ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses specifically on the role of the medical practitioner in the elite sport environment. Traditionally, the domain of medical practitioners in elite sport was largely one of injury diagnosis and treatment. However, by the 1960s it was recognised that the role of the doctor also encompassed the non-injury related health concerns of athletes. Given the impact that injuries and illnesses have been shown to have on sports performance, there has been relatively little documentation in the sports medicine literature of how to establish an appropriate medical presence in elite sport. By contrast, sociological literature has highlighted numerous challenges confronting the operation of medicine in the elite sporting environment. The elite training facility is where the majority of health consultations typically takes place and, as such, is a key environment for doctors working in professional sport. To ensure effective collaboration, the doctors workspace should be contiguous with physiotherapists and other health professionals.
