine; to be a leader in advancing the art and science of sport medicine; including health promotion and disease prevention, for the benefit of all Canadians through advocacy, education, research and service.”1
There are a number of facilities providing sports medical services. Many of them are integrated centers where physiotherapy, massage therapy, and physiatry come together in one place. Some include other health modalities such as acupuncture, craniosacral, chiropractic, and traditional Chinese medicine. Service is geared beyond simply the needs of the elite athlete and can include pain management, problems with physical posture, musculoskeletal issues related to work conditions, injuries due to accidents, and problems with mobility. A session would include consultation about personal health history as well as specific issues of concern. X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, lab testing, muscle testing and other assessments may be used to design treatment program.
1http://www.casm-acms.org/Media/Content/files/Publication-English%281%29.pdf
Select a region to view to corresponding Sports Medicine professionals operating there:
