Is medical training adequate to promote health and give patients what they need? The role of Sport and Exercise Medicine in 21st century healthcare

Sport and exercise medicine around the world: global challenges for a unique healthcare discipline

“…Consequently, SEM should be more visible in the health-based undergraduate curricula. 8 9 This exposure would contribute to raising awareness and unveiling vocation among students. SEM teaching should ideally be delivered interdisciplinary where lecturers and students of different backgrounds copresent.…”

“…As said by American civil rights activist Marian Wright Edelman, ‘You can’t be what you can’t see’. Consequently, SEM should be more visible in the health-based undergraduate curricula 8 9. This exposure would contribute to raising awareness and unveiling vocation among students.…”

Role of pan-national associations such as the European College of Sports and Exercise Physicians (ECOSEP) in advancing the specialty of sports and exercise medicine in the 21st century

“…The addition of exercise medicine is a more recent field extension4 5 and was recognised in the UK, for example, only in 2005 6. The specialty now encompasses a wide range of activities with increasing emphasis on prevention and health promotion for the population in general, and not just for elite athletes 2. Providing preventative measure and health promotion of course is not exclusive to SEM specialty.…”

“… 1 Physical activity and exercise as preventative measures, through enhancing health and well-being, managing multimorbidity, and guiding rehabilitation from illness and injury or postoperatively, as well as promoting social inclusion and addressing aspects of health inequalities, form one of the cornerstones of the specialty of sports and exercise medicine (SEM). 2 Approximately one-third of the world’s population suffer from musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries that negatively impact their health, cause disability and constitute a major economic burden on the health system and society. 2 SEM physicians are trained in assessing, diagnosing and managing MSK injuries, therefore, avoiding unnecessary investigations and procedures and reducing costs.…”

“… 2 Approximately one-third of the world’s population suffer from musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries that negatively impact their health, cause disability and constitute a major economic burden on the health system and society. 2 SEM physicians are trained in assessing, diagnosing and managing MSK injuries, therefore, avoiding unnecessary investigations and procedures and reducing costs. 2 SEM physicians are also key in prescribing exercise, especially for chronic medical conditions, therefore, decreasing the consumption of medications and reducing costs to healthcare systems.…”