Sport and exercise medicine

Sport and exercise medicine (SEM) is a new specialism in the UK NHS. As the NHS long-term plan leans towards a focus on preventive health and streamlining budgets, using SEM physicians in promoting exercise medicine as part of the holistic treatment of patients, and in creating active hospitals, to encourage people to move more and reduce ‘pyjama paralysis’, can be a way for NHS Trusts to achieve these goals. SEM physicians would improve the healthcare burden of musculoskeletal conditions on public services. These physicians are trained in musculoskeletal medicine, exercise medicine, sports and team care. They can be a great asset to primary or secondary care settings, treating sport and physical activity-related injuries or conditions, as well as promoting physical activity for staff and patients alike. Many patients end up with complex musculoskeletal injuries that inevitably cause a reduction in physical activity levels, and seeing an SEM physician can prevent this happening. They can translate the lessons learned from elite sport and use this to treat the general population. This article focuses on key topics in which an SEM can be used, from concussion to overuse injuries.