Sports medicine is an area of the fitness industry that is becoming more popular as the needs arise. With injury occurring more frequently in sports, the benefits of sports medicine are becoming more widely recognized.

What is Sports Medicine?

Sports medicine is a specialization that mixes both the fitness and medical fields. It combines medical principles with sports science in an attempt to prevent injury and promote rehabilitation.

Benefits

With the demands of sport and competitiveness of the athletic arena rising, injury is becoming regular in many sports. Sports medicine has the potential to save an athlete's career, and possibly her life.

Methods

Sports medicine uses methods such as active-release technique and self-myofascial release. These two stretching techniques may be used in rehabilitation and prehabilitation of injury.

Where is Sports Medicine Used?

The typical job title used in sports medicine is athletic trainer. Athletic trainers work in a variety of locations, including high schools, universities and professional sports teams.

Education

Working in sports medicine requires a strong educational background. The minimum requirements include an undergraduate degree in a related field, such as athletic training or exercise science, and a passing score on the state licensing exam.

Salary

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2006 median annual salary of athletic trainers was $36,560.