Sports Medicine - Research Paper Example

Sports Medicine Introduction Sports medicine de s a branch of medicine whose focus is to ensure that exercise does not have adverse effects on the human body. Professionals specializing in sports medicine have the responsibility of constantly assessing the bodies of sports people and striving to improve their performance. Sports medicine ensures the early detection of injuries and the right forms of treatment. Most importantly, sports medicine promotes the welfare of athletes and players ensuring that they are not susceptible to injuries and they are not prone to sports-related medical problems. The field of sports medicine has a long history dating back to the ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks. A close analysis of the Greek society reveals that there was a close association between medicine and sports as athletes sought to remain healthy. In the modern world, a similar close association does exist as athletes and players need to maintain healthy bodies if they are to register outstanding performance in the different sports (Brukner and Khan 67). For several centuries, doctors have exhibited interest in not only treating sports injuries, but also helping the sports people to prepare for different activities. In the modern era, sports medicine is a highly developed field that focuses on helping athletes and sportsmen prevent injuries. Additionally, sports medicine seeks to offer therapy and rehabilitation to players who sustain injuries. This paper will focus on discussing sports medicine, its role in the modern world, as well as the different types of professionals who fall under this branch of medicine. The paper will also place emphasis on the need for an evidence-based approach in sports medicine to make it more effective. Body Sports medicine adopts a multidisciplinary approach to delivering health care to individuals who actively practice in exercise and sports. Therefore, sports medicine brings together expertise from different healthcare professionals all with the purpose of promoting the well-being of people actively involved in the exercise. Some organizations that are actively involved in sports medicine include; The American College of Sports Medicine, The American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, The American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, The National Strength and Conditioning Association, as well as The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. Other international organizations include the International Federation of Sports Medicine and the International Counsel of Sports Science and Physical Education. All these organizations work closely together to ensure that all sports people receive the relevant health care by their diverse needs (De Bruijn, Kollen, and Baarveld 29). The realization that sports and physical exercise have a significant role in the modern society has served to place emphasis on the need for different specialists to focus on sports medicine. In some countries, sport is a main economic activity with many young people enrolling into different clubs. Each year, the globe witnesses competitions for different sports. Without a doubt, the participants in such competitions indulge in rigorous exercise and deserve to receive the relevant health care so that they may minimize the chances of sustaining injuries. Sports medicine brings together specialists from different fields such as exercise physiology, sport psychology, biomechanics, sports nutrition, sports massage, athletic training, sports physical therapy, and other specialists from the general practice of medicine. Therefore, the sports medicine team should comprise of physicians, physiologists, dentists, podiatrists, nurses, physical therapists, athletic trainers, massage therapists, nutritionist, psychologists, coaches, as well as strength and conditioning specialist. All these professionals play a significant role in promoting the health of sports people (France 45). Roles Played by Specialists in the Sports Medicine Team As highlighted above, many athletes and players are compelled to push their bodies beyond their comfort zones during practice and competition events. Therefore, they are likely to sustain injuries, with some injuries threatening their careers. Even when injuries are not serious, they may trigger the replacement of a player. The sports world is highly competitive and many people pursuing sports at a professional level have to ensure that they remain physically fit. An athletic trainer is an essential specialist in the sports medicine team. Athletic trainers work closely with coaches and physicians with the target of preventing injuries and treating them immediately and effectively. Different countries offer the opportunity of pursuing a bachelor’s degree in athletic training. For some times now, athletic training has become a career, registering remarkable growth as many sports teams recognize the value of hiring such specialists (Kordi 56). The sports medicine team also comprises of a biomechanics whose primary role is to integrate physical laws with exercise and sports. Biomechanics specializes in understanding how injuries affect muscles, joints, as well as bones. They have the capacity to determine body mechanics and advice athletes and players on how they can register an improved performance. Chiropractors also play a critical role in sports medicine as they have expertise in handling injuries in the joints and muscles. Chiropractors can address low back problems as well as muscular, nervous, and skeletal systems. Therefore, athletes and players with complications related to the spine muscles and joints seek the help of chiropractors. Exercise physiologists assess both the acute and chronic physiological responses brought about by physical activity. The main role of exercise physiologists is to ensure that athletes and players have an increased measure of fitness, proper health, and that they have the capacity to register remarkable performance. Fitness instructors also help athletes and players on a personal basis by helping them undertake professional training. Fitness instructors understand anatomy well and have the required expertise to advise players and athletes effectively. Since they serve as personal trainers, they can focus on the individual needs of each player (Lazović et al. 63) The sports medicine team also comprises of massage therapists. Massage