ABEM Sports Medicine study plan

Map the domain 1 blueprint into a one-page checklist of emergency presentations (airway compromise, heat illness, exertional collapse, sudden cardiac arrest, major trauma) and rate personal confidence on each

List the on-field and sideline emergencies requiring immediate transport versus those manageable on site, with the decision rationale for each

Draft a personal differential for the collapsed athlete organized by cause category (cardiac, heat, neurologic, metabolic, traumatic)

Complete 30 board-style items drawn from domains 1 and 2 and log every miss with a one-line reason

Practice the primary and secondary survey sequence aloud for a simulated sideline emergency until it runs without prompting

Differentiate the acute management priorities for heat stroke, exertional hyponatremia, and cardiac arrest in the athlete

Summarize the indications, contraindications, and technique steps for splinting, spine immobilization, and wound care

Answer 40 mixed items from domains 1 and 2 timed at exam pace

Build a joint-by-joint special test reference covering the shoulder, knee, and ankle, listing each test's purpose and interpretation

Demonstrate and narrate the mechanism-based exam for an acutely injured knee and shoulder

Compare imaging and conservative versus surgical indications for the five most common sports injuries

Complete 50 domain 2 items and categorize misses by body region

Outline rehabilitation progression principles for tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries and match each to return-to-play criteria

Explain the pathophysiology and management of concussion, including graded return-to-learn and return-to-play steps

Identify the athlete-specific considerations for asthma, diabetes, and sickle cell trait during exertion

Complete 40 items spanning domains 2 and 3 and review every explanation

Summarize the presentation, workup, and disqualifying thresholds for the major cardiac causes of sudden death in athletes

Describe the recognition and management of exertional heat illness, hyponatremia, and rhabdomyolysis

List the infectious and dermatologic conditions that require restriction from play and the criteria for clearance

Write a one-page summary of the female athlete triad and relative energy deficiency in sport

Explain the physiology of aerobic and anaerobic energy systems and apply them to sport-specific demands

Interpret the physiologic response to altitude, heat, and cold and the corresponding acclimatization strategies

Describe the principles of exercise prescription for healthy athletes and those with chronic disease

Complete 40 domain 3 and 4 items and identify the two weakest subtopics

Outline the components and purpose of the preparticipation physical evaluation, including cardiovascular screening elements

Apply return-to-play decision-making frameworks to ambiguous cases involving injury, illness, and concussion

Explain the roles of workload management, sleep, and nutrition in performance and injury risk

Complete 50 items across domains 4 and 5 at exam pace

Complete two full-length practice exams under timed conditions and score them by domain

Re-review every missed item from the prior seven weeks and rewrite each as a one-sentence teaching point

Drill the highest-yield emergency and musculoskeletal facts until recall is rapid and accurate

Build a final one-page high-yield review sheet for exam-day use