Abstract
American Medical Society For Sports Medicine (AMSSM)
AMSSM Adopts Term Sports Ultrasound and New Curriculum
In 2013, then–AMSSM President John DiFiori, MD, convened an AMSSM presidential task force on musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSK US). The overall goal of the task force was to create a pathway for fellows to obtain the necessary skills to perform ultrasound as it relates to the practice of sports medicine. In so doing, the AMSSM seeks to establish criteria that will ultimately serve to ensure that fellows will be recognized as competent in sports ultrasound as a result of completing accredited fellowship training in sports medicine. To this end, a 4-part plan was developed:
Identify the core MSK US competencies that all sports medicine physicians should be able to perform.
Create an AMSSM-recommended MSK US training curriculum for sports medicine fellowships based on these core competencies such that all fellows who successfully complete a sports medicine fellowship would be deemed competent to perform the core diagnostic and interventional MSK US procedures relevant to sports medicine.
Develop educational tools to assist sports medicine fellowships and AMSSM members with meeting the requirements outlined by the curriculum.
Initiate the process required for MSK US to be incorporated into the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) sports medicine fellowship program requirements.
Introducing Sports Ultrasound
It quickly became apparent to task force members that the applications of ultrasound in the practice of sports medicine extend beyond the musculoskeletal realm. For example, ultrasound could be used to perform a sideline evaluation of an athlete with a suspected traumatic pneumothorax or with a possible abdominal visceral injury via the focused assessment with sonography in trauma (FAST) exam. Therefore, it was determined that the term MSK US did not fully represent the scope of ultrasound practice in sports medicine. It was subsequently proposed that a more accurate term was sports ultrasound. This new term gives ultrasound a new identity that is unique to our field. It provides us with the opportunity to define how diagnostic and interventional ultrasound will be used in sports medicine and enables us to delineate our scope of practice. Sports ultrasound also is an inclusive term that can be used to encompass the ever expanding role of ultrasound in our specialty. The AMSSM Board of Directors approved the recommended name change this summer. As we move forward, all ultrasound educational programs and related documents created or endorsed by AMSSM will use the term sports ultrasound.
Task Force Progress
Under the leadership of Task Force Chair, Jonathan Finnoff, DO, the task force has accomplished many of its objectives.
The list of core sports ultrasound competencies has been created, and the sports ultrasound curriculum for sports medicine fellowships was completed and approved by the AMSSM Board of Directors this summer. It will be published in several journals, including the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine and the British Journal of Sports Medicine in early 2015.
The AMSSM Board of Directors also approved exploring the creation of 6 online sports ultrasound educational products that would cover the didactic sessions required in the sports ultrasound fellowship curriculum, thus assisting fellows and AMSSM members alike with meeting the educational objectives outlined by the curriculum.
A new, 1-day, hands-on beginner sports ultrasound course was also introduced this summer for sports medicine fellows and took place the day before the AMSSM Fellows Research and Leadership Conference. The course was well received by the attendees and is scheduled to occur again next year.
The sports ultrasound preconference courses, with a focus on intermediate and advanced diagnostic sports ultrasound, and regional courses, with a focus on interventional sports ultrasound, will also continue in the future.
The task force also began the lengthy process of modifying the ACGME sports medicine fellowship program requirements to include diagnostic and interventional sports ultrasound by submitting an official request to the ACGME.
The sports ultrasound task force has completed many of the objectives that it set out to achieve. The term sports ultrasound was adopted, core competencies were determined, a sports ultrasound curriculum was created, educational products were developed, and a process for incorporating sports ultrasound as a program requirement for sports medicine fellowships was initiated.
Although much has been accomplished, many additional tasks lie ahead. The task force looks forward to continuing to guide the successful development of sports ultrasound for our specialty.
American Orthopaedic Society For Sports Medicine (AOSSM)
AOSSM Hall of Fame Nominations Now Being Accepted
Do you know someone who deserves to be put into the AOSSM Hall of Fame? Visit http://www.sportsmed.org and submit your nomination form. Questions, contact Camille Petrick at
Osteoarthritis Grant Deadline Approaching
The deadline for the AOSSM/Sanofi Biosurgery Osteoarthritis (OA) grant is January 15, 2015. The $50,000 grant funds investigations related to early OA and/or the prevention of OA progression, including either a clinical research study or a lab/basic science project. Proposed studies need not relate specifically to sports injuries and should also have broad applicability to OA in the general population. Projects involving viscosupplementation will not be considered. For more information and to apply, visit http://www.sportsmed.org/researchgrants
Other research grants and awards are also available through AOSSM. Upcoming deadlines:
December 1, 2014
December 1, 2014
Got News We Could Use? Sports Medicine Update Wants to Hear From You!
Have you received a prestigious award recently? A new academic appointment? Been named a team physician? AOSSM wants to hear from you! Sports Medicine Update welcomes all members’ news items. Send information to Lisa Weisenberger at
Upcoming Meetings and Courses
March 28, 2015
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Rosemont, IL
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Toronto, Ontario, Canada
October 25-27, 2015
Orthopaedic Learning Center, Rosemont, IL
Sports Physical Therapy Section (SPTS)
Spring Traveling Fellowship a Success for SPTS Members
The spring 2014 Sports Physical Therapy Section Traveling Fellowship was an exciting experience for 3 sports physical therapists: Daniel Hass, PT, DPT, SCS; Chris Juneau, PT, DPT, SCS; and Matt Owens, PT, DPT, SCS, ATC. The 3 fellows flew into Houston, Texas, to kick off the program with host physical therapist Russ Paine, PT, at Memorial Hermann. In addition to observing Russ in action in the clinic, the fellows had the opportunity to meet and interact with the rehabilitation and training staff of the Houston Rockets and Houston Texans. Other stops in Houston included Baseball USA with pitching coach David Evans, and River Oaks Country Club with golf professional Bruce Davidson.
The next stop was Scottsdale, Arizona, with host Todd Ellenbecker, MS, PT, SCS, OCS, CSCS, where the fellows observed at Physiotherapy Associates treating a majority of shoulder/elbow athletes. The fellows then spent an afternoon with Todd and USTA Tennis Director David Critchley, where they observed some of the top amateur tennis players train. The fellows traveled 20 miles west the next day to Physiotherapy Associates in Glendale, Arizona, where Keith Kocher, PT, MOMT, FAAOMPT, and colleagues treated a number of overhead athletes. The last day of the traveling fellowship ended with Head Athletic Trainer Ken Krenshaw and the Arizona Diamondbacks rehabilitation and training staff at the brand new Talking Stick spring training facility. Not only did the fellows spend hours observing and interacting with the training staff, but they were also able to catch a spring training game to wrap up the day!
The fellows gave presentations at each location on a topic of their own clinical interest. Daniel presented “Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction in the Athlete,” Chris presented “Tendinopathy: A New Way to Treat an Old Problem,” and Matt presented “Functional Testing for Return to Sport.”
There were plenty of social activities worked into the schedule, including basketball and baseball games, a cookout at Russ’ home, and excellent restaurants. The fellows also had ample time to ask clinical questions of their host PTs. The SPTS Traveling Fellowship was an exciting opportunity for 3 PTs to see first-hand how some of our leaders in the sports physical therapy community have reached their current level of expertise. Special thanks to the Sports Physical Therapy Section of the APTA and DJO Global who funded the Traveling Fellowship and made this experience possible!