therapists offer massage services to athletes and players to ensure that their muscles are relaxed and relieve issues such as stiffness, tension, aches, and fluid retention. Massage therapists also focus to ensure that athletes and players register an improved blood circulation. Massage therapy is also of critical importance in the treatment of certain injuries. Sports medicine also brings on board a nutritionist who offers nutritional advice and guidelines for the players and athletes. Worth noting is the fact that a proper diet is a critical determinant of performance. Therefore, sports nutritionists help athletes and players design favorable dietary pattern that can boost their energy and ensure that they perform as expected (MacAuley, Moorman, and Bytomski 99). Orthopedists also form part of the sports medicine team and their role is to diagnose any existing disorders in the bones and joints. Orthopedists have advanced knowledge on how the musculoskeletal system functions. Therefore, they assess any form of injury to the musculoskeletal system and advise sports people effectively. Physical therapists are also actively involved in sports medicine as they help players and athletes address injuries effectively. Physical therapists help individual with injuries register increased mobility, less pain, and minimize the potential adverse effects of debilitating injuries. Physical therapists play a significant role in helping athletes and players overcome the adverse effects of their injuries and get back to the right shape. Active participation in sports and exercise may lead to injuries of the foot, ankle, and other parts of the lower extremity. Podiatrists come in to address any injuries in these regions. These specialists understand the foot structure and offer critical help to players and athletes. The sports medicine team also enrolls medical doctors who understand issues such as cardiology, orthopedics, and can diagnose sport related injuries. Psychologists help the athletes and players address psychological factors that affect their mental health and consequently performance. Athletes and players need to be in the right shape of mind if they are to register outstanding performance. Therefore, sports psychologists help such people achieve remarkable mental health (McKeag and Moeller 51). Other sports medicine teams hire strength and conditioning coaches who have the required expertise in offering athletes and players with the relevant help in developing proper training plans. These types of coaches can help an individual maximize his potential and register a higher level of performance. The Role Played by Sports Medicine As mentioned above, sports medicine plays a critical role in the prevention of sport-related injuries. The specialists ensure that sports-related injuries are clinically evaluated and diagnosed. Sports medicine targets to offer immediate care to athletes and players who sustain injuries. Sports medicine opens a new realm of possibilities for athletes and players to receive proper treatments, rehabilitation, as well as reconditioning to ensure that the injuries do not threaten their careers. The emphasis placed on sports medicine in the modern world ensures that athletes and players have a proper support system as well as immediate access to healthcare (Micheo 23). Athletes and players have some professionals that they interact closely with making them more knowledgeable on how to maintain proper health and minimize the occurrence of injuries. Sports medicine has also been influential on the curriculum for training the specialists forming the sports medicine team. Sports medicine organizations have influenced policies in education and introduced twelve content areas for athletic trainers and other sports experts. The critical content areas include the following, risk management, pathology of injury and illnesses, proper assessment and evaluation of injuries, acute care, pharmacological aspects associated with injuries and illnesses, therapeutic exercise, therapeutic modalities, nutritional aspects of injury and illnesses, as well as psychosocial intervention in cases of serious injuries. All these content areas place emphasis on the multidisciplinary approach to delivering quality healthcare to athletes and players (Raina, Massfeller, and Macarthur 13). Adopting an Evidence-based Approach in Sports Medicine Evidence-based approaches are gaining popularity in modern medicine. The evidence-based approach seeks to incorporate the latest research evidence from daily decisions and practices to deliver quality health care. Evidence-based practice is applied in sports medicine and can present desirable results. Notably, players and athletes are prone to different kinds of injuries that need effective addressing if the individuals are to continue with their careers. Delivering quality care in any field of medicine should be a priority for all the medical practitioners. As described above, sports medicine brings together different professionals who work together to prevent injuries and address them effectively in the event that they occur. Proper diagnosis of injuries determines the kind of treatments that sports people receive. Additionally, the kind of diagnosis determines the pharmacological decisions that the experts are likely to make. All the decisions made by the experts in the sports medicine team have the potential to affect the performance of a player or an athlete. Therefore, there is a salient need for all the specialists to adopt an evidence-based approach to promoting the well-being of athletes and players in different sports. The evidence-based approach is comprised of several steps that the specialists involved in sports medicine should give attention. The increasing emphasis on adopting an evidence-based approach in support of all the decisions made by practitioners seeks to promote the well-being of patients. The sports medicine field has emerged to become a critical discipline. The field of sports medicine has been making efforts of giving accreditation to different professionals who play a critical role as highlighted above. Therefore, it is time for the discipline to implement and evidence-based approach that will set a new standard for healthcare deliveries to people with injuries (Schepsis and Busconi 113). Embracing the evidence-based approach requires all the practitioners involved in sports medicine to become more familiar with the frameworks of