The Discipline
Sports medicine focuses on physical fitness and the treatment and prevention of injuries related to sports and exercise. This frequently includes advising patients on exercise and training, injury prevention, assessment and management of acute athletic injuries, rehabilitation, and care of medical problems of the athlete.
Physicians trained in sports medicine may practice in a variety of clinical settings. Many sports medicine clinicians are primary care physicians who develop a focus in their practice for sports medicine patients. Others may also have a more dedicated role in a specific sport or type of athlete, functioning as an advisor or team physician, among other roles.
Training
Sports Medicine fellowship training requires one year of training beyond general internal medicine residency.
The Sports Medicine Certification Program is jointly administered by the American Board of Internal Medicine, the American Board of Emergency Medicine, the American Board of Family Medicine, and the American Board of Pediatrics.
Training Positions
In the 2018-2019 academic year, there are:
- 8 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited training programs in sports medicine (emergency medicine) with 16 trainees
- 134 ACGME-accredited training programs in sports medicine (family medicine) with 240 trainees
- 94 ACGME-accredited training programs in orthopedic sports medicine with 209 trainees
- 17 ACGME-accredited training programs in pediatric sports medicine with 26 trainees
- 19 ACGME-accredited training programs in sports medicine (physical medicine and rehabilitation) with 31 trainees
Major Professional Society
- American Medical Society for Sports Medicine
- American College of Sports Medicine
Back to the December 2018 issue of ACP IMpact