Sports Science and Sports Medicine: A Field Overview

Introduction to Sports Science and Sports Medicine

Sports science and sports medicine are fields that have only recently begun consolidating into distinct professions. They are interrelated: the former is more of an investigative and experimental area, while the latter deals with the implementation of the knowledge and techniques developed by sports science. Both fields are still in the process of being conclusively defined and encompass a wide range of disciplines.

A 1999 survey carried out by the Physician and Sports Medicine journal elicited a broad range of terms used to describe sports medicine, including: art and science of medicine applied to physical activity, care of athletes, disease prevention and treatment, emphasis on function, enhancing fitness, human performance, medical subspecialty, musculoskeletal medicine, nutrition, orthopedic subspecialty, physiology, prevention, psychology, rehabilitation, sports injuries, sports-related medical conditions, and sports science (Matheson, 1999).

The International Federation of Sports Medicine's Scientific Commission adopted the following definition in 1977: "Sports medicine includes those theoretical and practical branches of medicine which investigates the influence of exercise, training, and sport on healthy and ill people, as well as the effects of lack of exercise, to produce useful results for prevention, therapy, rehabilitation and the athlete" ("Sport & Exercise Medicine," 2003).

Sports have become a multibillion-dollar business, and the ever-increasing competitiveness and challenges — both mental and physical — faced by the modern athlete have increased the need for medical and scientific support systems. A variety of medical professionals together provide the services required in sports today, including specialized sports nutritionists, physiotherapists, psychologists, biomechanics experts, and sports physiologists (Stein, 2003). In addition to the care of athletes — their injuries, safety, and general health — sports medicine embraces preventive medicine, the role of exercise in the treatment of disease, and the underlying science of function and performance (Matheson, 1999).

Exercise science deals with the study of the immediate and long-term effects of physical activity on the human body. It is largely a laboratory-based science that includes subspecialties such as anatomy, biomechanics, motor control, athletic training, and exercise and integrative physiology ("Sport & Exercise Medicine," 2003). Exercise science explores the beneficial health effects of exercise, fitness development, rehabilitation from various disease states, training for competitive athletics, and the treatment of injuries due to exercise or athletics ("Sport & Exercise Medicine," 2003).

Exercise scientists can be found in fitness clubs, hospitals, corporate wellness programs, and professional and amateur sports organizations, including professional teams and Olympic training centers. Careers in the field include roles as athletic trainer, fitness instructor, sport nutritionist, sports medicine technician, equipment tester, weight loss counselor, and physical therapist ("Sport & Exercise Medicine," 2003).

The various disciplines of exercise science investigate aspects of sports in diverse ways. For example, in athletics, exercise physiologists may study how athletes use oxygen while running and how it impacts their performance, while biomechanists may evaluate the efficiency of a runner's stride using physics. Nutritionists may assess the impact of diet on a running program. It is only through their collaboration that a holistic approach to a sportsperson's overall performance and health can be sustained.

Particularly in the developed world, infrastructure is being put in place to allow sports medicine professionals to deliver services more effectively to elite athletes. Sports science and sports medicine are receiving special attention in the United Kingdom, and with the support of organizations such as the English Institute of Sport (EIS), the UK is developing its reputation as one of the best sports medicine setups in Europe ("What We Do," 2003). Athletes, coaches, and scientists have all recognized that each has an important contribution to make toward the improvement of individual performance ("What We Do," 2003).

Exercise science is the source of up-to-date information used in exercise medicine. It deals with the theoretical and scientific elements of exercise and performance, while sports or exercise medicine deals especially with non-surgical approaches to injuries of muscles, tendons, nerves, ligaments, bones, and joints caused by physical activity (Stein, 2003). Both fields, however, aspire to improve sport and physical performance.

Biomechanics and Athletic Technique

High-quality sports performance depends largely on an individual's movement pattern, commonly referred to as technique. Good technique not only produces effective performance but also reduces the risk of injury. The effect of physical forces on movement and on the size, shape, and structure of the body is scientifically studied by biomechanists in an attempt to help optimize athletic technique (Stein, 2003).

