Sports medicine: the defensible 'alternative'

It is popular among modern scholars in the humanities to describe "myths" or "metaphors" that guide our lives and actions. The corporate literature calls these "paradigms." Whatever the terminology, people more or less consciously use these types of mental structures to interpret events, set priorities, and interact with others. The metaphors that underlie sports medicine emphasize health, functional capacity, and human performance, and our ability to enhance and preserve these throughout life. They appeal to patients in much the same way "complementary and alternative" therapies do; yet sports medicine is supported by the same scientific foundation as other medical disciplines.