A career in sports medicine may appeal to you if you are equally passionate about athletics as you are about becoming a physician. It’s a perfect way to combine your two passions into a career that promotes healthy and active living.
But what is the job of sports medicine physicians? We’ll be breaking down the daily tasks, exploring the job environment, and then laying out the path to pursue this exciting specialty.
What Is Sports Medicine Exactly?
A medical doctor has the general role of assisting injured athletes while doing any physical activity. They help the patient return to work as quickly and safely as possible. They may work in a hospital, as an individual, or as a team, league, or league physician for professional athletes.
Sports medicine physicians can often help anyone suffering from certain conditions due to their experience in musculoskeletal therapy. They can also be a valuable resource for anyone starting an exercise/training program.
These sports medicine physicians don’t perform open surgeries and are considered non-operative. Many of them can perform the most cutting-edge surgical procedures, which are often performed in a micro-invasive manner. They often work alongside orthopedic surgeons, along with physical therapists.
What Does A Sports Medicine Physician Do Each Day?
It will depend on their patient’s condition, how they are doing in sports medicine, and their daily duties. It will also vary depending on the work environment.
Expectations of Sports Medicine Physicians
It doesn’t matter where they are working, the majority of sports medicine doctor are responsible for the following:
- Diagnostic and treatment of disorders affecting the musculoskeletal.
- Ordering lab testing or diagnostic imaging procedures and analyzing results
- Perform medical examinations on athletes.
- Athletes with injuries can be examined to provide advice and help them prepare for competition.
- Supervising rehabilitation of injured athletes
- Prescription of medication for the treatment of an athletic injury
- Collaborating with other personnel (e.g., coaches, athletic trainers, orthopedic surgeons).
- Injections and diagnostic ultrasound are performed
- Athletes and coaches must be taught about nutrition, water, exercise, and injury prevention.
Common Conditions That Can Be Treated By Doctors of Sports Medicine
Certain types of injuries are more common in some sports than others. However, there are certain conditions that doctors who practice sports medicine frequently encounter.
- Ankle sprains
- Fractures
- Knee and shoulder injury
- Tendon, muscle, and ligament injuries
- Exercise-induced asthma
- Heat illnesses
- Concussions & other head injuries
- Cartilage injuries
Sports Medicine Doctor Work Environment
Where can you find sports medicine physicians working? There are many options to choose from depending on what kind of work environment is most appealing. The most common settings are hospitals, rehab centers, private practices, and colleges.
It’s possible to make it whatever you like. You could work in the clinic, covering live events, or as a team medical professional. You may even work at a place or arena as the physician for all of their teams.
It doesn’t matter if you prefer the hectic atmosphere of a sporting event or the more traditional schedule of a medical clinic; you will find your ideal workplace as a sports medicine physician.
How Do I Become A Sports Medicine Physician?
You can choose to become a sports medicine doctor by following different paths. But let’s start with the most common route.
After graduation, you will likely concentrate on your residency in family medicine (emergency medicine), internal medicine (internal medicine), physical medicine and rehabilitation, or family medicine (family medicine). You can complete a fellowship that focuses on sports medicine during your residency.