Athletic man runs on a treadmill under the observation of a sports physiotherapist at the Swiss Medical Network

Sports medicine

Sports medicine is a branch of medicine dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of health problems associated with physical activity, whether in elite athletes, amateur sportsmen and women or people wishing to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. It aims to promote overall health through exercise while encouraging sporting competition by minimising the risks to athletes.

Goals of sport medicine
Core competences
What problems does it treat?
What treatments are available?
Who is sports medicine for?

Responsibilities of sports medicine

Sports medicine is a speciality based on the knowledge and application of "classic" medical specialities and other fields, such as motor sciences, biomechanics or psychology, with the aim of:

  • benefit from the curative virtues of movement and physical exercise to treat various pathologies in patients who are not necessarily active in sports;
  • help sportspeople of all ages improve their performance (training, diet, recovery, dangers of doping, sports equipment, etc.);
  • treat health problems linked to sporting activity (accidents, overuse injuries, illnesses);
  • assess the level of health (aptitude) and sporting ability of a person wishing to take part in regular, intense sport;
  • give appropriate advice (sporting activity during pregnancy, underwater sports, etc.).
  • The ultimate aim is to promote the many health benefits of regular, reasonable physical activity, whether or not the person is sporty.

Core competences

  • Musculoskeletal problems: Patients mainly turn to sports medicine when they have musculoskeletal problems (accidents, overuse injuries). Surgical intervention is required in only 5-10% of cases. Diagnostic radiology is of great importance.
  • Assessment of sports health status: The sports physician can take stock of the patient's health status as part of sports medicine checks (medical history, clinical check, ECG, blood sampling) and in some cases make an objective assessment of the patient's physical condition through laboratory tests and other types of tests (ergometry, spiroergometry, isokinetic test to assess strength, lactate dynamics, etc.).
  • Nutritional and pharmacological controls: The sports physician can be consulted to obtain further information or to carry out controls related to nutrition and pharmacological treatment.

What problems does it treat?

Sports medicine treats a wide range of problems related to physical activity, including:

  • Sports injuries: diagnosis and treatment of common injuries such as sprains, fractures, muscle tears and tendonitis.
  • Injury prevention: development of prevention programmes to reduce the risk of injury by teaching appropriate training techniques and analysing athletes' movements.
  • Managing performance problems: helping athletes to overcome the psychological or physiological obstacles that can affect their performance.
  • Chronic disease management: providing support and advice to patients suffering from chronic diseases or cancer, to help them integrate physical activity into their lifestyle.
  • Sports health assessment: drawing up a health status report as part of sports medicine checks (medical history, clinical check-up, ECG, blood test) and, in some cases, an objective assessment of the patient's physical condition through laboratory examinations and other types of tests (ergometry, spiro-ergometry, isokinetic test to assess strength, lactate dynamics, etc.).
  • Dietary and pharmacological checks: consultation to obtain information or to carry out checks on diet and pharmacological treatments.

Our sport centres

The vision in our sports centres is simple: to combine the practical experience of professional athletes with the knowledge of the body from orthodox medicine in order to address the needs of our patients both preventively and rehabilitatively.  

We help people to get back to their usual everyday life after an operation or to get amateur athletes to new heights. 

Discover our sports centres

What treatments are available?

Treatments in sports medicine vary depending on the specific problem but may include:

  • Physical therapy and rehabilitation: using exercises and rehabilitation techniques to help patients recover from injuries and regain strength and mobility.
  • Medication: where necessary, medication may be prescribed to relieve pain or reduce inflammation. Infiltrations may also be carried out if necessary.
  • Surgery: in certain severe cases, surgery may be required to repair significant lesions.
  • Nutritional advice: advice on nutrition and food supplements to improve performance and health.

Who is sports medicine for?

Sports medicine is aimed at a wide range of people, including:

  • Top-level athletes: to optimise their performance and minimise the risk of injury.
  • Amateur sportspeople: to help them stay active safely and achieve their sporting goals.
  • People who want to maintain an active lifestyle: to guide them towards physical exercise suited to their fitness level and health needs.
  • Patients suffering from chronic illnesses: to help them integrate physical activity into their treatment plan.

In conclusion, sports medicine plays an essential role in promoting health through physical activity and in managing sports-related medical problems. It aims to enable everyone to make the most of their physical potential while minimising health risks, thereby contributing to an active and balanced life.

Doctors with this specialisation

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Dr. med. Franco Bidoglio

Specialisation
Sports medicine
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