appraising research. Notably, there is a diverse range of literature that discusses issues related to sports injuries as well as the most appropriate intervention approaches. Practitioners should be able to develop clinical questions and search for relevant evidence from reliable databases. After searching the literature, practitioners should have the ability to critically appraise the evidence and determine the best available evidence that supports a certain intervention. Evidence-based approach compels practitioners to apply scientific knowledge into their daily practice, which is not easy. However, assessments of disciplines that have implemented evidence-based approach reveals that the approach registers a remarkable increase in the quality of care delivered. Relying on the available evidence can help the practitioners be in a better position to make intervention decisions (Kordi 88). For example, the evidence-based approach can help in determining the frequency of sports related injuries in each sport. More specifically, evidence-based approach can help in identifying the common types of injuries in each sport. Therefore, practitioners will be in a better position to make the best decisions when it comes to interventions. Also, practitioners that have such evidence can succeed in developing prevention for some types of injuries. Although the implementation of the evidence-based approach is difficult, practitioners can try their best so that they can achieve many of their objectives in delivering health care. The evidence-based approach can help practitioners develop effective exercise regimens for players and athletes that conform to individual needs. In summary, evidence-based approach in sports medicine has the potential to prevent sports and recreation injuries. Based on the available evidence, experts can intervene proactively and prevent some of the worst injuries that may ruin the careers of many athletes and players. Additionally, evidence-based research has been able to highlight some of the common acute injuries, chronic injuries, and conditions affecting the knees, the lower legs, the upper limbs and the groin. With such evidence, practitioners are in a better position to make intervention decisions that will have outcomes that are more positive. The evidence-based approach challenges practitioners to advance their knowledge of the most effective approaches used in the prevention and treatment of injuries (Brukner and Khan 67). Practitioners who are well conversant with emerging evidence are more reliable and can register outcomes, which are more positive in sports medicine. Challenges in Sports Medicine Healthcare professionals are participating in sports medicine usually face critical challenges, especially when they are compelled to make ethical decisions. In many cases, practitioners focus on promoting the safety of the player or athlete and ensuring that he or she is back to the team as soon as possible. However, there are cases when practitioners face an evident pressure to declare some players and athletes fit for competition even when their health condition does not allow them. The conflicting interest between the professional ethics of the practitioners, personal aspirations of the player or athlete, as well as the interest of the team may introduce a dilemma for the practitioners. In other cases, practitioners face challenges in handling the relationship between them and patients because the team interests also affect the relationship. Doping issues are becoming a more common factor that challenge the ethics of the athletes as well as those of the practitioners involved. Without a doubt, sports medicine has a lot to achieve in the future if it is to address all these issues effectively and promote the wellbeing of athletes and players (France 76). Conclusion Without a doubt, sports medicine has emerged to become one of the critical disciplines of medicine that focus on the health of athletes and players as well as other individuals indulging in rigorous exercise. Sports Medicine brings together a diverse team of professionals who focus on different aspects of the health of athletes and players. The main purpose of sports medicine it to reduce the incidences of injuries and ensure that athletes and players have access to quality health care when they sustain any form of injury. Sports medicine allows professionals to specialize in different types of injuries that are common in different sports. It is important for professionals in this field to adopt an evidence-based approach to ensure that they deliver quality healthcare and design effective prevention strategies for injuries. Sports medicine has certain challenges that practitioners must deal with on a daily basis. However, the goal of practitioners should be to promote the wellbeing and performance of athletes and players. Work Cited Brukner, Peter, and Karim Khan. Clinical Sports Medicine. North Ryde, N.S.W: McGraw-Hill, 2009. Print. De Bruijn, Matthijs C., Boudewijn J. Kollen, and Frank Baarveld. "Sports Medicine In The Netherlands." Sport & Geneeskunde 1 (2013): 26-32. SPORTDiscus with Full Text. Web. 23 May 2015. France, Robert C. Introduction to Sports Medicine and Athletic Training. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning, 2011. Print. Kordi, Ramin. Combat Sports Medicine. London: Springer, 2009. Print. Lazović, Biljana, et al. "History Of Sports Medicine In East European Countries." Medicinski Pregled / Medical Review 68.1/2 (2015): 59-65. Central & Eastern European Academic Source. Web. 23 May 2015. MacAuley, Domhnall, Claude T. Moorman, and Jeffrey R. Bytomski. Oxford American Handbook Of Sports Medicine. New York: Oxford University Press, 2010. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 23 May 2015. McKeag, Douglas, and James L. Moeller. Acsms Primary Care Sports Medicine. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007. Print. Micheo, William. Musculoskeletal, Sports, And Occupational Medicine. New York: Springer Publishing Company, Inc, 2011. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 23 May 2015. Raina, Parminder, Helen Massfeller, and Colin Macarthur. "Athletic Therapy And Injury Prevention: Evidence-Based Practice." Athletic Therapy Today 9.6 (2004): 10-14. SPORTDiscus with Full Text. Web. 23 May 2015. Schepsis, Anthony A, and Brian D. Busconi. Sports Medicine. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2006. Internet resource. Read More