Medical aspects of sports: epidemiology of injuries, preparticipation physical examination, and drugs in sports.

The epidemiology of sports injuries helps identify the necessity for medical event coverage, injury risk factors, and potential prevention strategies. The preparticipation examination provides an opportunity for the team physician to identify athletes at risk of injury, to teach injury prevention, and to address athlete wellness. Knowledge of performance-enhancing drugs, nutritional supplements,and banned and legal medications is critical in caring for athletes.