Master of Philosophy in Sport and Exercise Medicine

The objectives of the programme are to provide medical practitioners with a thorough understanding of effects of physical activity on the human body and mind, and to emphasise how this knowledge can be applied to.

1. The management of common medical problems in physically active people.
2. Prevent, treat and rehabilitate injuries and other medical problems arising from sport.
3. Assist in the rehabilitation of those suffering from various chronic illnesses.
4. Promote the physical health, well-being and productivity of the community.
5. Achieve peak sporting performance in all classes of sports persons.

In addition, research methodology and statistical methods will be taught, and critical scientific thinking will be encouraged. It is felt that these skills are particularly important because Sports Medicine is a relatively new field with a rapidly expanding body of knowledge. It is imperative that students learn where to find this information, how to analyse critically new research findings and ideas and so keep their knowledge up to date.

This programme has also been designed to act as one of the principle programmes that will facilitate the establishment of a College of Sports Physicians of South Africa under the auspices of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa. It is envisaged that students completing this programme will be candidates that are suited to sit a future Fellowship of the South African College of Sports Physicians (FSACSP) Examination.

MB ChB, MB BCh, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the Health Professionals Council of South Africa for registration as a medical practitioner in South Africa.

Two years of supervised medical practice which may include the internship year, and the year of compulsory community service.

Current registration with the HPCSA as a medical practitioner (unless the student resides and practises outside South Africa in which case registration with the appropriate authority is a pre requisite).

Senior certificate with Matriculation Exemption or Equivalent university admission qualification.

First degree: MB ChB

a)

Critical cross-field outcomes (generic to all teaching and learning)

1. Cognitive and analytical approach to problem solving
2. Time management
3. Integrated team approach to problem solving
4. Enhancing communication and teaching skills
5. Personal enrichment

b)

General outcomes (contextually demonstrated general knowledge, skills and values of the programme)

c)

Specific outcomes, including professional outcomes, contextually demonstrated)

Part 1: Basic Science competence

Be fully familiar with the following Basic Sciences as they pertain to the clinical practice of Sports Medicine: Anatomy, Physiology including Exercise Physiology, Biochemistry including Exercise Biochemistry, Biomechanics of the Musculoskeletal system, Basic Pathology, and Basic Principles of Research Design and Statistics.

Part 2: Clinical Sports Medicine competence

Have a comprehensive understanding of

• All aspects related to sports injuries
• All the medical aspects related to sports and physical exercise

Part 3: Clinical Sports Medicine Research competence

• Have the ability to review the scientific literature critically in order to answer a Sports Medicine related research question
• Have the ability to plan an original research study, perform the study and report on research findings in an area of sports Medicine.

a)

1. Critical appraisal of current modes of assessment and treatment.

• Teaching in all evidence-based
• Research skills aid in the analytical approach

1. This is a distance course with much of the reading and preparation required to be done at home while working.
2. Lectures given by a wide range of health professionals

• Teaching emphasises the team approach.

1. Interactive teaching is prescribed with numerous presentations of theoretical knowledge and clinical skills.
2. Through gaining of knowledge and skills.

b)

Demonstrate knowledge, skills and values that pertain to the practice of Sports Medicine in the following areas

Basic sciences, Clinical Sports medicine, Research methodology and techniques.

c) Part 1

a) Anatomy

Be able to describe the structure and function of the musculoskeletal, neurological and vascular systems in each of the following anatomical regions: head and neck, upper limb, spine, trunk, hip and pelvis, lower limb, foot and ankle in detail.

b) Physiology and biochemistry

Be able to describe in detail the general physiology and biochemistry, including the response to an acute bout of physical exercise as well as long term exercise training of the following systems: muscle, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, renal, central and peripheral nervous, endocrine, metabolic, bone, connective tissue, haematological, immune, thermoregulatory, body fluids and electrolytes.

c) Biomechanics

Be able to describe in detail the basic principles of biomechanics including Newton's laws of motion, fluid mechanics, linear and circular motion, drag, aerodynamics, and the principles of levers. In addition, there must be a basic understanding of the biomechanics of joints, and methods of measuring kinematic and kinetic variables clinically and in the laboratory.

d) Research Design and Statistics

Be able to describe and have a basic understanding of the principles of research design including: knowledge of the principles of evidence based medicine, writing of a research proposal, collect research data, perform basic statistical analysis of data, interpret data, write a research paper, present research findings, write a review paper, and critically analyse scientific papers using evidence based medicine criteria.

