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APhysiciansInvolvementinSportsMedicine

ColeMcNeil

EnglishIIIHonors
Mrs.Kopp
February26,2015

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ColeMcNeil
Mrs.Kopp
EnglishIIIHonors
26February2015

APhysiciansInvolvementinSportsMedicine
Acareerinsportsmedicineprovidesamultitudeofpathsformedicalprofessionalsthat
choosetofocusonpracticesofhealthcareforphysicallyactiveindividuals.Thefieldofsports
medicinereachesbeyondthetreatmentofcommonathleticinjuries,andnowoffersa
comprehensivehealthcareplanforallathleticallyactivepatients.Sportsmedicineplaysa
crucialroleinphysicalfitnessandthetreatmentorpreventionofinjuriesrelatedtoexercise.
Medicalprofessionalsspecializinginthistypeofmedicineusethenewesttechnologyandthe
latestfindingsfrommedicalresearchtomoreefficientlytreatapatientwhosufferedaninjury.
Frommanagingconcussionstorepairingatornkneeligament,modernsportsmedicine
professionalsworktowardsrestoringathletestofullhealth,andenablingthemtoparticipatein
theirathleticlifestyles.Oftentimes,theathletesreturntocompetitionstrongerthanbeforetheir
originalinjury.
Thesportsmedicinefieldmainlyconcentratesoninjuriescausedbyathleticactivities.
However,itdoesincludetheprevention,diagnosis,treatment,andrehabilitationofsuchinjuries
(AmericanCollegeofSportsMedicine).Anormalworkdaydefinesitselfinmanydifferent
waysbecauseofitsplentifulrangeofprofessions.Noteverypersoninthisfieldofmedicine

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takesonthesamejob.Manystepstoprovidingapatientwithhealthcareoccurthatenablethem
toreturntotheirpreviousabilitiesintheiractivelifestyle.

Rangingfromstandarddoctorsandphysicaltherapiststosurgeonsandathletictrainers,
varioustypesofprofessionalsmakeuptheindustryasawhole(WhatisSportsMedicine).
Thisfieldofmedicinesuggestsverystressfulcircumstancesduetothecareprovidersdesireto
consistentlydotheirbestforthepatient.Theirbestincludesthehighestqualityofcaretheycan
provide,whileresultinginthequickestrecoverytimepossible.Wheninvolvingaprofessional
athlete,theactionsorlackofactionbyaphysiciancouldmeantheendoftheathletescareer,
costingthatpersonmillionsofdollars.Theevolvingtechnologyaswellasthemoredetailed
understandingofthehumanbodyhelptomakeforakeytraitofsuccessinthefield.The
updatedknowledgehelpswhentreatingfrequentlyoccurringathleticinjuries,suchasanACL
tearinthekneeor,morerecently,theeffectsofheadinjurieslikeconcussions.Someinjuries
canrequiresurgerywhileothersjustneedalittlephysicaltherapyworkoragoodrestingperiod
inordertoheal.However,everyspecialistinthisfieldtriestheirbesttoallowtheirpatienttoget
backoutandparticipateintheirpreviousactivelifestylesafely.
SportsmedicineoriginatedinancientGreeceandRome(HistoryofSportsMedicine).
Herodicus,agreekphysician,becamefamousforthefirstuseoftherapeuticexerciseand
treatmentandmaintenanceofhumanhealth.Histheoriesaresometimescreditedasthe
foundationofmodernsportsmedicine,makinghimthefirstdoctorofathleticmedicine
(Georgoulisetal.).OthersignificantancientGreeksresponsibleforhelpingathletesinclude
HippocratesandClaudiusGalen.Thesetwo,primarilyseenbythemedicalworldasthefirstto
helptreatinjuriesandhelpingthegladiatorsintheirhealthmaintenance(Georgoulisetal.).

