Sport and the Body
The Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum’s new Sport and the Body exhibition highlights Pittsburgh’s critical role in the evolution of sports medicine and orthopaedic surgery.
Since the first Olympic Games in Greece, humans have been studying, treating, and training the body for participation in sport. The work of visionary Pittsburgh doctors such as Dr. Albert Ferguson and Dr. Freddie Fu built an international reputation in sports medicine that trained practitioners in every corner of the world in the innovative treatments and techniques developed locally.
From advances in joint replacement and ACL surgery to diagnosing and treating concussions, Pittsburgh’s innovations in sports medicine have resulted in tools for injury assessment and prevention, cutting-edge surgical techniques, and procedures to help athletes safely return to play.
The Sports Museum’s Sport and the Body exhibit explores advances in nutrition, hydration, prevention, treatment, and more. The long-term exhibit introduces the stories from Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre dancers who demonstrate strength and stamina, and champion athletes who have built their bodies for success such as Western Pa. shot putter Jordan Geist.
Through engaging interactives, video, compelling artifacts, and touchable models, visitors can follow the journey of local athletes and their care teams and learn how the innovative techniques and treatments developed for elite athletes in the region benefit the health and well-being of all.
Updates to the Sports Museum are made possible through generous support from UPMC and UPMC Health Plan.