Author: Bryan Lin
Editors: Maria Flores, Junyu Zheng
Artist: Acey Li
In today's active world, health and peak athletic performance have never been more important. For that reason, sports medicine and exercise physiology have played a key role in ensuring that anyone who keeps active can do it safely. Experts in these fields help prevent and treat injuries while increasing athletic performance and well-being. But what exactly is sports medicine, and how does exercise physiology compare and contrast with it?
Sports medicine is a branch of medicine that encompasses a range of subjects focused on the health and well-being of all athletes. This field goes beyond merely treating injuries, also involving the comprehensive care of athletes, from harm prevention strategies to rehabilitation in severe cases. One aspect of the job is providing athletes with knowledge about their boundaries when injured to avoid aggravating the problem. Sports medicine physicians commonly treat various sports injuries, such as sprains, fractures, dislocations, and shin splints. While sports medicine professionals frequently encounter these injuries, they are occasionally called upon to address a more severe issue: ACL tears.
The ACL, short for anterior cruciate ligament, is especially prone to injury across many sports. It is one of the key ligaments that help stabilize the knee joint, which runs diagonally through the middle of the knee, connecting the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone). When you tear your ACL, the result can be intense and significant pain, swelling, and instability, causing a substantial decline in performance. For many athletes, a torn ligament means a premature end to their season; fortunately, appropriate training methods, muscle-strengthening routines, and neuromuscular training recommended by sports medicine professionals can help reduce the likelihood of ACL tears.
Beyond playing a pivotal role in helping athletes recover from injuries, sports medicine professionals also proactively plan preventive measures to reduce the risk of sports-related injuries to optimize athlete performance and long-term health. Sports medicine experts emphasize strategies such as proper warm-up and cool-down routines, which enhance flexibility and circulation while reducing the likelihood of strains and sprains. Additionally, they emphasize adequate conditioning and strength training specific to individual athlete needs, which builds resilience and reduces vulnerability to injury. Sports medicine professionals also help balance an athlete's nutrition and hydration. This is important as the foods you eat and how much water you drink help support muscle recovery and overall health. Sports medicine professionals encourage training progression and exercising with proper biomechanics (essentially proper form), as these strategies not only optimize performance but also minimize the risk of acute and overuse injuries, such as shin splints and tendonitis. Through a comprehensive approach, sports medicine professionals ensure athletes have the tools and knowledge to excel while minimizing injury risk.
In comparison, exercise physiology delves more into the science of human movement and physical performance, exploring how the body responds and adapts to exercise and training instead of actively treating player injuries. The importance of these disciplines extends far beyond the realm of professional sports. Exercise physiologists aim to understand how exercise influences the body's structure and function during and over time with regular training. There are two main types of exercise physiologists: Clinical and non-clinical. The former creates supervised exercise programs for those with heart and lung disease and offers support for those suffering from other chronic medical conditions. The latter works with individuals in reasonably good health or interested in losing weight and enhancing their overall physical fitness. These skills entail working in fitness facilities like the YMCA or as an assistant for professional or college sports programs.
Athletes, pro or casual, have a lot to gain from sports medicine and exercise physiology, regardless of their fitness goals. Sports medicine and exercise physiology provide the scientific foundation for optimizing physical performance and injury prevention. Through understanding the science behind movement, recovery, and adaptation, individuals can make informed decisions to lead healthier lives.
Citations:
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The College of St. Scholastica, 27 Apr. 2021, www.css.edu/about/blog/what-is-exercise-
“Understanding Sports Medicine: A Comprehensive Guide.” Seaver College of Liberal Arts,
Pepperdine Seaver College, 15 Mar. 2024,
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“What Is Sports Medicine.” What Is Sports Medicine - Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=what-is-sports-medicine-160-19.
Accessed 17 May 2024.
“What Is Sports Medicine?” University of Rochester Medical Center,
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“Joseph Bautista, Do.” Hartford HealthCare Medical Group,
Accessed 17 May 2024.
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