Sports Medicine is a niche health care field that focuses on preventing and treating injuries related to sports and exercise. With the culture of sports and working out steadily growing all over India, the practice of Sports Medicine is increasingly becoming a promising career option, especially for those interested in the sphere of fitness and medicine.

The world of sports is highly competitive. Sports persons need to remain at the top of their fitness regimes at all times. This has naturally led to the immense and critical importance & necessity of Sports Medicine specialists in the lives of sports persons. In order to excel, the help and guidance of such specialists is essential nowadays. For those intending to specialize in the field, a diploma or degree is the first step towards numerous roles such as that of a physiotherapist, top-flight trainer, psychologist, nutritionist, or physician.

Sports Medicine is a highly specialized branch of medical science, which can only be studied after the completion of your MBBS degree. For getting admission into a diploma course, you need to appear for the All India Sports Medicine Post Graduate entrance test, followed by an interview.

The main role of a Sports Medicine physician is to prevent and heal injuries, along with examining a player's fitness level before any upcoming game. The role of the doctor may also extend beyond the usual sports related injuries. It can also involve handling illnesses like asthma and physiological issues.

Sports Medicine specialists can also work as counselors, consultants, and performance educators. Your scientific knowledge and guidance can help sportsmen/ women improve their fitness and performance.

Salaries for Sports Medicine specialists vary according to their roles, experience, and location of job. With sponsorships getting bigger and better in the world of sports, players have to constantly maintain high levels of fitness. Hence, Sport Medicine practitioners are also getting paid rather handsomely! The average starting salary in India is around Rs. 40,000 per month. With more experience, this increases to up to Rs. 1 lakh per month. An expert can earn as much as Rs. 3 lakh per month.

 If you want to specialize in this field, then the 2 year Post Graduate Diploma in Sports Medicine  (PGDSM) at the Faculty of Sports Sciences, Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports  (NSNIS), Patiala, is a great option. This diploma is affiliated with Baba Farid University of Health  Sciences, Faridkot and is recognized by the Medical Council of India, and the institute is the country's  best in the field.

 The Hospital for Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Arthritis and Accident-Trauma in Bangalore   offers a post-MBBS basic course, and an advance course for orthopedic surgeons.

The Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar has MD and PhD programs in Sports Medicine.

 You also have the option of pursuing an MD from the All India Institute of Hygiene & Public  Health, Kolkata or the Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai.

 India's sport culture is flourishing, and so is the demand for Sports Medicine specialists. This is a  career path that will certainly give you a bright future, and take you to new and exciting heights.