Sports medicine and the Americans with Disabilities Act

To explore the potential impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 on the practice of clinical sports medicine.

The Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) have given physically impaired athletes the legal means by which to challenge medical sports participation decisions. The Federal Rehabilitation Act prohibits the exclusion of otherwise qualified individuals from participation in federally funded programs, and the ADA extends the rights of disabled persons to include the private sector. These legal statutes contest the team physician's traditionally unchallenged authority in determining sports participation eligibility for medically impaired individuals.

The team physician is advised to use his or her best judgment and the opinions of consultants and to consider special circumstances to formulate a recommendation about sports participation. Consequently, the prospective athlete, after becoming fully informed about the risks of participation, assumes greater responsibility in the decision-making process. Sports medicine professionals must be cognizant of this potential conflict between medical safety recommendations and the expanded legal rights of disabled individuals.