A Bright Future For Sports Medicine

By Keith Hoffield

Sports Medicine is the field concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of athletic injuries. Traditionally sports medicine was the domain of an athletic team physician; however, as the field has expanded the sports medicine team encompasses many disciplines including athletic trainers, biomechanics, exercise physiology, and nutrition. Sports medicine specialists also work with non-professional athletes and those participating in various recreational activities in addition to working with professional athletes. There is a bright future in sports medicine and exercise medicine. The potential career opportunities that a degree in sports medicine can offer include:

Employee Fitness Director

Employee fitness programs are becoming more common in large companies. Conducting exercise programs in corporations may also lead to broader duties such as conducting health promotion and wellness education programs including stress management and nutrition education programs. Such exercise programs are not just for healthy individuals but can be designed to reduce health care costs and offer exercise training for people with cardiac, pulmonary, or musculoskeletal disorders. One would need an undergraduate degree to qualify for such a position and it would also be recommended to acquire certification by an institution such as the American College of Sports Medicine.

Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Specialist

A specialized undergraduate degree can qualify an exercise specialist to provide physical rehabilitation services for people with cardiac or pulmonary-related conditions like heart attack, cardiac surgeries, or emphysema. This type of work would require a person to manage and supervise exercise testing and training sessions in either hospitals or clinics. While a bachelor’s degree is required one’s opportunities can improve markedly with an advanced degree or certification by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Dietitian/Sports Nutritionist

This field requires one to learn how food is digested and metabolized and how dietary patterns can contribute to performance, prevent disease, and improve health. Dietitians are employed in a multiplicity of settings including hospitals, private clinics, schools, and public health facilities. A bachelor’s degree or higher would be required.

Athletic Trainer

Athletic trainers work with physicians, coaches, exercise physiologists, and even physical therapists. Beginning in 2004 one is required to obtain a bachelor’s degree from a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited program before one can sit for the National Athletic Trainers’ association (NATA) certification examination. Most states require the NATA certification for licensure. Athletic trainers work with athletes at all levels of competition and can be employed in sports medicine clinics.

Biomechanics

Biomechanics is the study of physics as applied to activity, exercise and sports. Biomechanists are most often employed in research settings and clinical sites but there are also opportunities in industrial ergonomic settings. One needs a master’s degree at least.

Exercise Physiologist

An exercise physiologist studies the physiological responses during physical activity. This knowledge is used to improve health, physical fitness or sports performance. There are a variety of settings to work in including work with athletes at all levels as well as working with individuals in commercial, clinical, or workplace venues. At least a bachelor’s degree is required.

Medical Physician

A Sports Medicine physician is trained in the diagnosis and treatment of sports related conditions. Medical schools require a minimum of four years advanced training after a achieving a bachelor’s degree. After medical school there are many possible specialties to choose from including primary sports medicine, cardiology, or orthopedic surgery. Such specialties require anywhere from three to five years of internship and residency training and often one to two years of additional fellowship training.

Given the wealth of opportunities in sports medicine there is a bright future for someone interested in this field; however, one will need education and specialized training. Searching online schools can give one and idea of the program that is best suited for them.

Bio: Keith Hoffield is a freelance writer for onlineschools.org and in his free time he likes to run and train for marathons.

Notes: This is a new feature to the site. Keith Hoffield will be a guest poster on topics surrounding sports medicine and the advantages in the direction of this career.