Research at the UConn Institute for Sports Medicine
Our Research Mission
The Research Center at the UConn Institute for Sports Medicine was founded by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians & research scientists affiliated with UConn, UConn Health and UConn Athletics with the goal of providing world-class, evidence based and patient centered care to athletes and physically active persons. In order to provide this level of care, the services and care (injury prevention & treatment, sport performance & enhancement, return to sport) that ISM offers must be backed by scientific data and evidence based medicine. The central goal of the Research Center at ISM is to collect and monitor clinically relevant outcomes over a patients care experience, conduct research to evaluate the effectiveness of current musculoskeletal health, orthopaedic and sports medicine interventions and develop evidence based intervention programming to improve the health and wellbeing of our athletes and patients. Through our work, we seek to advance knowledge and best practices through wide-ranging, game-changing research. We proudly apply our research and medical breakthroughs to athletes of all ages and skill levels, allowing all to benefit from our comprehensive care, education and research.
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A team of expert, multidisciplinary clinicians and researchers
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Evidence based medicine
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Why Evidence Based Medicine?
Evidence based medicine (EBM) is a key component necessary to inform clinical practice and provide optimal patient care. EBM takes into consideration clinical expertise, the values and perceptions of the patient and the current best evidence to inform clinical care practices. Many facets within the field of healthcare and sports medicine demonstrate the use of EBM and evidence-based best practices in the development, implementation and adoption of comprehensive health and safety policies to protect individuals at a global level. On the other hand, the development, implementation and adoption of individual patient level outcomes helps inform decisions about clinical care. These patient centered measures help to demonstrate the outcomes/results of current clinical practices and can identify areas where improvement in such care is needed. Both are examples of EBM. Without the use of EBM, it is impossible to track whether the safety policies, health initiatives, clinical care outcomes and/or treatments are successful and/or beneficial at the individual level. The collection of these clinically relevant outcomes helps to demonstrate progress and allows for the dissemination of this information through the publication of evidence-based research. Continued dissemination of research promotes frequent and extensive literature reviews which further help to identify core and adaptable best-practice components that can be integrated into clinical practice. Together, this helps to create a standard of care that places emphasis on patient values and best available evidence to inform clinical practice and care.
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