Opportunity and Responsibility

A s sports medicine clinicians, we spend a lot of time around athletes during their daily routines. These daily encounters by athletic trainers, physical therapists, and physicians in the training room and on the field often provide us with an opportunity to improve the experience of athletes entrusted to our care. Along with this opportunity, more importantly, comes the responsibility to intervene when the situation warrants. Well-meaning coaches, athletic directors, and general managers, among others, can influence the physical and mental health of athletes with their attitudes and policies. These powerful influences are geared, understandably, toward producing positive performance and victories. Sports medicine clinicians, however, should monitor these efforts and recognize when the athlete's welfare may be in jeopardy. Successful sports organizations maintain administrative systems that ensure that clinicians can guide the medical care of athletes without undue pressure and influence. These safeguards are critical to athletes and the sports they play. The process should begin by placing competent and responsible professionals in the leadership positions. Clinicians who will make the right decision regardless of the pressures put on them. The sideline physician and/or ATC (certified athletic trainer) who can determine when a player needs to go to the emergency room, the locker room, or the bench is an invaluable asset to the athlete's welfare, especially in competitive situations where clinicians may be asked to cut corners or compromise their best judgment when stakes are high. Picture the star quarterback recovering from a concussion the week before a big game. Is he ready to play? Really ready? Can the decision makers restrict their emotions and allegiance to the team and make the right call for the athlete? No doubt the primary responsibility of clinicians is to diagnose and treat, but our responsibilities do not have to end there. With good clinical care at the high school, college, or professional level, we can influence the physical, emotional, and the economic costs of injuries. These short-and long-term costs should help guide our recommendations, research, and prevention efforts. Unfortunately, too often it's the short-term costs of injury that become the focus for most of those involved: players, coaches, family, and teams. It is the clinician's responsibility to educate and clarify the implications of injuries and illness, when those are known and the situation is appropriate. An athlete should know the risks for returning to sport 4 months after an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction …