Our Specialty
What is Sport and Exercise Medicine?
Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) is a modern and exciting medical specialty which offers enormous benefits to the NHS in the treatment of musculoskeletal disease and in the promotion and dissemination of Exercise Medicine across the NHS.
Sport and Exercise Medicine is a dynamic medical specialty which utilises a multi-disciplinary approach to dealing with all issues that may prevent a person from either starting or resuming physical activity. SEM practitioners are skilled in working within multi-disciplinary teams, collaborating with other disciplines to deliver high quality patient care and a fresh approach to the prevention and management of disease.
There are 3 central aspects to the specialty – musculoskeletal medicine, exercise medicine and team care. Through its membership, the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK (FSEM) represents and develops the specialty of SEM and its application to:
- Sports Medicine and Team Care
- Exercise Medicine services, research and application
- Musculoskeletal (MSK) Medicine services
- The NHS and Public Health
Team Care
Team Care involves the medical care of injury and illness in sport and exercise. It requires accurate diagnoses, careful clinical examination, experience and knowledge of sport and exercise specific movement patterns.
Exercise Medicine
Exercise Medicine is the use of physical activity to prevent and treat disease. Doctors practicing Exercise Medicine will promote exercise to their patients in the same way they promote medications or operations; FSEM supports doctors to do this. The Faculty is committed to encouraging the use of exercise in routine medical care, promoting and improving education for doctors in this area, and developing and expanding Exercise Medicine research.
Musculoskeletal Medicine
What is Musculoskeletal Medicine?
Musculoskeletal (MSK) Medicine is the diagnosis and treatment of problems arising from the MSK system. This includes injuries and diseases affecting the muscles, bones and joints of the limbs and spine. Approximately 30% of all GP consultations relate to problems with the MSK system.