By Matt Nohren, Outreach Athletic Trainer for ATI Physical Therapy

Although the origins of sports medicine can be dated back to the Roman Colosseum and training gladiators of appropriate diet and exercise, sports therapy has vastly evolved over the past 100 years. The term “sports medicine” was coined in 1928, when various team physicians attending the Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland, met to establish the International Assembly on Sports Medicine. From this point forward more research and education has been conducted to help protect, treat, and identify sports related health conditions.

A current day sports medicine definition can be described as a multifaceted approach to preventing, treating, and rehabilitating orthopedic and musculoskeletal injuries or conditions. This concept can be applied to every age group from our youth to our elderly and every skill level from recreational to professional. Sports medicine’s goal is to keep you in your sport or activity you love. If an injury is sustained, helping identify and treat, or refer the injury are all areas of sports medicine. Sports medicine care can also provide emergency response should a critical situation arise during a game, competition, or in the workplace.