ArticleSnook GA.
Am J Sports Med. 1978 May-Jun;6(3):128-31.
Although there were many physicians who treated athletes before Galen, I believe that he was the first to devote a major portion of his time to this field of endeavor. Furthermore, his systematic observations, his aggressive pursuit of newer and better ways of treatment, his teaching, and his publishing of his observations make him a kindred soul to the team physician and practitioners of sports medicine of today. It is for these reasons that I believe that he can justly be called the "Father of Sports Medicine."