American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine

The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) is an association of orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals dedicated to educating health care professionals and the general public about sports medicine. The Society was founded in 1972 by 50 orthopaedic surgeons and currently consists of approximately 1,200 members from the United States, Canada, Europe, South America, and Asia. The majority of members are team physicians for professional, college, or high school athletic teams. AOSSM members provide treatment to athletes through their practices and through service to local, regional, national, and international competitions; are concerned with medical and surgical techniques, injury prevention, conditioning and training, and rehabilitation; and must demonstrate continuing active research and educational activities in the field of sports medicine. The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine works in association with U.S. and international organizations in education, research, and public education/health promotion. The Society is committed to providing orthopaedic surgeons with special training in sports-related medical and surgical techniques; supporting scientific research in sports medicine; and offering education and research programs that benefit athletes and individuals concerned with physical fitness. Additional goals and objectives include developing methods for safer, more productive, and enjoyable fitness programs; promoting education and research in the prevention, recognition, treatment, and rehabilitation of sports injuries; and offering educational programs on sports and exercise for allied health care professionals, health care providers, coaches and athletic trainers, academic institutions, and professional and amateur athletes. The Society conducts an Annual Meeting that includes the presentation of scientific papers and discussion of matters related to the advancement of knowledge in the field of sports medicine. In addition, the AOSSM conducts courses on various topics in sports medicine and offers tutorial programs for members that feature demonstrations of surgical techniques and discussions of current trends. The Society also develops and disseminates educational materials including videotapes and brochures for orthopaedic surgeons, allied health professionals, coaches, and the general public and publishes a professional journal entitled “American Journal of Sports Medicine.”