Athletes of any type live a slightly different lifestyle than non-athletes. Their lifestyle is a little more prone to certain kinds of injury. They are also affected by different kinds of psychological problems. Because of the special needs of athletes, new fields of medicine have been introduced to tailor their services to these athletes.
Sports medicine is a field focused on the recovery of injuries that occur while playing a sport or participating in any other athletic activity. Sports medicine doctors are more familiar than general practitioners with injuries that usually result from heavy strain and physical activity. Because all of their clients are athletes, they quickly become familiar with common athletic related injuries. Sports medicine's first priority is helping the patient recover, but they also try to get the patient back on their feet as soon as possible.
Sports psychology is also a relatively new field. It helps athletes with mental and emotional problems that are impeding them from performing their best. They focus on things like motivation and team relationships in an attempt to keep the athlete as psychologically healthy as possible. The theory is that a psychologically sound athlete will be more motivated and focused, and will perform optimally.
While it may seem silly to you that so many medical and psychological resources are being focused on men and women essentially playing games, keep in mind that sports medicine helps anybody who exercises regularly, and regular exercise is a vital key to overall health.
If you run marathons, and you start having pains in your legs or feet, or if you're a dancer and you have an achy back, sports medicine doctors will best be able to diagnose and treat your pain, and sports psychologists can help you get back to the mentality you had before your injury.
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