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Sports Medicine: MD and PG diploma courses, institutes and prospects

What’s the similarity between football player Cristiano Ronaldo, American football quarterback Tom Brady and tennis legend Rafa Nadal? These elite athletes have been operating at the highest level for more than 15 years, something which was deemed impossible even a decade back. But their careers are now rolling on beyond the dreaded mid-30s thanks to the tremendous advancement in the field of sports science. If you love this aspect of sports and want to see yourself as part of a sports science and fitness team, studying Sports Medicine would be the best way to realise your dream. 

Scope of Sports Medicine in today’s world

Fractures, niggles and other types of injuries have ended the careers of many athletes. But the emergence of Sports Medicine has completely changed the game. Even potential career-ending injuries like a skull fracture or a cardiac problem can be completely healed, with the player ready to return to the field after a  break of less than six months. 

The field of Sports Medicine has exploded in India after the introduction of massive tournaments like IPL and ISL. Even non-athletes get nerve sprains, hairline cracks, fractures or ligament injuries while working out. These injuries need proper medical assistance and can be treated with sports medicine. 

Studying Sports Medicine 

• You need to clear your Class XII board exams with Biology, Physics and Chemistry as compulsory subjects. You also need at least 65% aggregate for admission to medical school.
• You need to clear NEET, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), to pursue a five-year MBBS course. 
• You can also appear for state NEET exams to get into a medical institute in a particular state.
• After completion of your MBBS degree, you can appear for PG NEET, AIIMS and JIPMER for doing a MD in Sports Medicine.
• You can also join the sports medicine and fitness unit of a sports team as a paramedical member like a fitness trainer or massage therapist who play important roles.  

Top institutes that offer MD courses in Sports Medicine:

• Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi
• Aryabhatta Knowledge University (AKU), Bihar
• Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu
• Guru Nanak Dev University, Punjab
• Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Maharashtra
• All India Institute of Hygiene & Public  Health, Kolkata 
• Sri Ramachandra University, Tamil Nadu

 

Top institutes that offer PG diploma courses in Sports Medicine:

• Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala
• Hospital for Orthopaedics Sports Medicine Arthritis & Accident Trauma (HOSMAT), Bengaluru 

 

Job roles with a Sports Medicine degree:
 

• Medical consultant: These doctors diagnose and treat patients who have developed injuries as a result of physical activity. It’s their job to recommend a line of treatment with appropriate medicines and diet.
   
• Athletics doctor: They specialise in treating athletes injured in track and field sports. These professionals suggest a fitness regime for athletes after checking their physical records.
   
• Muscle specialist: They treat athletes suffering from muscle injuries and niggles. They recommend exercises that could shorten the duration of an athlete’s recovery time.   
   
• Hamstring specialist: Hamstring injuries are common in contact-based sports. These specialists provide medical care to athletes who are suffering from hamstring injuries.
   
• Sports psychologist: They take care of the mental condition of a professional athlete. They help athletes with improving performance and coping with pressure. 

• Orthopaedic specialist: They diagnose, treat and manage musculoskeletal problems. It’s their job to treat common problems like dislocations and ligament injuries.