Sports Medicine

Sport and medical conditions

While there are an almost infinite number of ways in which SEM can impact the health and performance of athletes, some key areas of research and application include:

• Concussion and head trauma: A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, knock, or jolt to the head that changes how the brain works. The long term consequences of repeated concussion and head trauma are an issue of increasing concern and research across all levels of the sport sector. ^{3, 4}
• Relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S): RED-S occurs when an athlete's body does not get enough energy from food to fuel the demands of exercise and essential daily functions. This can lead to serious physical and mental health issues, limiting the ability to perform in – and recover from – training and competition. ^{1, 2}
• Sudden cardiac arrest and/or death (SCA/D): SCA/D can be defined as a sudden collapse or death due to a cardiac cause, generally within one hour of the onset of symptoms. As a sub-set of SCA/D, sport and exercise related SCA/D is often defined as a collapse or death that occurred within an hour of exercise. ^{6, 7}
• Medical screening/periodic health evaluations (PHE): PHEs can help to evaluate and optimise athlete health, including identification, management, and review of health conditions , help optimise performance and reduce risk of injury, collect and analyse baseline data (such as blood tests, neuropsychological and/or cardiac testing), and develop relationships with athletes that allow for high-quality care and education. ^{5, 8, 9, 10}

Groups, societies and professional bodies

Vocational educational training

The Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians (ACSEP) Specialist Training Program, opens in a new tab is the only accredited pathway to becoming a Sport and Exercise Physician in Australia and New Zealand (Australasia).

Designed for medical doctors, the program includes hands-on clinical experience, academic learning, and leadership development across three stages. Registrars train under the supervision of experienced Fellows, generally in private practice settings, in order to gain exposure to team care, event coverage, research. The goal of the training is to ensure that Registrars have the skills to manage patients from elite athletes to those with chronic conditions.

Standards

The Australian Performance Support Practitioner Minimum Standards, developed in line with Australia's High Performance 2032+ Strategy, represent the minimum standards for Performance Support staff and contractors engaged by National Sporting Organisations (NSOs), National Institute Network (NIN) partners, the Australian Olympic Committee, Paralympics Australia, and Commonwealth Games Australia. These standards, along with the AIS Sport Science Sport Medicine Best Practice Principles, are a recommendation within the National Integrity Framework, opens in a new tab.

Sport Medicine Guidance for Sport

Research and Resources

• National Institute Network Research. Published sports science/sports medicine research from NIN researchers. This list is updated on a monthly basis.

Journals

Videos

^{* Licencing restrictions apply to some resources.}