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When the U.S. Olympic team traveled to
London for the 2012 Summer Games, Dr.
Sean McCann went with them. He and
other sports psychologists were there to
make sure the Americans competed at a
high level against the world’s best athletes.
McCann started as a sports psychologist for the United States
Olympic Committee 21 years ago, when his field was in its
infancy. Back then, he spent time trying to convince teams that
sports psychologists could help improve athletic performance.
Now, they understand the importance of mental health for
athletic achievement.
McCann and his team demonstrate the key role of all sports
medicine professionals: preventing medical problems or treating
them afterward. But each type of specialty has different methods
or tasks to accomplish those goals. Here’s a look at some of the
realities of the careers in various parts of sports medicine.
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