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Originally,peoplebelievedthatsportsmedicinehelpedilltrainedathletesperformbetter,while
teachingmoreofaphysicaleducation,ratherthanthehealingoftheathlete(HistoryofSports
Medicine).Notuntilthe20thcenturythattheuseofsportsfamiliaritystartedtobecome
popularinthemedicalfield.PhysicianA.V.Hill,whowontheNobelPrizeofPhysiologyin
1922,servesasastrongexampleofsportsmedicinepopularitygrowthinthemedicineworld.
Throughouthistoryofthephysiciancareerfield,onemayseethattheeducationofstrengthand
abilities,asathletesbegantoevolveintotheusageoftherapeuticexercisesalongwiththe
educationtohelppreventinjuries(HistoryofSportsMedicine).Thetermsportsmedicine
firstemergedin1961,occurringjust50yearsago(TheHistoryofSportsMedicine).Then,as
technologyimproved,theknowledgeofwesternstylemedicinemodernizedaswell.The
evolutionofknowledgeallowsdoctorsandphysicaltherapistsandothercareerswithinthesports
medicinefieldtolinktogether.Thisconnectionofdifferentprofessionalshelpstomeshtheir
professionalexpertiseintoanoverallcareplanthatprovidesthebestservicetotheirinjured
patients.Manytimes,thisnewknowledgeenablesphysicianstohelppatientstohealandregain
theirformerperformancelevelpriortoinjury,quickerthanever.
Withnewtechnologicaladvances,thesportsmedicinefieldbecomesabletoutilizenew
techniquessuchasArthroscopicsurgeryandHypothermiatherapy(Altman).Arthroscopic
surgeryoriginatedinJapananditallowssurgeonstorepairinjuredjointswithminimalinvasion
andminimalscarringoncetheprocedurefinalizes.(Altman).Lessscarringallowsthepatientto
regainflexibilityintherepairedjoint,andkickstartsthepatientsrebuildingofmusclemobility.
Botheffectshelptheathletetorehabilitatewithintheshortestamountoftimepossible.For
exampleofsurgeryimprovement,inthe1980ssurgeonswouldmakemultiplelargeincisionson

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eachsideoftheknee.Whileworkingtorepairthetearoftheligament,theywouldintentionally
causesignificantscarring.Aftersurgery,recoveryconsistedontotalembolizationforseveral
monthsfollowedbyagradualreturntonormalactivitiesthatmightexceedoneyear.Today,the
sameprocedureisdoneusingsmallincisionsthatdonotresultinscartissue.Thepatientisoften
abletobeginwalkingwithin24hours.Typically,anathleteisfullyabletoreturntonormal
activitiesinlessthattenmonths.Obviouslyadvanceshaveresultedincuttingaprevious
recoveryperiodinhalforevenmore.Thisallowstheathletetohopbackoutontothefieldor
courtquickerandevenhealthierthanbefore.Italsoallowstheathletetohaveconfidencethat
theycanrecoverandnothesitatetofullyusethepreviouslyinjuredbodypart.Alongwiththe
newadvancementsinsurgicalprocedures,newtechniquessuchashypothermiatherapyalso
allowforquickerrejuvenation.Hypothermiatherapyhelpstolimitswellingwhenanathlete
obtainsspinaltrauma.Itadvocatesfortheathletestoimproveneurologicaldisorderslongterm,
whichcanevenleadtotheultimatesurvivalofthepatientinsomecases.Oneofthemost
importantclinicaladvancementscaneasilyincludethisinnovationoftherapy.
Therelevanceofnewinventionsandtechniquescontinuetoincrease,alongsidethe
advancementinmedicalresearch.Forexample,proceduressuchasTommyJohnsurgery
birthedinthe1970sandbecamethefirstevercaseofreplacingaligamentwithinsomeone's
elbowsotheymaycontinuetoplayprofessionalbaseball(Altman).Anotherexampleincludes
theadvancementofnewcomputertestingtohelpwithunderstandingandmeasuringtheeffects
ofconcussions.Athletescannowcompleteaseriesofcomputerizedteststoestablishabaseline.
Iftheathletesuffersheadtraumatheyretakethetests,andresultsofthattest,whencomparedto
thebaseline,showtheextentofthetrauma.Duetoanincreasedconsiderationofthelongterm

