Sports Medicine

A sports medicine physician treats athletes and non-athletes alike. They’re highly trained to treat injuries to your musculoskeletal system, which includes your bones, muscles and joints. They don’t perform surgery but can treat several conditions like sprains, strains, tears, and breaks.

What is the difference between a sports medicine physician and an orthopaedic surgeon?
Sports medicine physicians and orthopaedic surgeons specialize in treating the human body’s musculoskeletal system. This includes your bones, muscles, and joints. The main difference is that orthopaedic surgeons perform surgery on these body parts, and sports medicine physicians don’t operate on the body. An estimated 90% of all sports-related injuries don’t require surgical treatment.

What does a sports medicine physician do?
A sports medicine physician can:
Diagnose, treat, and manage injuries to your musculoskeletal system and underlying conditions that can affect your physical performance.
Educate athletes and non-athletes about injury prevention, nutrition, and safe ways to exercise, condition, and build strength.
Provide medical care during sporting events.
Offer guidance on when it’s safe for athletes to return to play after an injury.