The lowdown
Are you missing the Master Blaster in action at the IPL because of his finger injury? Sports medicine is a specialised field of medical science that provides health care for physically active people, especially sportspersons. It’s ideal for people who love atheletics and fitness. A sports medicine specialist has several responsibilities. These include, selecting sporting talent, evaluating and enhancing human performance, treating sports injuries, etc. He draws on the knowledge of many specialists, including physicians, athletic trainers, physiologists and physical educators. These experts aid in determining the level of training required by athletes to put in their best on the field without injury.
Clockwork
5am: Reach the park to jog
8.30am: Reach clinic
9am: Check mails; do e-consultation
11am: Treat patients — sports persons and someone with a back or shoulder pain
1.30pm: Lunch
4pm: Treat patients
8pm: Call it a day
The payoff
Entry level: Around Rs. 40,000 per month
Middle level: Rs. 75,000 to Rs. 1lakh per month
Senior level: Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 3lakh per month
In the public sector, a sports medicine doctor’s pay scale is at par with CGHS doctors
Skills/TRAITS
* Excellent diagnostic and treating skills
* You must be able to understand how each sport is played and the injuries common to players
* You must have liaisoning and communication skills
Getting there
To be a sports medicine practioner, you have to be an MBBS after which you may have to do the MCI-recognised two-year postgraduate diploma in sports medicine. You can also go abroad for further studies. A sports medicine specialist undergoes training in exercise physiology, conservative practice of orthopaedics and rehabilitation and allied subjects
Institutes and URLs
* National Institute of sports, Patiala
www.nsnis.org
* Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham
www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories
* Queen Mary College, University of London
www.qmul.ac.uk/
Pros and cons
* There’s nothing as satisfying as healing the suffering
* The satisfaction is immense when the sportsperson one has worked with wins the tournament
Challenges like helping players recover fast and keeping them in shape are the most exciting aspects of the job Martin Gleeson, CEO, Sports Education Development India Ltd
