Sport Medicine
What is "Sport Medicine"?
Inaccurately named, many people associate this field with "competitive athletes". This is unfortunate, as Sport Medicine applies to many classes of people in addition to competitive athletes. Because of this, it would more appropriately be called "Activity Medicine". This specialty deals with diagnosis and treatment of activity related injuries to muscles, tendons, nerves, ligaments, bones and joints, whether they be from a bona fide sport, work or other "non-sport" related causes. Sport Medicine is especially concerned with non-surgical approaches to these injuries, and, in addition, requires in depth understanding of several other areas, including nutrition, exercise physiology, exercise prescription, internal medicine, pregnancy and exercise as well as biomechanics.
In Canada, How Do I Know Who Qualifies as a Sport Medicine Specialist?
To be a Sport Medicine Specialist in Canada, first one must be a Medical Doctor registered with the local provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons. The individual must then pass a rigorous certification exam administered by the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine (CASM). Successful completion of this exam confers the designation of "Diploma of Sport Medicine" after the doctor’s name, often abbreviated as "Dip Sp Med". Any doctor claiming to be a Sport Medicine Specialist who does not have this credential is not recognized by CASM as being such a specialist.
Is there any other training/certification that contributes to the expertise of a Sport Medicine Specialist?
Yes! Many Canadian Sport Medicine Specialists have acquired fellowship/post graduate training in Sport Medicine from various national/international University Institutions. One such post graduate degree is a Master Degree in Sport Medicine, designated as "M Sp Med" in the nominals of the individual.
Can anyone besides a medical doctor say that they practice Sport Medicine?
No. Physiotherapists can say that they are "Sport Physiotherapists" who diagnose and treat "Sport Injuries" or that they offer "Sport Physiotherapy", all according to their provincial colleges’ rules on making such claims. Chiropractors can say that they are "Sport Chiropractors" according to their provincial colleges’ rules on making such claims. However, anybody claiming to be a "Sport Medicine" specialist in Canada must be a Medical Doctor (designated by an MD beside one’s name) and must have the "Dip Sp Med" credential. Furthermore, any credible clinic claiming to offer "Sport Medicine" services should have a doctor with the "Dip Sp Med" credential consulting at the facility.
How do I find a qualified Sport Medicine Specialist in my area?
You may contact your family doctor who may know of an individual with appropriate training and credentials and thus arrange a referral. Alternatively, the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine can be contacted at www.casm-acms.org. As a last resort, check out your yellow pages, but be sure to ask any facilities that you call if they have a doctor with the "Dip Sp Med" credential consulting there.
Does Toronto SEMI offer Sport Medicine consultation?
Yes. Toronto SEMI offers full time Sport Medicine consultations, with their Sport Medicine Specialists having been certified by the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine (CASM), in addition to possessing many other relevant credentials.
Do I need a referral?
We always encourage involving your family doctor, but strictly speaking, at present, you do not need a referral to consult with the professionals at Toronto SEMI.
Table Of Contents
- FAQ
- Forms
- General Questions
- Sport Medicine
- Sport Physiotherapy
- Sport Psychology
- Sport Podiatry
- Sport Massage Therapy
- Naturopathic Medicine
My thanks to you and your staff, because with the benefit of your expertise and care I was able to complete my first marathon in 4 hours, 22 minutes and 43.2 seconds. I came to you at the beginning of October with IT band trouble. Here I was trying to complete a marathon that was less than 3 weeks away and I could not run more then 45 minutes without being stopped by the pain. What I appreciate most, and what makes your practice so unique and valuable, is that you acknowledged my drive to compete. So often when speaking with medical professionals regarding sports injuries they focus on the injury and not what the athlete is trying to accomplish. Thank you, for working with me and giving me the tools and treatment to accomplished my goal.
