UW Health Sports Medicine Research

The UW Health Sports Medicine research program conducts timely, leading-edge research on a variety of issues for athletes of all ages.

We strive to incorporate our extensive patient and clinic care experience with research studies. Our staff of orthopedic surgeons, radiologists, physicians, physical therapists, exercise scientists and athletic trainers work collaboratively to carry out this research.

Clinic Research

Our clinic research program has focused on identifying new methods to improve the care Sports Medicine clinicians provide to active individuals. Our clinic research focuses on:

• Improving the methods used to diagnose common injuries
• Developing cost-effective treatment strategies for hip, knee and shoulder injuries
• Identifying new methods to rehabilitate common sports and orthopedic injuries

Field Research

Research conducted in the field utilizes our staff of licensed athletic trainers in high school and club sport outreach settings. This research focuses on:

• Documenting injury patterns in different groups of athletes
• Identifying factors that make injuries more likely
• Studying which injury prevention techniques actually reduce injuries

Outcomes

The Sports Medicine Outcomes Program systematically evaluates the effectiveness of patient treatment. This program utilizes clinic- and patient-centered data to measure specific joint function and quality-of-life. This data allows us to constantly determine the effectiveness and refine the treatment techniques we provide.