Millions of people throughout the world perform physical exercise and play sports. These people have specific medical needs. To cater to these people, a branch of medicine known as “sports medicine” had evolved. Sports medicine includes: injury prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation; performance enhancement through training, nutrition and psychology; management of medical problems; exercise prescription in health and in chronic disease states; the specific needs of exercising in children, females, older people and those with permanent disabilities; the medical care of sporting teams and events; medical care in situations of altered physiology, such as at altitude or at depth; and ethical issues, such as the problem of drug abuse in sport.