Careers in Sports Medicine

Sports medicine professionals can work in a number of locations, including private offices, sports facilities, hospitals and rehabilitation centers. The practice involves a great deal of physical exertion, but most of these professionals are in good shape and enjoy working with athletes.

Types

• The term "sports medicine" can be used to describe everything from a personal trainer, who is involved in the day-to-day activities of fitness instruction, to a highly trained and specialized licensed physician. Fields within the industry include nutrition, injury rehabilitation, biomechanics, cardiology, physical therapy and medical research. Those interested in entering a career in sports medicine have many options. In fact, simply determining the kind of sports medicine to pursue can be the most challenging aspect of beginning one's career.

Education and Training

• Different careers in sports medicine require different degrees of training and/or certification. Most professionals wishing to offer specialized care such as internal medicine or injury rehabilitation must complete a primary residency in their desired specialties, followed by an accredited course in sports medicine. Three popular academies offering accredited courses are the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPMR), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

Salary

• The large amounts of money invested in professional sports has made for many lucrative careers in sports medicine. An accreditation from a respected academy can increase potential salaries, but a number of other factors such as location, experience and place of employment are factors as well. The factor that will most greatly affect salary is the specific field of sports medicine that one chooses to practice. Entering a more specialized field, such as biomechanics or orthopedic surgery, will require a greater degree of training, but it will generally create opportunities for a higher salary than that of a fitness coach or a nutritionist.

Duties

• Although job titles for sports medicine professionals may differ, some duties are universal. All professionals must put the health of the athletes first. This includes rehabilitating injuries, taking measures to decrease the risk of injury and ensuring that athletes maintain suitable hydration levels to reduce the chance of heatstroke even in winter weather. Taping ankles, wrists and fingers is a daily task for some of these professionals. Others plan meals to meet the specific dietary needs of the athletes.

Outlook

• Athletic competition has always been a major part of American life. As the popularity of sports has grown over time, so has the need for sports medicine professionals. Careers in sports medicine are related to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of injuries sustained during athletic activity. This industry is larger than ever before, and it offers a wide variety of career opportunities for those with some degree of training and education. According to all estimates, the industry is expected to grow in the future, so now is a great time to begin a career in sports medicine.