A Sport and Exercise Physician is a specialist medical practitioner who provides skill and expertise in:
- providing an accurate diagnosis of musculoskeletal injuries;
- addressing the causes, treatment and prevention of musculoskeletal injury and medical problems related to physical activity and sport;
- leadership for multidisciplinary teams and organisations dealing with athletes and those wishing to exercise;
- promotion of health for all stages of life through suitable use of exercise and physical activity;
- safe and effective use of physical activity in the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and many chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, mental illness and cancer;
- sport and exercise issues with adolescents, younger people, pregnancy and those with a disability; and
- the appropriate use of medications and supplements in sport.
A Sport and Exercise Physician possesses specialist expertise in general medicine, orthopaedics, radiology and rehabilitation plus allied sport sciences including nutrition, biomechanics, exercise physiology and sports psychology.
All Sport and Exercise Physicians have experience looking after elite athletes and apply these principles to the management of all patients, whether they are recreational athletes, manual workers or those with chronic diseases simply wanting to safely increase their activity levels.