Who are sports medicine specialists?
Sports medicine specialists are physicians with training to treat and prevent illness or injuries arising from a sport. They provide holistic medical care to athletes, sports teams, or individuals who want to maintain a healthy lifestyle. A sports medicine specialist's goal is to help their patients regain movement and health so they can resume playing soon.
To practice as a sports medicine specialist, one must become board-certified in emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, physical medicine or rehabilitation, or pediatrics. They also hold an additional fellowship training in sports medicine that lasts two years. They also pass a national sports medicine certification examination. To continue practicing, a sports medicine specialist retakes the test every ten years while continuing to participate in educational programs. Apart from general medical education, such specialists are skilled in sports science, exercise physiology, biomechanics, sports nutrition and psychology, etc.
They can work in various settings, such as in clinics, independently, or as a part of sports teams. Usually, they lead a sports medicine team that comprises athletic trainers, physical therapists, coaches, nutritionists, other specialty physicians, surgeons, etc.Â
Education qualification of sports medicine specialists
Sports medicine specialists must receive thorough training to ensure top-notch care for athletes. Any lapses by these professionals could end an athlete's career.
Like any profession, a career in sports medicine usually begins with obtaining a bachelor's degree. Securing a science-focused bachelor's degree is essential for those who aim to become sports medicine physicians. Medical schools mandate applicants to complete designated undergraduate science classes.
After obtaining a bachelor's degree, future sports medicine doctors can advance their education by pursuing a medical degree. To become sports medicine specialists, they can get a medical degree as doctors of medicine or osteopathic medicine. Osteopathic medicine education prioritizes the musculoskeletal system compared to the general medical program.
The medical school spans four years, initially focusing on foundational sciences, patient care, and ethics in the first two years. The latter half involves hands-on clinical rotations, enabling students to engage with patients, handle medical records, and collaborate with doctors.Â
Potential sports medicine doctors pick electives like orthopedic surgery or sports-specific specialties here.
After med school, graduates can pursue residency. Trainees can opt for orthopedic surgery or primary care sports medicine. Orthopedic surgery provides surgery training for orthopedic/sports issues. Primary sports medicine does not focus on surgery. Residents pursuing primary care sports medicine careers finish a three-year family medicine residency. Orthopedic surgeons complete a 3-year orthopedic surgery residency.
Prospective primary care sports medicine doctors must also complete a one- to two-year fellowship. This fellowship is for doctors who have finished residencies, such as internal medicine, family practice, pediatrics, or emergency medicine. During this time, physicians can enhance their sports medicine expertise by serving as team doctors for high school or college sports teams. This hands-on experience enables them to acquire skills in managing sports injuries and diverse orthopedic rehabilitation techniques.
Orthopedic surgeon fellows mainly study surgical techniques for sports injuries during their fellowships. These techniques often involve procedures like replacements and arthroscopy. The orthopedic surgery fellowship takes about one to two years to complete, similar to primary care sports medicine.Â
All sports medicine doctors in primary care or orthopedic surgery must pass a national licensing exam. In the United States, medical doctors take the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE), while osteopathic physicians take the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Exam (COMLEX-USA). Both exams have three parts, with the first two administered during medical school and the final part given during residency.
After becoming licensed, sub-specialized physicians can earn certifications. Primary care doctors can pursue the Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in sports medicine. Eligibility requires completing an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)- approved fellowship, a medical license, and a specialty certification. Surgical sports medicine physicians can also obtain board certification in sports medicine, often designated as a Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon.
How can a sports medicine specialist help?
A sports medicine specialist generally attends to complaints of acute traumas (fractures, strains, sprains, or dislocations) and chronic overuse injuries (tendonitis, overtraining syndrome, or degenerative diseases). No matter what setting they practice in, sports medicine specialists can generally also provide the following services:
1) Diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal system disorders.
2) Ordering diagnostic imaging or laboratory tests and interpreting their results.
3) Writing medicine prescriptions to provide relief from athletic injuries.
4) Undertaking physical examinations and recording patients' medical history.
5) Supervising the rehabilitation of those injured.
