Sports Medicine

Sport & Exercise Medicine

(Written by Dr James Griffiths, SpR in Emergency Medicine, Yorkshire & Humber School of Emergency Medicine, jrgriffiths@doctors.org.uk)

What is Sport & Exercise Medicine (SEM)?

·         Established as a new medical specialty in 2005

·         SEM physicians are trained in musculoskeletal medicine, exercise medicine and public health

·         There is an estimated requirement of 150-300 SEM physicians in the UK

The Intercollegiate Faculty of Sport & Exercise Medicine (www.fsem.co.uk)

·         Faculty of RCP (London) and RCS (Edinburgh)

·         Established 2006

·         Responsible for creating and developing the new specialty of SEM

·         Current roles:

·       Setting standards

·       Establishing training programmes/requirements

·       Laying down the curriculum (subject to PMETB)

·       Detailing the competencies required

·       Running examinations and detailing other required assessments

·       Acting for and representing SEM as a specialty

·       Bringing the specialty together and working with other organisations

·       Appraisal

·       Research together with the Institute of Sport & Exercise Medicine

British Association of Sports Exercise Medicine (www.basem.co.uk)

·       Founded in 1953, BASEM is the oldest Sport & Exercise Medicine Association in the UK

·       BASEM is the official UK representative to both the European Federation of Sports Medicine Associations (EFSMA) and the International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS)

·       Aims:

·       To promote and study methods for the protection and improvement of public health and fitness amongst members of the public participating in sporting, recreational and other leisure-time activities

·       BASEM also endeavours to promote research into the causation and treatment of medical problems arising from such activities and into the scientific and psychological aspects of athletic and sporting achievement

Emergency Medicine and SEM

·         Assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal injury is a core skill of Emergency Medicine

·         Emergency Physicians have extensive experience in this area

·         One million patients with sports injuries will attend EDs in the UK/Eire each year

·         Most of these are treated in the ED and ED-led clinics

·         RCEM will work with the Faculty of Sport & Exercise Medicine to push forward training and education (see The Way Ahead 2008-2012 document)

Qualifications

·         FSEM(UK) Diploma Examination

·         Postgraduate Sports Medicine Education (see below - courses run at Bath, Cardiff, Dublin, Glasgow, London UCL, London Queen Mary’s, Nottingham, Ulster)

·         Various CPD events and specific courses

UNIVERSITY OF BATH DIPLOMA / MSc - http://www.bath.ac.uk/health/sem/

“The course is designed to fit around the busy working life of our students.  It is offered on a flexible, part-time, distance learning basis.  The qualifications you are able to obtain are the Diploma or MSc.  You are also able to take up to three individual CPD units if you do not wish to complete the whole course.

Each unit takes either three months (6-credit unit) or six months (12-credit unit) to complete.  The Director of Studies recommend that you spend on average 8-10 hours per week studying.  On average, we recommend two years to complete the Diploma and a further year to complete the MSc.

Applicants must have been working for one year as a qualified and registered doctor before enrolment.  All students must attend the residential week held at the University of Bath.”

Overview of the course:

 CARDIFF COURSE - http://www.uwic.ac.uk/courses/sport/Sports_ExMedicine_Postgrad.asp?subsection=postgrad

“We offer both the full time and part time options so the overall duration of the course will be 1-3 years.  Total cost will be the same (£7500) in total.

The course is run over a series of residential weeks, usually about five days.  The rest of the time can be spent away from Cardiff, as you will have access to all the material you need via online resources.”

DUBLIN - www.ucd.ie/postgradindex.htm

GLASGOW - www.gla.ac.uk/departments/cardiovascularmedicalsciences/education/postgraduatestudy/mscmedscisportandexercisemedicine/

LONDON UCL - www.archway.ac.uk/Activities/Departments/SHHP/prospect/Sports_Exercise.htm

LONDON QUEEN MARYS - www.qmul.ac.uk/sportsmed

NOTTINGHAM - www.nottingham.ac.uk/orthopaedics/Sports-Medicine

ULSTER - www.ulster.ac.uk/prospectus/course/?id=962

What next?

·         If you are interested in SEM as an area of specialist interest, look around the BASEM website, as this has all the information regarding the Diploma and other postgraduate educational opportunities, as well as its own courses and (inter)national conferences.  It might be worth contacting them directly should you have any specific questions.

Disclaimer

·         These courses will not enable you to suddenly become the team doctor for your favourite football, cricket, rugby or beach-volleyball team

·         They are entry-level qualifications, i.e. equivalent to MRCEM level

·         They do not give you hands-on experience of working with elite athletes, physiotherapists, nutritionists, etc – if this is what you are looking for you should aim for a CCT in SEM