Orthopedist
Sports Medicine Doctors
Specialists:
A sports medicine physician has significant specialized training in both the treatment and prevention of illness and injury. They are ideally suited to provide comprehensive medical care for athletes, sports teams, or active individuals who are simply looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Why do you need to see them?
Certain types of injuries are more common in one sport versus another, but there are certain conditions that physicians in sports medicine encounter often, including:
- Ankle sprains
- Fractures
- Knee and shoulder injuries
- Tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries
- Exercise-induced asthma
- Heat illnesses
- Concussions and other head injuries
- Cartilage injuries
What do they do?
Regardless of the type of facility, they’re working in, most sports medicine physicians are responsible for the following:
- Diagnosing and treating disorders of the musculoskeletal system
- Ordering lab tests or diagnostic imaging procedures and analyzing results
- Performing physical examinations and recording athletes’ medical histories
- Examining injured athletes to advise treatment plans and determine readiness for competition
- Supervising the rehabilitation of injured athletes
- Prescribing medication for the treatment of athletic injuries
- Coordinating with other personnel, such as coaches, athletic trainers, and orthopedic surgeons
- Performing procedures, such as injections and diagnostic ultrasound
- Educating athletes and coaches about nutrition, hydration, exercise regimens, and injury prevention
Physician consultation is a good opportunity and you should be prepared for it.
- Carry all necessary medical records for the discussion. It helps in better understanding your heart condition and avoids repetition of diagnostic tests.
- Make sure you discuss your past medical history, surgical history, family history, and medications that you are taking.
- Discuss about your lifestyle habits, dietary habits and also about your profession. Your lifestyle and nature of job may be associated with the risk for cardiac diseases.