In Ireland, many healthcare professionals are involved in the care of children and adults who participate in sports. This ranges from elite international athletes to those who participate at the community level and the commitment from the healthcare professional ranges from those who work full time in this area to those who are occasionally called upon to assist with the initial assessment and management of problems on a volunteer basis.
There is a paucity of formal education and training in the area of sports medicine, event medicine and team specific medicine in undergraduate and post graduate medical and allied health professional training. There is an onus on a practitioner with an interest in this area to identify their deficiencies and improve their skills but this may be done in an hoc manner. There is a risk to both sports participants and therapists alike, where there is a mismatch between experience and training and a practitioners scope of practice.
This course will provide the practitioner with a deeper knowledge and understanding of the potential problems encountered as a team doctor or physiotherapist. It will broaden their understanding of the role of the multidisciplinary team in the provision of this care.
Participants will develop and understanding of the role and duties of a sports medicine doctor and become competent at both assessing and prescribing for sports participants from both a pharmacological and musculoskeletal perspective.