n South African Journal of Sports Medicine - Sports medicine - still evolving? : editorial

Abstract

The discipline of sports medicine has developed exponentially in South Africa in the last 25 years. The first major scientific publications were on orthopaedic injuries, dehydration or heat stress. Reflecting on how the profession has evolved in content and depth of knowledge is remarkable. In this relatively short time period an enormous amount has been learnt about the aetiology of injury, the accelerated treatment of injury, and the prophylactic role that physical activity plays in reducing the risk of certain diseases.