{"id":6483,"date":"2015-10-16T23:24:46","date_gmt":"2015-10-16T22:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/?p=6483"},"modified":"2015-10-16T23:24:46","modified_gmt":"2015-10-16T22:24:46","slug":"expedition-medicines-role-in-sports-and-exercise-medicine-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/2015\/10\/16\/expedition-medicines-role-in-sports-and-exercise-medicine-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Expedition medicine’s role in sports and exercise medicine training"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Phil Clelland<\/h4>\n

Sport and Exercise Medicine: The UK trainee perspective<\/span>\u00a0\u2013<\/span> A BJSM blog series<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n

This summer, I worked for British Exploring as the senior medic on their Project New Horizons expedition and provided medical cover for 67 participants during a three week trip to North West Iceland. This expedition aimed to inspire young people who are not in employment, education or training through adventurous physical activities including trekking and white water rafting.<\/p>\n

My return to the UK and subsequent sports and exercise medicine (SEM) training, prompted me to reflect upon the crossover of skills, knowledge and behaviours between SEM and expedition medicine. This link is well documented in the sports medicine literature1, 2, 3<\/sup> (and in a\u00a0 BJSM podcast with Dr Russell Hearn<\/a> and \u00a0BASEM today article featuring Dr Dan Roiz de Sa<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Below I build off this knowledge base, and reflect on my own experience to address the role of expedition medicine in\u00a0sports and exercise medicine training.<\/p>\n

The rise of expedition medicine<\/strong><\/p>\n

Expedition medicine has recently increased in prominence. This is in part due to the popularity of adventure travel\/endurance events, the ease and affordability of international flights, and a plethora of fundraising treks and sustainable development projects.<\/p>\n

The growth in demand has been met by a degree of formalisation in expedition medicine training. Multiple companies offer courses of varying length in a range of locations from the Brecon Beacons to Costa Rican jungles. A postgraduate diploma in expedition and wilderness medicine is now delivered by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and doctors can seek fellowship accreditation through the Royal Geographical Society or the Academy of Wilderness Medicine.<\/p>\n

Each expedition is different in terms of its objectives, size, location and level of organisation. However, my experiences over several trips suggest that each follows a similar format which lends itself well to coverage of aspects of the SEM curriculum.<\/p>\n

Selection<\/strong><\/p>\n

Organisations require submission of a CV or application form and seek a broad medical background. Expedition practice typically includes emergency medicine, sports medicine, general practice, tropical medicine and pre-hospital care, thus qualifications in these areas are desirable. Personally, I\u2019ve completed diplomas in tropical medicine and SEM as well as pre-hospital care and expedition medicine courses.<\/p>\n

Subsequently, programs require a face to face meeting which can take the form of an interview or an assessment weekend. The latter is more intense and test\u2019s the applicant\u2019s ability to work effectively in a team, practice independently, manage emergency scenarios and cross an icy river in just their underwear whilst still smiling.<\/p>\n

\"Motivation
Medics require a variety of additional skills and often play a supportive, pastoral role.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pre-expedition planning and training<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pre-expedition planning and training draw the strongest parallels to an SEM team physician\u00a04<\/sup>. These elements are as essential to a successful and safe expedition as to sporting event cover5<\/sup>. Similar responsibilities include:<\/p>\n