The existing clinical services provided by the Division of Sports Medicine, UBC, offer a comprehensive team of 10 primary care physicians and 5 physiotherapists in the John Owen Pavilion. Another 12 physiotherapists and massage therapists work in our satellite clinics in War Memorial Gym on campus, and at the Plaza of Nations in downtown Vancouver. In addition, our centre maintains close ties with the 5 orthopaedic surgeons, who make up the Joint Preservation Center of BC, located in the UBC Hospital. As well, there are consultants who give the Clinic patients high priority in Physical Medicine, Spinal Surgery, Vascular Surgery, General Surgery, Neurology, Cardiology and Dermatology. Priority support has always been in place for high performance athletes of British Columbia, and to members of 16 national teams through cooperation with the PacificSport Group and SportMedBC. Faculty of the Division of Sports Medicine also support the efforts of the Doping Control Program as directed by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES). Clinical support has, and is, provided to the Vancouver Canucks, the BC Lions, and in the past, has been given to the Vancouver Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association and the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club.
The main focus of the Clinical Services is Primary Care – the diagnosis and management of exercise-related injury or illness. This includes the all-important history, physical examination and appropriate investigations to arrive at a diagnosis. Prudent management entails activity modification, rehabilitation exercises, optimizing equipment/footwear, medications as required, and braces/orthotics. We have close working relationships with local companies who manufacture or fabricate braces and orthotics.
Our Physiotherapy department plays an integral role in patient education and rehabilitation programs. Surgical opinion and management is available through experienced Orthopedic consultants with specific interest and expertise in the treatment of exercise related musculoskeletal conditions.
Although not housed within our centre, we also have close links to sports nutritionists, psychologists, podiatrists, massage therapists, chiropractors and pedorthists as important resources for our patients.
