Sports Medicine

Sport Medicine is more appropriately called “Sport and Exercise Medicine” or even “Activity Medicine” because it applies to many different types of people who are active – not just competitive athletes. Sport Medicine is a focused area of medicine that involves the diagnosis and treatment physical activity-related injuries and conditions. For example, sport medicine encompasses injuries to muscles, tendons, nerves, ligaments, bones and joints, as well as conditions such as exercise-induced asthma, osteoarthritis and post-concussion syndrome. Sports Medicine is especially concerned with non-surgical treatment approaches and requires in-depth understanding of anatomy, biomechanics, nutrition, exercise physiology, exercise technique, exercise prescription, as well as psychology and internal medicine. Sport Medicine also encompasses treatment modalities such as specialized injections.

To be a Sport Medicine physician in Ontario, you must first be a Medical Doctor registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Most sport medicine physicians are Family Physicians who have specialized training and certification in the field of sport and exercise medicine. However, other sport medicine physicians have a background as Pediatricians, Physiatrists or Orthopedic Surgeons. Specialized training for a sports medicine physician ideally involves post-graduate year of residency training (or “fellowship”) specific to sport medicine. Sport Medicine certification includes the rigorous practical examination administered by the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine (CASEM). If a physician successfully completes this exam, he or she will gain the designation of “Diploma of Sport and Exercise Medicine” after his or her name, abbreviated as “Dip SEM”. Also, the College of Family Physicians of Canada offers a Certificate of Added Competency in Sport and Exercise Medicine (shown by the designation of “CCFP (SEM)” after the physician’s name. In addition, the Ontario Ministry of Health offers a review process in which they allow qualified physicians to describe their practice as being a “Focused Practice in Sport and Exercise Medicine”.

No. Physiotherapists can say that they are “Sport Physiotherapists” who diagnose and treat “Sport Injuries” or that they offer “Sport Physiotherapy.” They must follow their provincial colleges’ rules on making these kinds of claims. Chiropractors can say that they are “Sport Chiropractors” and must follow their provincial colleges’ rules on making these claims. However, if you claim to be a “Sport Medicine Physician” in Canada, you must be a Medical Doctor (designated by an MD beside your name) and you should have the “Dip SEM” credential as recognized by the Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine, and/or additional credentials as described above. Any credible clinic that says it offers “Sport Medicine” services should have a medical doctor with the appropriate credential and training working at its facility.

Yes. GRSM offers Sport Medicine consultations. Our Sport Medicine Physicians have been certified by the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine (CASEM), and have appropriate additional certifications from their regulatory organizations.