Sports Medicine is a field that involves a number of healthcare professionals including physicians, surgeons, research, educators, and others. Sports Medicine is a branch of orthopaedic medicine, but also encompasses many other branches that are responsible for sports related illness or injury such as cardiology, biomechanics, dermatology, and endocrinology. In Sports Medicine, it is crucial to incorporate these many disciplines to provide proper care to athletes, whether preventative, curative, or rehabilitative.

Sports Medicine Training

Training programs vary depending of type of degree and level of education. However, there are a number of topics covered in training programs that are essential to all members of a sports medicine team. These topics include organization and delivery of medical care to athletes, management of nutritional, physiological and drug programs, treatment of illness and injury, developing return to activity recommendations, and developing injury prevention strategies. Sports Medicine specialists, including surgeons and physicians, require extensive training and coursework taking up to eight years to complete. Physical therapists and athletic trainers have their own respective programs that take one to three years to complete after undergraduate training. Other healthcare professionals can take courses to become specialized in the field of sports medicine.

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Sports Medicine Training and Certification Programs

Training in the field of sports medicine varies greatly depending on specialty and level of education. A sports medicine specialist is typically a physician or surgeon with background training in internal medicine or related field and additional fellowship training in sports medicine. Athletic trainers and physical therapists are also part of the sports medicine team, with their own sports medicine training programs.

The American College of Sport Medicine (ACSM) offers a number of certifications for varying level of sports medicine professionals. Physicians are either board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) or other medical certification board. Athletic Trainers and Physical therapists are also subject to certification examinations according to the American Medical Association (AMA). For allied healthcare professionals, such as personal trainers and fitness instructors seeking certification, it is important to properly prepare with correct course work and background experience.

Sports Medicine Prerequisites

All physicians are required to attend an accredited medical school and complete required internships before beginning training in Sports Medicine. Physical Therapists and Athletic trainers must complete 4 years of undergraduate training before beginning an accredited advanced training program. Admission to medical school is competitive and requires undergraduate training in a science related field, as well as successful completion of the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Admission to graduate level training programs for trainers and physical therapists is also quite competitive. Various schools and colleges offer flexible course schedules that range from day, night and weekend classes and training sessions. HealthCare-TrainingCenter.com offers free, no obligation assistance as you are searching for courses to meet your Sports Medicine, Medical School, Physical Therapy, or Athletic Training prerequisites. Beginning your search is as simple as using the search feature above.

Sports Medicine Continuing Education

The American College of Sports Medicine, as well as the ABIM and AMA, require board certified specialists of sports medicine to take continued education courses. Amount of coursework required may vary across type of specialty and level of certification. Search HealthCare-TrainingCenter.com to find continued education courses for Sports Medicine.