Sports injuries

The months before the finals of any big sports' competition-such as this year's European Football Championships and the Olympic Games-are a nervous time for those players and athletes with a chance of making the national squad. Places are limited and decisions are made on the basis of form and fitness. In addition to that, injuries might deprive someone of a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Athletes, coaches, physiotherapists, and all professionals who care about avoiding, diagnosing, and treating sports injuries can consult a number of specific websites and share the knowledge and experience via the web.

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Virtual Sports Injury Clinic (www.sportsinjuryclinic.net) has a directory of more than 100 sports injuries and conditions. Just click where it hurts and answer a few questions for a "virtual diagnosis." Answer a few questions about the causes and symptoms and you will be directed quickly to the sports injury information that is relevant. You can also subscribe for free sports injury advice, consult a forum for people sharing details of their injuries with others who may have had similar problems, or send a question for a personal response from a therapist.

A great sports injury resource for football fans who follow the players of the English Premier League comes from Physio Room (www.physioroom.com). The site gives information about injuries sustained by soccer players in the premiership. All medical information in the section Injury A to Z is provided by chartered physiotherapists. There is an Injury League Table and the unlucky winner for 2004 was Southampton. Other sections include questions to the experts, injury news, guide to taping and strapping, research, and injury prevention. Finally, users choose the player of the season award, who have overcome an injury-this year's winner was Alan Shearer.

If you would like to check the world of research papers focusing on sports injuries, there is Medline Plus: Sports Injuries to help you (www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sportsinjuries.html). This well structured site allows you browse different research articles and news easily. There are links to related pages dealing with specific conditions from elbow, foot, hand, and knee to sprains, strains, wellness, and lifestyle.

The BMJ comes with its own resource-the British Journal of Sports Medicine (bjsm.bmjjournals.com)-a peer reviewed journal for health professionals and researchers in sport and exercise medicine. It includes the current issue, editor's choice, and the top 10 most read articles-just click and go.