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Away From
the Game
For some people interested in sports
medicine, their contributions come in
a lab, not in the locker room. Doctors
and therapists who might not want
to regularly treat patients can turn to
research positions in sports medicine.
That includes studying how the body
moves during physical activity and how
to improve performance; finding new
methods for preventing and treating
sports injuries; and studying the effect
of physical activity on different parts of
the body. Many researchers interested in
sports medicine belong to the American
College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
The ACSM is dedicated to advancing
sports medicine and exercise science.
Researchers may not step on the field, but
they make important contributions.
therapists, the trainer might play that role. Or the athletes might
go to private PT clinics with staff that specializes in sports
medicine.
Before the
Game
Not all the work of athletic
trainers, PTs, and other
sports medicine professionals
takes place after an injury.
Nutritionists help athletes eat
a proper diet to stay healthy
and strong. Other members
of the sports medicine team
try to ensure that athletes do
the proper training, such as
lifting weights, exercising, and
stretching, to keep them in top
shape and hopefully prevent
injuries in the first place. And
in many sports, a trainer takes
time before the game to tape
the athletes or prepare braces
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Health Careers in Sports