The history of sports medicine. Part I.

It is clear that sports medicine is a very old and honorable medical specialty from the early Hindu and Chinese writings through the age of Hippocrates and Galen. From the contributions of Avicenna and Paré to Hitchcock and physicians of our own time, the specialist in sports medicine has played an important role in the development of medical techniques to promote health and fitness and to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone who participates in athletic competition.