Part 2

a) Sports injuries

Be able to describe in detail the epidemiology, aetiology, diagnostic features (history, physical examination and special investigations), management including rehabilitation of all injuries related to physical activity including injuries of the head and neck, upper limb, spine (including lower back), hip and pelvis, lower limb, foot and ankle.

Specific clinical competencies related to sports injuries include

• Being able to perform a through clinical assessment, including a functional assessment of any injury related to physical exercise.
• Being able to select, perform and interpret appropriate special investigations to confirm clinical diagnosis or functional (including biomechanical) abnormalities.
• Being able to design and direct an appropriate management plan to treat the sports injury and related functional (including biomechanical) abnormalities appropriately and therefore return the patient to full or near optimal function as early as possible.
• Being able to identify deficiencies in knowledge related to sports injuries, and formulate appropriate research questions.

b) Medical aspects related to physical exercise

• Be able to describe in detail the epidemiology, aetiology, diagnostic features (history, physical examination and special investigations), management including rehabilitation of all medical conditions that are specifically related to physical exercise, or are precipitated by physical exercise.
• Be able to describe in detail the approach to the rehabilitation of all chronic diseases for which there is evidence that physical exercise is an important part of the treatment of the condition including but not exclusively: coronary artery disease, chronic pulmonary disease, osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus (Type 2), myopathies, arthropathies, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, certain cancers, and HIV disease.
• Be able to describe in detail the advice regarding participation in physical activity for special patient populations including but not exclusively: children, the elderly, pregnancy (ante natal and post natal), and the disabled.

a) Review article

• Be able to identify a specific research question and then answer the question by conducting a review of the literature using evidence based medicine criteria to evaluate and interpret all the scientific studies in that field.
• Write a review article on the subject.
• Submit the review article for publication in a peer reviewed sports medicine journal.

b) Original research study

• Be able to identify a valid clinical sports medicine related research question
• Be able to write a research proposal
• Be able to liase and obtain approval for the study from and appropriate Ethics Committee
• Collect high quality raw data
• Analyse and interpret the raw data using appropriate statistical test for analysis
• Write an original research article and submit it for publication to a peer reviewed journal
• Present the research findings to an audience.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

Part 1: Basic Sciences

The final end of the year mark is made up of

1. Year mark (30% of total): The year mark will be made up of marks obtained for the class test/s and practical/s in the 1st year of study. The entire class test will constitute equal proportions to the year mark.

Total: 30%

1. Written examination (70% of total): In November of the first year, two papers will be written and a research proposal has to be handed in. Each of these will contribute to the final mark as follows:

Research proposal: (20%)

Basic Sciences I: (25%)

Basic Sciences II: (25%)

Total: 70%

Part 1 has to be completed successfully before entry into Part 2 is allowed

Part 2: Clinical Sports Medicine (70% of the final mark)

1. Year mark (20% of total): The year mark will be made up by marks obtained for the class tests and a number of practical in the 2nd and 3rd year of study.

All the class tests will constitute equal proportions to the year mark.

Total: 20%

1. Written examinations (25% of total): In November of the third year, two papers will be written contributing as follows to the 25%:

Sports Injuries 12.5%

Sports Medicine 12.5%

Total: 25%

1. Clinical examinations (25% of total)

A clinical examination will be conducted in November of the third year of study. The mark obtained at this examination will comprise 25% of the total mark. Total: 25%

Part 3: Clinical research project: (30% of the final mark)

The completed research project will contribute 30% to the final mark. The candidate will be required to submit a critical review paper and an original research paper in the form of a written thesis. One internal and one external (International) examiner will mark the thesis. The final mark obtained will be taken as an average between the two examiners.