What is orthopaedic sports medicine?
Orthopaedic sports medicine is the investigation, preservation, and restoration, by medical, surgical, and rehabilitative means, all structures of the musculoskeletal system that are affected by athletic activity. Orthopaedic sports medicine specialists have cognitive and psychomotor skills that make them proficient in the following areas:
1. Conditioning, training, and fitness as it relates to athletic performance.
2. Athletic performance and the impact of dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals, and nutrition on athletes’ short- and long-term health and performance.
3. Coordination of medical care within athletic team settings including other health care professionals, such as athletic trainers, physical therapists, and non-orthopaedic physicians.
4. On-the-field evaluation and management of sports medicine-related illnesses and injuries with detailed knowledge of sports-specific musculoskeletal injuries and medical problems.
5. Soft tissue biomechanics, injury healing, and repair.
6. Treatment options, both surgical and non-surgical, as they relate to sports-specific injuries and competition.
7. Principles and techniques of rehabilitation that enable the athlete to return to competition as quickly and safely as possible.
8. Knowledge of athletic equipment and orthotic devices (braces, foot orthoses, etc.) and their use in prevention and management of athletic injuries.
Who can practice orthopaedic sports medicine?
Any ACGME residency-trained orthopaedist can practice orthopaedic sports medicine. Their training specifically provides them with the core competencies to care for athletes’ musculoskeletal needs. Depending on their training, education, and experience, orthopaedists will have different levels of proficiency and comfort in caring for each of the areas that encompass orthopaedic sports medicine.
What does certification in orthopaedic sports medicine mean?
Certification means that an orthopaedist has achieved a level of proficiency in each of the areas comprising orthopaedic sports medicine as prescribed by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. Certification does not reflect an exclusive knowledge or skill pertaining to an anatomic region or given procedure within orthopaedics.
Why was a certificate in orthopaedic sports medicine established?
Sports medicine has been an identified component of orthopaedics for over 30 years, when AOSSM was founded. The body of knowledge and area of practice comprising orthopaedic sports medicine has been developed by the Society through its ongoing educational and research activities and documented in The American Journal of Sports Medicine as well as many other scholarly publications. Fellowship programs offer specialized training in orthopaedic sports medicine to approximately 200 individuals annually. Programs offering this knowledge and skills and individuals pursuing this training strive for a common, high standard of education.
Does AOSSM support subspecialty certification in orthopaedic sports medicine?
Yes. In October of 2000, the AOSSM Board established the following position and announced it to the membership and the broader orthopaedic community:
AOSSM actively and fully supports the establishment of subspecialty certification in orthopaedic sports medicine as the best means of achieving and maintaining a universally high standard of training in this area of orthopaedic practice.
Who certifies orthopaedic sports medicine specialists?
Certification is offered by ABOS, as approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Certification is achieved through a one-day written examination for those candidates who qualify to sit for the exam. More information is available at www.abos.org.
Who is qualified to sit for orthopaedic sports medicine certification?
Candidates for certification must meet the Requirements for Certification, as outlined by the ABOS.
When is the orthopaedic sports medicine exam offered?
The ABOS 2010 Subspecialty Certificate in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Schedule:
August 1, 2009
Applications are available online (www.abos.org).
March 15 2010
Deadline for submission of application, case list, required documents, and $450 application and credentialing fee.
March 31, 2010
Late deadline for submission of application, case list, required documents, $450 application and credentialing fee and $350 late fee.
May 2010
Candidates are mailed notification of admission.
June 2010
Deadline for submission of the $1,050 examination fee.
August 2010
Candidates are mailed their scheduling/admission permit. (This permit must also be presented at the examination.)
November 4, 2010
Subspecialty Certificate in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine examination administered at Prometric Tecnology Centers nationwide.
January 2011
Examinees are mailed examination results (the Board office does not release results by phone)
How can I prepare for the exam?
The AOSSM offers the AOSSM Self Assessment and Board Review. The Self Assessment and Board Review
is a tool for testing knowledge in seven critical areas of sports medicine, for identifying strengths and weaknesses
in clinical and practice management issues, and for reviewing diagnostic, surgical, and other therapeutic measures and
procedures used in sports medicine. The Self Assessment and Board Review is an optimal preparation for the
subspecialty examination and maintenance of certification given by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.
The Self Assessment and Board Review features 125 comprehensive questions, images and answers along with citations and references. Participants can
complete questions at their own pace.
Completion of the Self Assessment and Board Review and an evaluation will earn up to 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™.
For further information please visit the Self Assessment and Board Review
page.
The AOSSM and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons jointly sponsor a comprehensive review
course. The course, titled AOSSM & AAOS Subspecialty Review Course in Orthopaedic Sports
Medicine is held annually in Chicago. Please visit the Meetings page of the AOSSM website for further meeting details.
Will orthopaedic surgeons need to be re-certified in both general orthopaedics and orthopaedic
sports medicine?
Yes. please visit the ABOS website for more information.
How do other sports medicine specialties view certification in orthopaedic sports medicine?
To be approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties, the ABOS application required the support of two thirds of the 24 member “primary” boards, including family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, and internal medicine. It is significant that each of these groups supported the ABOS application. As with all of medicine, sports medicine is not the domain of any one specialty, and the care of athletes is only enhanced when it includes the contributions of all medical professionals.
Will lack of certification increase my exposure to liability?
This is a concern that is often expressed, but it is yet to be documented by other specialties with certification in sports medicine. Conversely, we are not aware of any documentation that would suggest that certification will protect or decrease an orthopaedists’ exposure to liability. In general, liability and one’s exposure to it is not increased or diminished by training or certification but by deviation from an established practice standard.
Return to the Subspecialty Certification page.
|