Athletic performance depends on proper functioning of the blood. From problems with the oxygen-carrying function of red blood cells to the prevention of bleeding by the hemostatic system, many hematologic issues can affect athletes adversely. These hematologic issues include both…
Gastrointestinal (GI) conditions in athletes and active individuals are common and are seen frequently by sports medicine care providers. Although there are many well-defined benefits that result from high-level physical activity, exercise places significant stress on the GI tract, which…
Bleeding in the athlete can result from injury or after orthopedic surgery. Hemostasis—the body's process to stop bleeding—prevents what can be a life-threatening hemorrhage. Immobilization and hypercoagulable states can also induce clotting at improper sites (thrombosis). If the resultant clot…
Definition and Prevalence Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) describes acute, transient airway narrowing that occurs during and after exercise. EIB is characterized by symptoms of cough, wheezing, or chest tightness during or after exercise. Exercise is one of the most common triggers…
Historical Perspective The elite athlete has enjoyed a celebrated status within our culture since ancient times. The Olympic Games solidified that status as early as 776 BC, and it was amplified by Pheidippedes, who was a legendary Greek Olympic champion…
The roots of peak athletic performance are embedded in the optimal health of athletes. It is the responsibility of every member of the sports medicine team to provide consistent, thorough, evidence-based, and comprehensive care for each athlete. Team medical coverage…
Almost any type of fracture can occur during athletic activities. This is because of the many different types of sports and the corresponding situations in which athletes are found. All athletes undertake various fracture risks with participation. Many of these…
The intricacies of many sports result in patterns of injury that are different compared with those of the general athletic population. It is important that health care providers caring for professional and nonprofessional athletes are familiar with their specific needs…
The first arthroscope was developed in 1920 with an optical cannula diameter of 7.3 mm by Dr. Kenji Takagi from Tokyo. His idea to look inside a closed knee with an instrument, a cystoscope, in 1918 came from his interest in…
Imaging is important in the diagnosis and management of orthopedic disorders and sports-related injuries. Athletic injuries are common among all age groups. Patients are becoming more knowledgeable with respect to their injuries and the imaging modalities available to diagnose them.…