6) Administering injections or performing procedures such as diagnostic ultrasounds.Â
7) Determining the readiness of athletes for competitions.
8) Counseling and educating athletes and their staff on hydration, nutrition, injury prevention, exercise regimens, etc.
The most common conditions that patients come to sports medicine specialists for include ankle sprains, knee and shoulder injuries, heat illnesses, exercise-induced asthma, concussions or other head injuries, cartilage injuries, etc.
Sports medicine specialists vs. orthopedic surgeons
Both sports medicine specialists and orthopedic surgeons are skilled in attending to musculoskeletal concerns. However, specific differences do exist between them. Firstly, sports medicine specialists can only provide non-operative treatment. Orthopedic surgeons, on the other hand, are also trained and licensed to perform surgeries. With most sports injuries being non-surgical, sports medicine specialists can treat them while referring the more severe cases to an orthopedic surgeon, if necessary.Â
Secondly, an orthopedic surgeon's practice is focused on the musculoskeletal system, while sports medicine specialists have a much broader range. They also have non-musculoskeletal training. They can help athletes make "return to play" decisions, promote a healthy lifestyle, recommend safe strength training and conditioning exercises, help fix performance issues, etc.
What distinguishes sports medicine physicians from physical therapists?
Sports medicine physicians and physical therapists are generally mistaken for one another, but their roles and training differ significantly. Sports medicine doctors attend medical school and are qualified to diagnose and treat injuries, while physical therapists do not have medical degrees and focus on implementing treatment plans prescribed by physicians. Physical therapists work closely with sports medicine specialists to ensure comprehensive care.
Physical therapists play an important role in the recovery process, helping athletes regain strength, mobility, and functionality. Using techniques such as stretching exercises, electrostimulation, and customized therapy programs, they guide individuals through the rehabilitation journey, enabling a safe and effective return to peak performance.
A tennis elbow, called lateral epicondylitis, is a musculoskeletal issue affecting the elbow's outer part. At this location, the common extensor tendon (which helps straighten the fingers and pull the wrist back) connects to the humerus bone. Tennis elbow or persistent pain at this spot can arise due to tasks involving repetitive wrist gripping or extension.
Inflammation that appears within the first few weeks is a sign of pain. After this, the continuation of pain suggests a shift to a degenerative process. A tennis elbow, as its name suggests, is associated with tennis. However, it can also impact squash players, carpenters, or those involved in sewing or frequently using a computer. This condition commonly develops in those between 45 and 54 years of age but can affect people of all ages.Â
Those who smoke, regularly lift weights of more than 20 kilograms, or perform repetitive physical activities for close to two hours daily are most likely to develop a tennis elbow. Your sports medicine specialist can diagnose tennis elbow by conducting a thorough physical examination, including an X-ray or other imaging tests.
They can help treat the condition by suggesting suitable treatment strategies. These may include physical therapy, bracing, changing activities, prescribing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, icing, etc. If these efforts do not provide relief, your sports medicine specialist may administer a platelet-rich plasma or a corticosteroid injection, undertake dry needling, or perform other forms of therapy.
How is sports medicine beneficial for non-athletes?
Sports medicine usually makes you think about the care an elite athlete might get in training or after suffering an injury. Sports medicine care is not just for athletes who are training or have sustained an injury. Sports medicine involves preventing, diagnosing, and treating musculoskeletal conditions involving bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints. Athletes and non-athletes similarly experience these conditions.
A construction worker who is hurt while working or a retiree who doesn't want discomfort while doing gardening can also seek care from a sports medicine specialist to assess and solve the orthopedic issue they are experiencing and help them get on track.
The two main categories in sports medicine care are acute injuries and the second is disorders like arthritis that develops over time or wear and tear damage. Most of the time, wear and tear result from repetitive movement in our occupations or daily routines. It can also occur or get worse with sports or exercise. In either case, patients experience loss of mobility or have trouble doing simple things, such as kneeling, without significant strain or stress on surrounding body parts. They end up suffering mild to severe pain.Â
The scope of sports medicine also extends to nutrition. A sports medicine specialist can determine how many calories, carbohydrates, protein, hydration, vitamins, and minerals your body requires and guide you to the best diet plan to achieve your goals and needs.Â
How to prepare for a visit to a sports medicine specialist near you?
