| Who is a sports medicine physician? What does | | | | internal medicine, rehabilitation and Physical |
| he or she do exactly? These are questions which | | | | medicine. |
| are on the minds of many people who have | | | | You will find that all sports medicine physicians |
| recently heard of the term sports medicine | | | | would have completed an additional 1-2 years |
| physician. To become a sports medicine doctor | | | | training in specialized subjects in sports medicine |
| one has to first be a physician and then undergo | | | | through fellowship programs which are accredited. |
| special training in sports medicine. Here the doctor | | | | After having completed their certificate in areas |
| concentrates on the long term health and fitness | | | | like Internal medicine, Family Practice, pediatrics or |
| of his patients by helping them to overcome | | | | Emergency medicine, these professionals then |
| illness and injuries. | | | | become eligible to take up another special |
| The main job of a sports physician is to help his | | | | examination to qualify in the field of sports |
| patients to function at their peak level and | | | | medicine. |
| prevent any untoward setbacks in their physical | | | | These sports physicians then work to obtain |
| health which can affect their sports, school and | | | | more training in non-musculoskeletal areas like |
| working life. | | | | head injuries and their treatments, treating |
| These specialized doctors do not concentrate only | | | | athletes with chronic illness like asthma and |
| on sportspeople and athletes but also people who | | | | diabetes, in aspects of supplements, nutrition and |
| take up training programs just to keep fit. What | | | | performance based issues, and prevention of |
| exactly does a sports medicine physician play in a | | | | injuries. |
| person?s life? What qualifications are necessary | | | | Now having learnt what exactly a sports medicine |
| for someone to become one? | | | | physician does when it comes to treating in sports |
| A sports medicine physician doubles up not only | | | | medicine the next step is to search for a qualified |
| as a general physician but also incorporates sports | | | | person in the field of sports medicine. |
| medicine into his treatment procedures so as to | | | | The best way to find a capable and qualified |
| help prevent illness and help maintain perfect | | | | person in this field is through referrals. Seek the |
| health of his clients. | | | | help of your family doctor, friends and those |
| Normally in any sports there is a team of doctors | | | | working along with you as they would provide the |
| catering to the needs of the players and it is the | | | | best advice. You can also take the help from |
| sports medicine physician who normally heads the | | | | athletes when searching for a good sports |
| team of doctors. This team can be made of | | | | medicine physician. |
| specialists in surgical procedures, sports trainers, | | | | You can also search in online listings or at the |
| therapists, coaches and others. All of them are | | | | American orthopedic Society, American Medical |
| experienced professionals who could have | | | | Association and the Physician and Sports Medicine |
| specialized in any one of the following fields like | | | | Association. |
| family practice, Emergency medicine, Pediatrics, | | | | |