ABFM Sports Medicine key terms

A clinical decision tool stating that ankle radiography is needed only if there is pain near the malleoli plus inability to bear weight four steps, or bone tenderness at the posterior malleolar or navicular areas.

A decision aid indicating knee radiography after injury when the patient is over 55, has isolated patellar tenderness, fibular head tenderness, inability to flex to 90 degrees, or cannot bear weight four steps.

A validated scoring tool combining history and examination findings to estimate the probability of a diagnosis or outcome, used to guide imaging, treatment, or disposition decisions.

An anterior cruciate ligament examination performed with the knee slightly flexed, assessing anterior tibial translation and endpoint quality; it is more sensitive than the anterior drawer test in acute injury.

A knee examination maneuver combining valgus stress and internal rotation during flexion that reproduces anterolateral rotatory instability, indicating anterior cruciate ligament deficiency.

A knee stability test in which the examiner pulls the proximal tibia forward with the knee flexed to about 90 degrees to detect excess translation from anterior cruciate ligament injury.

A meniscal examination in which the knee is flexed, rotated, and extended while a joint-line click or pain is sought, suggesting a meniscal tear.

A dynamic meniscal provocation test performed weight-bearing with the knee flexed about 20 degrees and the patient twisting the body, positive when joint-line pain or locking is reproduced.

A calf squeeze maneuver in which plantar flexion should occur; absence of plantar flexion indicates a possible Achilles tendon rupture.

Pain and thickening of the Achilles tendon from repetitive loading, managed initially with load-progressing eccentric or heavy-slow resistance exercise rather than rest alone.

A degenerative and reactive tendon condition producing load-related pain and impaired function, distinct from acute inflammation, and treated with progressive loading and tendon rehabilitation.

A traumatic brain injury induced by biomechanical forces, producing transient neurologic symptoms without necessarily causing loss of consciousness, requiring removal from play and graded return.

Rapid, often fatal cerebral edema that can occur when a second head injury is sustained before symptoms from a prior concussion have resolved; the reason athletes must not return prematurely.

A standardized sideline and clinical checklist covering symptoms, cognition, balance, and neurologic screening used to evaluate suspected concussion and track recovery over time.

A life-threatening emergency with core temperature above about 40 degrees Celsius plus central nervous system dysfunction; immediate cold-water immersion is the priority treatment.

Heat illness with fatigue, dizziness, and heavy sweating but intact mental status and core temperature usually below 40 degrees Celsius, treated with rest, cooling, and oral or intravenous fluids.

A composite environmental index incorporating temperature, humidity, wind, and solar radiation, used to set activity modification and cancellation thresholds for training and competition.

Physiologic adaptation over one to two weeks of repeated heat exposure that increases plasma volume, sweating rate, and cardiovascular efficiency, reducing heat illness risk.

Sudden cardiac arrest caused by a blunt blow to the chest during a vulnerable phase of repolarization, treated with immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation.

Unexpected cessation of cardiac function during sport, most often from inherited structural or electrical heart disease in young athletes and from coronary disease in older athletes.

A portable device that analyzes cardiac rhythm and delivers a shock for shockable arrest rhythms; prompt access and use are central to emergency action planning at athletic venues.

A written, rehearsed venue-specific protocol assigning roles for recognition, resuscitation, defibrillation, and transport of a collapsed athlete, including equipment location and emergency activation.

A structured history and examination before sports participation that screens for cardiovascular, neurologic, and musculoskeletal risk and determines clearance with or without restrictions.

An inherited myocardial disorder with left ventricular hypertrophy that is a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes and may warrant activity restriction.

Electrocardiographic criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy with repolarization abnormalities used in athlete screening to flag possible cardiomyopathy rather than benign training-related changes.

Physiologic cardiac remodeling from chronic training, including increased chamber size and resting bradycardia, that must be distinguished from pathologic cardiomyopathy.

A stepwise, symptom-limited progression of activity after injury or illness, with advancement only if symptoms do not recur, culminating in unrestricted competition clearance.

Sport-specific movement and strength assessments used to confirm readiness for return to play and to identify residual deficits that raise reinjury risk.

Surgical reconstruction of a torn anterior cruciate ligament, typically followed by months of structured rehabilitation emphasizing quadriceps strength and neuromuscular control before return to cutting sports.

Stretch or tear injury of muscle-tendon units, most commonly at the hamstrings, quadriceps, or calf, graded by severity and managed with progressive loading and sport-specific rehabilitation.

Ligament injury of the ankle, most often the lateral complex from inversion, managed with early weight-bearing, proprioceptive training, and bracing to reduce recurrence.

A syndrome of impaired metabolic rate, menstrual function, bone health, immunity, and performance resulting from insufficient energy intake relative to exercise expenditure.

The interrelated combination of low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, and low bone mineral density seen in physically active women and girls.

Matching carbohydrate, protein, and fluid intake to training and competition demands, including fueling around sessions rather than following a uniform daily plan.

Increasing carbohydrate intake in the days before endurance competition to maximize muscle glycogen stores and delay fatigue during prolonged exercise.

A well-studied ergogenic supplement that increases phosphocreatine stores and supports repeated high-intensity efforts and strength gains, with a generally favorable safety profile in healthy athletes.

Any substance, device, or practice intended to enhance exercise performance or recovery, ranging from proven interventions such as caffeine to unproven or prohibited products.

A synthetic testosterone-like drug used illicitly to build muscle, associated with cardiovascular, hepatic, endocrine, and psychiatric harms and prohibited in sport.

A formal approval allowing an athlete to use a otherwise prohibited medication when medically necessary, provided no reasonable alternative exists and the request follows antidoping rules.

A structured plan specifying frequency, intensity, time, type, volume, and progression of physical activity tailored to a patient's goals, health status, and functional capacity.

Graded exercise assessment measuring physiologic responses such as heart rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiographic changes to evaluate capacity and safety before prescribing exercise.