Imaging in sport and exercise medicine: "a sports physician's outlook and needs"

Sport and exercise medicine (SEM) is an exciting new medical specialty that thrives on interdisciplinary practice. The SEM physician will usually be found managing a wider, multidisciplinary team of specialists, orchestrating their various inputs to ensure that the most effective management plan is delivered to the patient. One key member of this team is the radiologist, with whom the SEM physician usually has a very close working relationship. Areas of SEM practice that commonly involve significant input from radiologists include the use of appropriate imaging to confirm an accurate diagnosis and to inform management planning (such as decisions on return to play in the elite athlete), various screening and pre-participation assessments and also technical assistance with certain procedures. This article discusses the relationship between the SEM physician and the radiologist across each of these areas, illustrating the important contribution made by imaging services to the specialty of SEM.