“Sports medicine? I suppose that means treating frisbee injuries.” I am told that this comment was made with a slight sneer and a snort of derision by a consultant orthopaedic surgeon. It reminds me of a similar incident about 12 years ago when I was attending a GP refresher course, and a consultant rheumatologist informed his audience that “there is no such thing as a sports injury”.

I find such comments sad and not a little frightening. Sad, because they reveal a lack of knowledge, understanding, and a suspiciously closed mind. Frightening because a statement made by an “expert” in this way is taken at face value by the trusting recipients, who, in …