ABPMR Sports Medicine study guide
ABPMR Sports Medicine · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The ABPMR Sports Medicine subspecialty certification is a credential for physicians who already hold primary certification in physical medicine and rehabilitation and who want to demonstrate added expertise in the care of athletes and physically active patients. Per the ABPMR homepage, subspecialty certification in sports medicine is now maintained through Sports-LA, a longitudinal assessment administered by the American Board of Family Medicine in partnership with the ABPMR and available to all diplomates who hold the subspecialty certification. The ABPMR Sports Medicine study guide has 5 sections and about 2,144 words.
01Musculoskeletal Medicine and Sports Injuries
Anterior cruciate ligament rupture is suggested by a noncontact pivoting mechanism, an audible pop, hemarthrosis developing within hours, and a positive Lachman test, which is the most sensitive maneuver, particularly in the acute swollen knee where the anterior drawer is harder to interpret. The pivot shift is the most specific.
336 words, about 2 min02Medical and Medical-Orthopaedic Conditions in Athletes
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young US athletes, with anomalous coronary arteries, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, and ion-channel disease also important. Commotio cordis is ventricular fibrillation from a blunt precordial blow during repolarization and requires immediate defibrillation.
297 words, about 1 min03Exercise Physiology, Prescription, and Diagnostic Exercise Testing
The Fick equation, VO2 equals cardiac output times arteriovenous oxygen difference, explains why maximal oxygen uptake is centrally limited in most healthy people. Stroke volume plateaus at roughly 40-60% of VO2max while heart rate keeps rising, and peripheral training widens the arteriovenous difference.
296 words, about 1 min04Preparticipation Evaluation
The preparticipation evaluation screens for conditions that increase risk with exercise, identifies prior injuries, and establishes a baseline. History is the highest-yield component, detecting most abnormalities, with the physical examination adding cardiovascular and musculoskeletal findings.
307 words, about 2 min05Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Return to Play
Neuromuscular warm-up programs that include plyometrics, strength, balance, and technique reduce anterior cruciate ligament injury substantially, particularly in female athletes. Workload management matters: rapid spikes in weekly load relative to a rolling four-week average raise injury risk.
908 words, about 5 min