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effects,eventhelowestlevelsofcompetitivesportshavebegunrequiringbaselinetesting.The
newmodernizationofsportsmedicinehelpsdoctorstocorrectlydiagnosepatientsinjuriesand
determineiftheyshouldallowtheplayerbackontothefieldoriftheinjurysustainstoomuchof
ariskforlongtermdifficulties.
Aswithmanythingsinthemedicalfield,processesstartandstopatdifferent
professionals.Withmostonfieldinjuries,playersnormallyneedtoceaseplayrightthenand
there.Asportstrainerstationedattheevent,readytotendtoanyinjuryissue,makestheinitial
evaluationoftheinjury.Ifthetrainerdiagnosestheinjuryasmoreseverethanthey,themselves,
canhandle,thepatientthenvisitswithaprimarycarephysicianforasecondarydiagnostic.
Significantinjuriesmayresultinthepatientdirectlyvisitingtheemergencyroominthehospital
wheretheattendingphysicianwilleitherinitiatetreatmentorreferthepatienttoaspecialistfor
preliminarycare.Intheemergencyroom,nursescanattendtopatient,andscheduleanMRIor
XRay.TheMRI,whichstandsformagneticresonanceimaging,helpstechnicianstoseebones,
organsandsofttissuemorecloselythaneverbefore.Specialinkinjectedintotheareaofthe
injuryhelpstoprovideanevengreaterdistinctionbetweentissues.XRayshowever,onlyshow
thetechnicianimageryoftheinjuriestothemusculoskeletalsystem(BerardiDemo,Schmude
20).Thesetestings,canhelptheradiologiststodetermineifaninjuryappearsrelevantandifit
showsinthepicturestaken.Oncetheradiologistprovidestheiropiniononthesituation,they
canthensendthepatientbacktoaprimarycarephysician,ortoanorthopedicphysician
(BerardiDemo,Schmude20).Thedestinationofthepatient,atthispoint,becomesdetermined
bytheinjurysustained.Forapatienttovisitwithanorthopedicphysician,theinjurywillmost
likelyneedsurgeryinordertocorrecttheproblem.Withaninjuryofthelesserdegree,the

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patientcanvisitwithaprimarycarephysician.Thesephysiciansgooverthepainexperience
withtheinjury,howithappenedandothersymptomsandoptionsfortreatment.Fromthe
doctors,apatientwillthenbeginhealing,orparticipateinsurgeryorothertreatmentadvisedby
thephysicians,orvisitachiropractororphysicaltherapist(BerardiDemo,Schmude20).For
neuromusculoskeletalconditions,apatientcanreceivehealingfromachiropractor.With
conditionssuchasrecoveryfromsurgery,apatientwillreceivearecoveryplanandworkout
activitiesfromaphysicaltherapist.
Careersinsportsmedicinecanrangefromathletictrainersorbiomechaniststo
physiologistsandmedicalphysicians(AmericanCollegeofSportsMedicine).Thisfieldof
medicineincludesaplethoraofoccupationsthatcontinuetoevolveandinnovatetohelptreat
athleticinjuriesinabetter,moreefficientway.Teamsofsportsmedicineprofessionalsmay
workinhospitalsandclinics,ortheymayworkforschoolsoruniversities,orhavetheirown
practice.Mostathleticteamstravelwithateamofdoctorsandtrainers,andmostathletes
(particularlyprofessionals),choosetoworkwithawellqualifiedsportsmedicineprofessionals
toimprovetheirhealthandperformance.Aprimarycarephysiciannormallyworksinahospital
withotherspecialistsandinmostcases,thoughtofasatheheadcoachofthehealthcareteam.
Whenapatientreceivestreatment,thephysicianperformstheirinitialanalysisanddiagnosis,
thensendsthepatientofftoanothermemberofthesportsmedicalteam,suchasaphysical
therapist.Thephysicaltherapistsoverseestherecoveryandrehabilitationofinjuries.They
developatreatmentplantorecoverfromandpreventfuturerecurrencesoftheproblem.They
specializeinworkingtorestoremotorskillsandmusclestrengthoranyphysicaldysfunctionthe
patientmayhaveaftertreatment(AmericanCollegeofSportsMedicine).Theseprofessionals

