Medical dictionary

What is sports nutrition? Sports nutrition is the branch of nutrition and dietetics focused on people who practice intense or endurance sports. Depending on the final objectives of the sport and the training, sports nutrition will emphasise different foods and diets. Why is sports nutrition necessary? Sports nutrition is necessary because the nutritional needs of an athlete a

What is sports physiology? Sports physiology looks at how exercise alters the function and structure of the body. A physiologist monitors how well an athlete performs using special tests and technology that are designed to accurately measure their characteristics. This allows the doctor to advise coaches and athletes on their training and competitions to ensure that they are performing at their

What is sports cardiology? Sports cardiology is a sub-specialty of cardiology that diagnoses and treats heart conditions in athletes and assesses if the patients are fit to participate in sports. It encompasses a series of tests aimed at identifying heart muscle diseases that may pose a risk when playing sport. These tests allow doctors to analyse the health of the heart and how well it copes w

What are sports injuries?Competitive and non-competitive sports injuries are injuries that occur in athletic activities or whilst exercising. Whilst some of these happen by chance, others are facilitated by inadequate practice or poor execution in terms of technique, as well as by not using sports equipment correctly. Sports injuries mainly consist of muscle injuries or joint and ligament inj

What is sports medicine? Sports medicine is a speciality that deals with injuries sustained during exercise, sports participation and other types of physical activity. Sports medicine specialists help injured patients regain strength and movement after injury and also focus on the prevention of injuries that derive from practising sports. Their various roles include care, nutritional advice, di

What is a sports medical examination? Sports medical check-ups are all tests concerning the state of health of sports athletes, and are fundamental to play sports in a safe way. It is recommended to carry out annual sports medical examinations or whenever you want to start a new sport, to know if you are physically prepared to play it.  What happens during a sports me

How common are sports injuries, and how can they be treated?Sports injuries are common, with around 400,000 people treated for sports injuries in A&E departments each year . The techniques and practices of a physiotherapist can be useful in treating a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, including injuries from sport.In the UK, sports physiotherapy is a growing specialism, with a number

What is sports podiatry? Podiatry is a medical specialty which deals with problems in the foot. This could include foot injuries, deformities, infections, or problems caused by conditions such as diabetes. A sports podiatrist specialises in the treatment and prevention of sports injuries. In general, you might see a sports podiatrist if you want to understand the effect playing sport is havi

What is sports surgery? When a person sustains an injury during exercise, sports participation or any type of physical activity, depending on the severity of the injury, they may be advised by a sports medicine specialist to see an orthopaedic surgeon for sports surgery. Surgery is normally the last resort for amateur sportsmen and is more common amongst professional athletes. Sports surgery is