Through qualitative analysis via direct observation, film, or video, a biomechanist studies an athlete's performance with a view to diagnosing problems that might be limiting sporting potential. In close consultation with the athlete's coach, training patterns may be altered to incorporate elements that help rectify identified problems (Stein, 2003; "What We Do," 2003).

Biomechanics has practical applications across all sports and is being increasingly used among elite athletes. Cycling is one such example — a sport that has grown steadily in popularity over the last 30 years. It is recognized as an exercise that is easy on the joints and is often used in rehabilitation programs and as an accessory training device in other sports. However, cycling is known to cause overuse injuries and injuries associated with biomechanical abnormalities, such as patellofemoral complex pain — a form of chronic knee pain common in cyclists (Burke, 1986).

Kinematic analysis of the knee has been used to evaluate cyclists for the presence of abnormal knee movement. A study found that more than 80% of cyclists presenting with patellofemoral pain demonstrated an abnormal mediolateral deviation of the knee during the downstroke of pedaling (Burke, 1986). Scientists have recognized this and advocated practical steps to prevent such injury, including spinning, using low rather than high gears, and avoiding excessive hill training (Burke, 1986).

Such studies have immense practical application in competitive sports for preventing debilitating injury and improving performance. The English triple jumper Jonathan Edwards, for example, refined his technique using biomechanical analysis. Coach Dennis Nobles used biomechanics and exercise physiology to calculate that a longer takeoff, coupled with raising the torso, holding the hop and step phases, and controlling arm movement, would improve Edwards' technique. A year of rehabilitation and technique modification helped Edwards improve his performance by half a meter, enabling him to break the world record in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1995. His mark of 18.29 meters still stands ("What We Do," 2003).

Sports Nutrition

Modern sports demand that athletes and their caregivers attend to all aspects of an athlete's health. As fundamental as nutrition is to performance, sports medicine and science recognize that the effect of food on performance — and how exercise alters the body's nutritional requirements — must be scientifically evaluated. A sports nutritionist must study the different physiological, biochemical, and nutritional responses to various types of exercise and competitive situations ("Sport & Exercise Medicine," 2003). Research into what and when to eat after exercise has been a significant focus, and this information is then made applicable to the athlete's diet. Sports nutritionists are also responsible for modifying an athlete's diet during injury in order to optimize rehabilitation and return the individual to peak performance as quickly as possible ("Sport & Exercise Medicine," 2003).

When athletes are equally matched in talent, training, and motivation, it is often elements such as proper nutrition that make the decisive difference. Few athletes or coaches possess the specialized knowledge to formulate an optimal nutritional strategy ("Sport & Exercise Medicine," 2003). A sound nutritional plan must not only improve performance but also maintain long-term health — a point that is often overlooked without adequate scientific expertise. As a result, sports nutritionists have become essential members of the athlete support team.

References

Burke, E. R., ed. (1986). "Injury prevention for cyclists: a biomechanical approach." Science of Cycling. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. pp. 145–184.

Matheson, G. O. (1999). "Sports medicine: a focus on health." The Physician and Sportsmedicine, 27(10).

Meyers, M. C. (1992). [Referenced in context of sport trauma and rehabilitation research].

Patrick, D. (2003). "Specific exercises may be key to preventing ACL injuries." USA Today. Available at: [Accessed 24 November 2003].

"Sport & Exercise Medicine." (2003). The National Sports Medicine Institute of the United Kingdom. Available at: http://www.rescu.org.uk/professions_sport_03.html. [Accessed 24 November 2003].

Smith, R. E. (1995). [Referenced in context of psychometric assessment in sports medicine].

Stein, S. (2003). "Sports science bulletin." Peak Performance. Available at: http://www.pponline.co.uk/. [Accessed 24 November 2003].

"What We Do." (2003). English Institute of Sport. Available at: [Accessed 24 November 2003].