Job Description of a Sports Medicine Doctor

Sports medicine is a growing field. Sports medicine doctors are qualified doctors who specialize in sports injuries and the health of the athlete. Injuries can ruin a large part of the season for an athlete. The sports medicine doctor is responsible for helping heal the injury and getting the athlete back on the field as soon as possible.

Examination

• A sports medicine doctor will examine an injury or will look into concerns the athlete may have. Sometimes an injury is tied to a specific event, and can be diagnosed soon after the injury occurs. Other times, the injury happens slowly, and progressively becomes worse.

X-Rays

• Broken bones and damaged tendons are the most common form of injury in sports. Sports science heavily teaches prospective doctors to understand and diagnose injuries through X-Rays. A good sports doctor can diagnose the X-Ray in a matter of seconds.

Preparation

• Not all sports medicine doctors specialize in or treat injuries. Sports doctors help athletes who are looking to improve their diet, gain strength or prevent future injuries. The doctor can recommend supplements, appropriate diets and ways to prevent injuries through better technique.

Operations

• The sports medicine doctor operates on athletes to set broken bones and repair tendons or other tears. Sports doctors need excellent surgical skills, to ensure that injuries do not end the career of a player. Because of the financial consequences of a team losing a star player, for a season or permanently, professional sports teams employ only the best sports surgeons.

Rehabilitation

• Rehabilitation is a large part of a sports medicine doctor's job. Doctors work with athletes weekly, sometimes daily, improving and regaining strength in an area that was injured. Rehabilitation can take up to a year, so a strong relationship between doctor and athlete is needed.