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providethesamecareforcollegiateathletes,professionals,Olympicoranynonprofessional
athletes.
Therequirementstowardsenteringaprofessioninthisfieldseemslikeacareeronits
own.AphysiciannormallyhasabachelorsdegreealongwithaDoctorofMedicine(M.D.)or
DoctorofOsteopathy(D.O.)degree(WhatDoesaSportsMedicineDoctorDo?).During
undergraduateyears,studentsmusttakeclassessuchaspremed,biology,chemistryoranatomy
(WhatDoesaSportsMedicineDoctorDo?).Aftercompletionoftheirundergraduatestudies
studentsmusttakearigoroustestcalledtheMedicalCollegeAdmissionTest(MCAT),inorder
foramedicalschooltoacceptthem.Onceacceptedintoamedicalschool,studentsfully
participateinafouryearprogram.Typically,sportsmedicinephysicianshavegeneral
specializationsineitherorthopedicsurgeryorprimarycarewithasubspecialtydesignationin
sportsmedicine.Aftercompletionofmedicalschool,thegraduateswillhavecompletednearly
tenyearsofschooling.However,thegraduatesmaynotstopatthattime.Aftermedicalschool,
graduatesapplyandenteraresidencyprogram.Oncethegraduatesenteraresidencyprogram,
theycompletetwotofouryearsmoreoftrainingandknowledgerequirements.Afterresidency
andfellowship,thegraduatesmustcompletearigorouswrittenandoralexaminationthattests
theirsurgicalskillsandoutcomes.Theymustalsoapplyforlicensurewithinthestatewhere
theyintendonpracticingmedicine.Afterallofthis,thenewphysicianmaythenjoinaclinicor
hospitaltobegintheirsportsmedicinepractice(SportsMedicineTeam).
Duringtheeducationaljourneyandthefellowshiptraining,physiciansacquireimportant
knowledgeandskillsneededtopracticehealthcare,includingsurgicaltechniquesthatrelateto
sportsinjuriesorresearchopportunitiesassociatedwithclinicalcare.Theylearnhowtoevaluate

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orthopedicsportsinjuriesandgainanextensiveunderstandingofrehabilitationprocedures.
Alongwithsymptomsandtreatmentalternatives,theylearndrugpropertiesandinteraction,plus
preventativemeasurestokeepathleteshealthy(SportsMedicinePhysicians).Inaddition,
doctorsmustalsopossesssuperiorcommunicationskillsinordertoworkwiththeirpatients,and
solveanypresentissues.Anexpectedmediansalaryforaphysiciantoearnincludesnearly
$204,054ayear.StatisticsfromtheU.SBureauofLaborhavepredictedafasterthanaverage
eighteenpercentgrowthopportunityforphysiciansandsurgeonsingeneral(HowtoBecomea
SportsDoctor).Peoplewhoconsiderbecomingaphysicianinthisfieldnotonlyneedtomeet
theeducationalrequirements,butthepersonalrequirementstooinordertosucceed.Personal
attributesofsuccessfulcandidatesinthislineofworkincludecompassion,interpersonalskills,
willingnesstoworklonganddifficulthours,flexibility,andmostofallpatience.Thisprofession
isverystressfulandanontolerablepersonwouldnothaveeaseinsucceedinginthislineof
work.Leadershipamongpeersinanoperatingroom,orjuststaffonhandinthehospitalcan
alsocontributegreatlytowardsthesuccessofadoctor.Doctorsmustinsurethatprocedures
happenthecorrectway,inasequentialmanner,insteadofinthemidstofdistractingchaoswhich
wouldpossiblyresultacatastrophicmistakehappeningwiththepatient.
Thenatureofserviceaprimarycarephysiciancanperformalsoranges.Somephysicians
mightfocusonnonsurgicalpracticeandhaveaspecialistsurgeonasapartoftheirteam.In
addition,somephysiciansbecomecertifiedandtrainedinorthopedicsurgery(SportsMedicine
Team).Manyphysicianshaveassistantsthatworkcloselywiththemsotheycanpractice
medicineunderthephysician'ssupervision(SportsMedicineTeam).Thesephysiciansmay
workexclusivelyataclinicormayventureouttobecomeapartofaparticularathleticteamor

