ABFM Sports Medicine study guide
ABFM Sports Medicine · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in Sports Medicine is a subspecialty credential offered through the American Board of Family Medicine for family physicians who want to demonstrate expertise in the care of active patients, from weekend runners to competitive athletes. It signals that a physician can manage musculoskeletal injury, sideline emergencies, exercise prescription, and the medical problems that surface or worsen with training. The ABFM Sports Medicine study guide has 9 sections and about 2,346 words.
01Musculoskeletal Injuries and Conditions
Know the anatomy and mechanism of the high-yield injuries: ankle sprain (inversion, ATFL first), ACL tear (noncontact pivot, hemarthrosis, positive Lachman most sensitive), meniscal tear (twisting with planted foot, joint-line tenderness, McMurray), rotator cuff tendinopathy vs impingement, lateral epicondylitis, plantar fasciitis, and stress fractures (tibia, metatarsal, femoral neck, navicular). Understand the Ottawa ankle and knee rules as decision aids, not absolutes.
302 words, about 2 min02Medical Conditions in Athletes
Athletes present with conditions where exercise interacts with disease: exercise-induced asthma/bronchoconstriction, anaphylaxis risk, type 1 diabetes, hypertension, cardiac conditions, concussion, heat illness, and infectious mononucleosis. Understand exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB): symptoms 5-15 minutes after exercise, worse in cold dry air, diagnosed with exercise challenge or methacholine testing, treated with short-acting beta-agonist pre-exercise and controller inhaled steroids.
280 words, about 1 min03Exercise Physiology and Prescription
Understand energy systems (phosphagen, glycolytic, oxidative), VO2max and its determinants, lactate threshold, and the FITT principle (frequency, intensity, time, type). Know the ACSM/CDC guidelines: at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity weekly plus 2 days of resistance training.
264 words, about 1 min04Emergency Assessment and Management of the Athlete
Master primary survey (ABCs), sudden cardiac arrest management (early CPR, AED), heat illness (heat stroke vs heat exhaustion), exertional hyponatremia, anaphylaxis, cervical spine precautions, and concussion on-field assessment. Know that sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in young athletes during sport; early defibrillation is the key intervention.
261 words, about 1 min05Preparticipation Evaluation and Screening
Know the goals of the preparticipation physical evaluation (PPE): detect conditions that increase risk, promote health, and meet legal/organizational requirements. Understand the AHA 14-point screening elements: personal history of heart disease, syncope, chest pain with exercise, family history of sudden death, and physical exam findings (murmur, Marfan features, femoral pulses).
270 words, about 1 min06Rehabilitation and Return to Play
Understand phased rehabilitation: control inflammation/pain, restore range of motion, strengthen, then sport-specific function. Know return-to-play (RTP) criteria: pain-free full motion, adequate strength (often ≥90% of contralateral), functional testing, and sport-specific drills.
237 words, about 1 min07Sports Nutrition, Supplements, and Ergogenic Aids
Understand macronutrient needs: carbohydrates as primary fuel for endurance, protein for repair (roughly 1.2-2.0 g/kg/day for athletes), and hydration/electrolytes. Know pre-event fueling (carbohydrate loading, pre-competition meal timing), during-event fueling, and recovery nutrition (carbohydrate plus protein within a window).
244 words, about 1 min08Special Populations in Sports Medicine
Understand exercise considerations for children/adolescents, older adults, pregnant athletes, and athletes with disabilities or chronic disease. Pediatric considerations include growth plates (physeal injuries, Osgood-Schlatter, Little League shoulder), heat regulation differences, and resistance training safety with proper supervision.
264 words, about 1 min09Practice Management, Ethics, and Systems of Care
Understand the team physician's roles: medical clearance, emergency action planning, and ethical obligations to the athlete. Know informed consent, confidentiality (including concussion and substance use), conflicts of interest, and the principle that the athlete's health supersedes competitive interests.
224 words, about 1 min