In the UK, a sports physician is a medical doctor who specialises in the field of sports and exercise medicine. Many work with professional sports teams, providing urgent and non-urgent expert medical care to their athletes. However, the word ‘sport’ can be misleading as most sports physicians have expertise throughout the wide ranging field of musculoskeletal medicine. They are trained to diagnose, treat, and reduce the risk of injuries related not only to sports and exercise but also from general overuse or wear and tear. This includes the management of conditions affecting muscles, tendons, bones, and joints, whether sport-related or not!

Their experience of working with patients from a wide array of sporting activities is particularly helpful in understanding the specific demands, requirements or injury risks attached to each sport. They offer many novel non-surgical treatments and with access to a strong and experienced network of health professionals, a sport and exercise medicine consultant will ensure that you are then connected with the most appropriate and specialised rehabilitation therapists to guide your recovery.

Are Sports and Exercise Medicine doctors specialists?

Sports and Exercise Medicine (SEM) consultants are specialist physicians who have undergone specific training in musculoskeletal, sports and exercise medicine. In the UK, this specialty is recognised by the General Medical Council (GMC). It is important to note though that not all ‘sports doctors’ are on the specialist register and may not have gone through the same level of rigorous training. This is always worth checking before booking a consultation, especially since many insurance companies will not recognise or reimburse for consultations with doctors who are not listed on the specialist register.  If you are unsure, you can always check their credentials on the GMC website using this link. Dr Craig Sheridan is a consultant listed on the GMC specialist register having completed his Sport and Exercise Medicine training in Cambridge and the East of England and is recognised by all major insurers. 

How can a Sport and Exercise Medicine consultant help me?

Sports and exercise medicine consultants typically work with a wide range of individuals, not just professional athletes. They provide care to people involved in sports and exercise at various levels, as well as those seeking help for musculoskeletal issues unrelated to physical activity.

Key roles and responsibilities of sports and exercise medicine consultants in the UK include:

Diagnosis and Treatment: Assessing and diagnosing musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries or conditions related to sports and exercise, and providing appropriate treatment.

A particular benefit of seeing a SEM consultant is their ability to perform bedside diagnostic ultrasound scans, rather than having to send you to another specialist or clinic to have this undertaken. Dr Sheridan uses musculoskeletal ultrasound to assist diagnosis and to improve the accuracy of his injections and interventions, by using ultrasound imaging to precisely guide the needle to it’s target in real time.

Rehabilitation: Developing and overseeing rehabilitation programs to help individuals recover from injuries and return to their normal activities.

Sports physicians work closely with a range of experienced surgical colleagues and therapists including physiotherapists, osteopaths and soft tissue therapists.  Many years working with soldiers and athletes has taught Dr Sheridan what rehabilitation should and should not look like.  He takes a collaborative approach to patient care to ensure that your rehabilitation is tailored specifically to your needs - you will never just be given a sheet of exercises to perform!

Preventive Care: Offering advice and strategies to prevent or at least reduce the risk of injuries, enhance performance, and promote overall well-being.

‘Primary prevention’ (preventing an injury before it ever occurs) can be a hard sell for patients but this is generally the easiest time to manage risk. It is no surprise that the biggest risk for a stress fracture, or hamstring tear is a previous stress fracture of hamstring tear! If you’ve had previous injuries and want to look at ‘secondary prevention’ i.e reducing your risk of similar problem down the line, seeing a sports physician can be an important first step.

Exercise Prescription: Prescribing tailored exercise programs to address specific health concerns or improve fitness.

Sport & Exercise physicians have experience in recommending safe progressive exercise for patients with a range of health conditions. They can offer guidance on the frequency, intensity, timing and types of exercise and guide on where further tests should be performed before undertaking or progressing exercise. Where needed they will work with cardiology (heart) or respiratory (lung) specialists and can arrange specialist investigations to explore cardiorespiratory fitness in detail.

The specialty of sports and exercise medicine in the UK is well-established, and professionals in this field play a crucial role in the healthcare system by addressing the unique needs of individuals involved in sports and physical activity.