- A physician with specialized training who promotes lifelong
fitness and wellness, and encourages prevention of illness and
injury. This physician helps the patient maximize function and
minimize disability and time away from sports, work, or school.
- He or she is a leader of the sports medicine team, which also
includes specialty physicians and surgeons, athletic trainers,
physical therapists, coaches, other personnel, and, of course,
the athlete.
- They are experienced physicians and surgeons with an interest
in athletic disorders. Most obtain 1-2 years of additional training
in sports medicine through accredited fellowship (subspecialty)
programs in Sports Medicine. Sports Specialists are then eligible
to take a subspecialty qualification examination in Sports Medicine.
Additional forums, which add to the expertise of a Sports Medicine
Physician, include continuing education in sports medicine, and
membership and participation in sports medicine societies.
Orthopedic sports medicine is the investigation, preservation
and restoration by medical, surgical, and rehabilitative means of
all structures of the musculoskeletal system that are affected by
athletic activity. Orthopedic sports medicine specialists have
advanced specialty training that makes them proficient in the following
areas:
- Treatment options, both surgical and non-surgical, as they
relate to sports-specific injuries and competition.
- On-the-field evaluation and management of sports medicine related
illnesses and injuries with detailed knowledge of sports-specific
musculoskeletal injuries and medical problems.
- "Return to play" decisions in the sick or injured
athlete
- Coordination of medical care within athletic team settings including
other health care professionals, such as athletic trainers, physical
therapists, and non-orthopedic physicians.
- Conditioning, training, and fitness as it relates to athletic
performance.
- Athletic performance and the impact of dietary supplements,
pharmaceuticals, and nutrition on athletes' short- and long-term
health and performance.
- Soft tissue biomechanics, injury healing, and repair.
- Principles and techniques of rehabilitation that enable the
athlete to return to competition as quickly and safely as possible.
- Knowledge of athletic equipment and orthotic devices (braces,
foot orthoses, etc.) and their use in prevention and management
of athletic injuries.
Please be sure to ask how our team of
sports medicine specialists
can help your
club, team, or organization.
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- Both are well trained in musculoskeletal medicine. Sports Medicine
Specialists are orthopedic surgeons with additional training
in the unique injuries and recovery cycle of athletes. Sports
Medicine Surgeons specialize in the non-operative and operative
treatment of musculoskeletal sports conditions. Individuals with
advanced expertise in sports medicine are trained to detect subtle
conditions that often limit optimum performance and to employ
advanced therapies including surgery to restore that potential.
- Many sports injuries can be managed without surgery and Sports
Medicine Specialists can expedite referral to appropriate rehabilitative
care and ancillary services as needed.
- Common examples of musculoskeletal problems include:
- Acute injuries (such as ankle sprains, muscle strains, knee
& shoulder injuries, and fractures)
- Overuse injuries (such as tendonitis, stress fractures)
- Injury prevention
- No, Sports Medicine Physicians are ideal physicians for the
non-athlete as well, and are excellent resources for the individual
who wishes to become active or begin an exercise program. For
the "weekend warrior" or "industrial athlete"
who experiences an injury, the same expertise used for the competitive
athlete can be applied to return the individual as quickly as
possible to full function.
- Sports Medicine Physicians are dedicated to providing comprehensive
and quality care to the active individual.
Most Sports Medicine Physicians also serve as Team Physicians for
local and/or National teams and clubs. These physicians must fulfill
published qualifications with the following responsibilities:
- Pre-participation physical examination
- Injury assessment and management
- Care of sports-related injuries
- Special populations (elderly, disabled, women, youth, etc)
- Coordinating care with other members of the sports medicine
team including athletic trainers, physical therapists, personal
physicians, other medical and surgical specialties, sports nutritionists,
sports psychologists and other ancillary personnel
- Communication with athletic trainers, coaches, school administration,
as well as athletes and their families
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