To ensure a smooth visit to a sports medicine specialist, consider the following tips:
- Arrive Early: Arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment to complete registration and any necessary paperwork.
- Bring Essential Documents: Carry the patient’s insurance card, as some plans may require a co-payment, which can typically be made through a credit card, debit card, or cheque. If a referral from your primary physician is needed, ensure you have it with you. Confirm this requirement with your insurance provider beforehand if you’re unsure.
- Accompaniment for Minors: A parent or legal guardian must accompany minors and provide photo identification.
- Medical Records: If you’ve had prior X-rays or diagnostic tests at other facilities, bring those images and results to your appointment.
- Medication List: Prepare a list of all medications and supplements that you are currently taking.
- Appropriate Clothing: Dress appropriately for the examination. For lower-body concerns, wear or bring shorts and sneakers. For upper-body issues, such as the shoulder, neck, or upper back, wear or bring a tank top.
- Complete Questionnaires: If required, complete medical questionnaires ahead of time for a new injury consultation.
- Plan for Time: Initial consultations for musculoskeletal injuries often last at least 60 minutes, so plan your schedule accordingly.
Finding a top-rated sports medicine specialists near you in Fort Lauderdale
Did you pull a muscle while shooting a match-winning goal? Have you overexerted your legs in an attempt to hit that 100,000 steps per day mark? Need to see a specialist in sports medicine near you urgently but do not know how to find the most suitable one? Worry not; Zocdoc has got you covered. Its easy-to-navigate and user-friendly interface allows you to find the right practitioner to address all your sports medicine-related concerns.
To begin your search, you can enter the details of your address or symptoms, and Zocdoc will display a list of specialists in your vicinity. This list lets you learn about their educational background, areas of expertise, experience, and licensure. You can also become aware of their ratings, awards, accreditations, insurance plans they accept, languages they speak, whether or not they treat children, etc. If you don't see your insurance plan listed on Zocdoc, you can upload a photo of your medical insurance cards. Note that Zocdoc doesn't accept vision and dental cards. Zocdoc then shows your likely plan after scanning the image of your card. If you're having trouble uploading a photo of your card, you can contact the Zocdoc Service Team.Â
Our online patient support center can assist you in locating sports medicine specialists who accept your insurance. Through Zocdoc, you can link your medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your account, though only one plan can be used per appointment.
If you have multiple insurance plans, you can include your secondary insurance details in the appointment notes. Alternatively, if your healthcare provider uses Zocdoc’s Intake forms, you can conveniently enter your secondary insurance information during the booking process.
After browsing and shortlisting, you can make your final choice by relying on verified reviews from previous patients. Once you have decided upon a sports medicine specialist near you, Zocdoc allows you to book an in-person or virtual consultation directly or securely at no additional cost.
Sport medicine statistics in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
A study published by the University of North Florida in the 2017 Florida Public Health Review analyzed around 1,511 athletes between the ages of 5 and 11, revealing rates of different sports injuries in the state. As per the findings, football players reported maximum injuries during both practices and competitions. Among all games, most injuries, i.e., around 66.7%, occurred while competing. The players' most experienced injuries included concussions (22.2%) and fractures (22.2%).
According to a National Library of Medicine research paper, tennis elbow affects around 1% to 3% of Americans. Another report added to the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons in 2021 studied treatments American tennis elbow patients received between 2010 and 2017. It found that out of all the patients, around 16,476 got corticosteroid injections, and about 12,180 availed of physical therapy. It also revealed that nearly 1,874 received braces, while approximately 2,650 underwent surgery.
Sources
American Medical Society for Sports Medicine[1]
American Medical Society for Sports Medicine[2]
St. George's University
Verywell Fit
University of North Florida
National Library of Medicine
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
Center for Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine
The Orthopedic Institute of New Jersey
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
