Chapter 1: Fitness Professionals, Coaches, and the Sports Medicine Team Defining Roles

What is Sports Medicine? Broad field of medical practice related to physical activity and sport. (ACSM) – multidisciplinary, including the physiological, biomechanical, psychological, and pathological phenomena associated with exercise and sports. Improve and maintain an individual’s functional capacities for physical labor, exercise, and sports. Prevention and treatment of disease and injuries related to exercise and sports.

Areas of Specialization Under the Sports Medicine Umbrella Performance Enhancing – exercise physiology, biomechanics, sport psychology, sports nutrition, strength and conditioning, personal fitness training, coaching, physical education Injury Care and Management – practice of medicine (physicians, physicians assistants), athletic training, sports physical therapy, sports massage therapy, sports dentistry, osteopathic medicine, orthotics/prosthetists, sports chiropractic

Goals of Professional Organizations Upgrade the field by devising and maintaining a set of professional standards, including a code of ethics Bring together professionally competent individuals to exchange ideas, stimulate research, and promote critical thinking Give individuals an opportunity to work as a group with a singleness of purpose, thereby making it possible for them to achieve objectives that, separately, they could not accomplish.

List of Professional Sports Medicine Organizations American Academy of Pediatrics, Sports Committee American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists American College of Sports Medicine American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine National Athletic Trainers’ Association National Collegiate Athletic Association National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations National Strength and Conditioning Association American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine

Athletic Health Care in Organized vs. Recreational Sports Activities Generally competitive Have full-time or part-time support Usually have a coach, athletic trainer, and physician May have a strength and conditioning coach, sports nutritionist, sports massage therapist, and sports psychologist Sophisticated sports medicine Recreational: Can be competitive Done more for leisure and free time enjoyment Less formal structure – runs with volunteers mostly Some recreational athletes may hire personal fitness trainers, but if they get hurt, then they are responsible for their own health care.

Players on the Sports Medicine Team Fitness professional – personal fitness trainer, strength and conditioning coach, physical education teachers, exercise physiologists, biomechanists, sport psychologists, and sports nutritionist. Focus – Improve performance Popularity of personal fitness trainers rose in the late 1980s. There are more than 400 organizations offering certifications. The most recognized are American College of Sports Medicine, National Academy of Sports Medicine, National Strength and Conditioning Association and American Council on Exercise. You will have to renew the certification periodically. Will need formal educational degree in related field to attain, as well as more classes (in person and/or online) and passing the certification test. Strength and conditioning coach – many are certified through National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Recreation Recreation specialist – organize, plan, and oversee leisure activities and athletic programs in local recreation, camp, and park areas; playgrounds, health clubs and fitness centers; workplace; and in theme parks an tourist attractions. They ensure safety to minimize the risk of injury. Recreation and parks directions – advisors to local and state recreation and park commissions and manage comprehensive recreation programs in variety of settings. They also develop budgets. Recreation supervisors – plan, organize, and manage recreation activities to meet needs of variety of populations and oversee recreation leaders. Recreation leaders – in charge of daily operation – organize an direct participants; schedule use of facilities; lead and give instruction in dance, drama, crafts, games, and sports; maintain equipment; ensure appropriate use of recreation facilities. Activity specialists – provide instruction and coach groups in specialties such as swimming or tennis. Camp counselors – lead and instruct campers in outdoor-oriented forms of recreation – swimming, hiking, horseback riding, and camping. Recreation therapist – health care provider. They treat and rehabilitate individuals with specific health conditions.

Athletic Administration In charge of hiring personnel who will make up the sports medicine team, including coaches Check credentials Budget for funding Support and commitment

Coach Understand the roles of the sports medicine team. They should also understand their own role in the sports medicine team. Understand the limits of ability to function as health care provider. Prevent injuries, equipment fits properly and of high quality. Understand skill techniques and environmental factors Continuing education Basic first aid (new legislature in the works that all coaches are to be first aid/CPR/AED certified by 2017, maybe as early as 2016).

Athletic Trainer Work with the athlete from injury to rehabilitation to return to play. Work with all phases of health care Certified (national) and licensed (state) Attended an accredited college/university - Accredited List Roles and responsibilities: Prevention Recognition, evaluation, and assessment Immediate care Treatment, rehabilitation, reconditioning Organization and administration Professional responsibility

Team Physician Compile medical history (exams), diagnose injury, decide on disqualification, attend practice and games (usually football games). There for the athletic trainer to consult with in times of questionable injuries.

Sports Medicine Team Main focus of the team – the ATHLETE Family – proper communication and education Other members – nurse, physicians dentist, podiatrist, sports chiropractors, orthotist/prosthetist, physician’s assistant, strength and conditioning coach, sport psychologist, sports physical therapist, exercise physiologist, biomechanist, nutrtitionist, massage therapists, emergency medical specialist, equipment personnel, referees