ACVSMR study guide
ACVSMR · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (ACVSMR) is a veterinary specialty college whose diplomates are recognized for advanced training in the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal and neurologic conditions affecting performance and function in animals. The credential is pursued by veterinarians who have completed a residency or equivalent training and who want to practice at a specialist level in canine, equine, or feline sports medicine and rehabilitation. The ACVSMR study guide has 7 sections and about 1,667 words.
01Musculoskeletal Anatomy, Biomechanics, and Physiology
A candidate must be able to connect gross and functional anatomy to load transmission: muscle architecture (pennation angle, fiber length, physiologic cross-sectional area), tendon and enthesis structure, and the difference between contractile and connective-tissue adaptation. Understand lever systems in the limb (class of lever, moment arm, mechanical advantage), joint kinematics (roll, glide, spin; concave-on-convex rules), and the stance/swing or stance/stride cycle phases with their force and loading profiles.
285 words, about 1 min02Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Diagnosis and Diagnostic Imaging
Understand the diagnostic pathway: history and discipline-specific demands, systematic physical and orthopedic examination, gait and dynamic assessment, then targeted imaging. Know the strengths and limits of radiography, ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and nuclear scintigraphy-what each detects best and its artifacts.
242 words, about 1 min03Therapeutic Exercise, Conditioning, and Rehabilitation Techniques
Know the exercise prescription framework: assess, set functional goals, prescribe load and volume, progress, and reassess. Understand the continuum from range-of-motion and controlled mobility, through strength and proprioception, to power, endurance, and sport-specific retraining.
248 words, about 1 min04Modalities, Manual Therapy, and Adjunctive Rehabilitation Interventions
Understand the physiologic basis, indications, contraindications, and dosing of therapeutic modalities: cryotherapy, superficial and deep heat, therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation (neuromuscular electrical stimulation and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), laser, extracorporeal shockwave, and photobiomodulation. Know manual therapy: joint mobilization grades, soft-tissue mobilization, massage, and stretching, with their proposed mechanisms (neurophysiologic and mechanical).
239 words, about 1 min05Injury Prevention, Performance Assessment, and Return-to-Function
Understand pre-participation screening, workload management, and the balance between training load and recovery. Know performance assessment tools relevant to animal athletes: gait analysis, force plate and pressure mat measures, jump and agility timing, heart rate and lactate responses, and sport-specific skill tests.
226 words, about 1 min06Species-Specific and Discipline-Specific Sports Medicine (Canine, Equine, Feline)
Know the demands of each discipline and species. Canine: agility, flyball, herding, sled, field trial, conformation-each with characteristic injury patterns (e.g., shoulder and iliopsoas in agility, carpal and toe injuries in sled dogs).
222 words, about 1 min07Professional Practice, Ethics, and Case Management
Understand scope of practice, informed consent, and collaborative care with the primary veterinarian and other providers. Know record-keeping standards, confidentiality, and clear communication of prognosis and realistic goals.
205 words, about 1 min