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university(PrimaryCareSportsMedicine).Theirworkschedulesgenerallytendtoremain
constantfromweektoweek,equatingtoapproximately60hoursperweek.Normallytheonly
travelingtheyengagein,includesaneducationalconferencefortheAmericanAcademyof
OrthopaedicSurgeons(DeLay).Duringtheweek,aphysiciancantendtoeighteentotwenty
patients,andperformfiveorsixsurgeries(DeLay).Inadditiontotreatmentofpatients,
physiciansoftenconsultwithathletictrainersorexerciseinstructorstohelpcompleteapatients
understandingofinjurypreventionandperformanceenhancement.Theadditionalassistance
fromothersportsmedicinespecialistshelpthephysiciantotakebettercareoftheirathletes
whilestillallowingtheathletetoachievetheirdesiredgoals.Manyathletesregularlyvisit
doctorstoensurethattheirbodiesremaininpiquephysicalform(HistoryofSportsMedicine).
AsmoreAmericanscommittoactivelifestyles,orjustsimplyremainphysicallyactivelonger,it
allowsthesportsmedicinephysiciancareerfieldtogrowandflourish.Sportsmedicineallows
anyonetobecomemoreawareofwaystopreventaninjury,improvingtheirhealth,maintaining
strengthandendurance,andsustaininganactivelifestyle.Thephysiciansthemselvesappreciate
theworktheydodayinanddayoutinordertoseeapatientreturntopreinjuryfunctionalstatus,
whichsatisfiesboththedoctorandthepatientwithsuchareward.
However,apparentbenefitsanddownfallsexistwhenpracticingasasportsphysicianthat
alsohandlesorthopedicsurgery.Firstoff,duringthefallsportsseasons,aphysiciancancover
localfootballteamsasasportsmedicinespecialist,servingasthedoctoronstaffatsporting
events,alongsideanathletictrainer.Also,footballseasonincludesoneofthemostinjurydense
seasonsoftheyear,whichbringsinmorepatientstoeachphysician,makingthattimeofyear
rewardingforthedoctors(DeLay).Anotherpositivetothecareerrelatestothegrowing

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popularityoftheprofession.Thenumberofresidentsinfellowshiptrainingparticipatingina
sportsmedicineprogramhaveincreasedsignificantly.Onepositivetothisprofession
incorporatestheabilityforastudenttoparticipateinarangeofdifferentclassesonetakesin
college.Somedoctorsmaygraduateasmechanicalengineermajorsandgooffintomedical
schoolandstillhavesuccess(DeLay).Aslongasthedoctorexcelsinthemajortheychoosein
college,medicalschoolwillteachthemtheirownwaysofmedicineanyway(DeLay).Medical
schoolsusuallyregardthosewhomajorinpremedincollegelessbecauseofthefacttheschools
willhavetoreteachtheirownmethodsofmedicinetothatstudent.Negativesnonetheless
includethelongyearsinschoolandfellowshipthatbegintotakeatoll.Mostdoctorswillnot
begintheirpracticeofmedicineuntiltheyreachleast3233yearsold.Bythenmostdoctorswill
havewivesandfamiliessothelongextensivehoursworkedduringtheweektakestimeaway
fromlovedones.Mostdoctorswhoworkinahospitalworkfromsevena.m.tofivep.m.during
theweek,andremainoncallduringweekends.Also,thefederallymandateddocumentation
requirementsthataphysicianandortherestofhisstaffmustmeetinordertoshowtheyexistas
qualifiedpractitionerscreatesapaperworkjungle.Inthelongrun,manyphysiciansand
surgeonswouldnottradetheirjobforanythingelse(DeLay).Rewardsamongthefieldtendto
presentthemselvesintheformsofbothfinancialcompensation,aswellastheworkadoctor
doesinordertohelpoutapatientandthecommunity(DeLay).
Theadvancementsduetocontinuedresearchandgrowthinthefieldshowsevidencethat
sportsmedicinehascomealongwayinrecentyears.Fromreducedinjuryfrequenciesand
fasterrecoverytimetoimprovingperformanceresults,thefieldofsportsmedicinehasmade
incredibleprogresssincethebeginningsinAncientRomeandGreece.Aprimarycaresports

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medicinephysiciancareer,intotal,appearsasagrowingjobchoiceandbecomesachievableif
onepossessesthedesireandwillingnesstoworkforit.Theeffortandsacrificetobecomingone
oftheseprofessionalsdoespayoffthroughthegratificationthejobprovidesboththroughhuman
experienceandaccumulationofearnings.

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