The Boston Marathon Medical Care Team: Ten Years of Experience

In brief: Over the last decade, an elaborate medical organization has evolved to provide acute care for injured persons at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The medical team consists of physicians, nurses, podiatrists, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and other nonmedical personnel. The team believes that the most important cause of race injuries is fluid volume depletion; therefore, severely symptomatic athletes are treated early with intravenous fluids. In addition to the medical care team, an ancillary group has been established to maintain medical records, which help to define patterns of injury, thus allowing for more precise planning of medical care. The objective of both groups is not only to improve care at the finish line but also to identify ways to prevent injuries.