Sports doctors are an important part of the sports medicine field. They help athletes recover from injuries and perform at their best. Sports doctors have specialized training in treating sports-related injuries. In this article, we will discuss 5 fast facts about sports doctors. Keep reading to learn more.
You may not know this, but sports doctors are an important part of the athletic world. A sports doctor is a physician who specializes in the care and treatment of athletes. They are experts in diagnosing and treating sports injuries. Sports doctors may also work with athletes to improve their performance through proper nutrition and exercise programs. Here are five fast facts about sports doctors:
1. They’re about much more than treating injuries.
While a sports doctor will be there to help you when you get injured, they also have other important duties. The goal of any sports doctor is to prevent injuries before they happen. Sports doctors can work with athletes and coaches on technique and training to reduce the chance of injury. They may also make recommendations for exercise plans, nutrition programs, or conditioning that could improve performance while keeping an athlete healthy at the same time. A good sports doctor will look at your overall health as well as your athletic performance when working with you.
2. They are more likely to pursue non-surgical options.
While surgery may be necessary in some cases, a sports doctor will do everything they can to avoid it. If you have an injury, your sports doctor will work with you to find out what the best option for treatment is. They may prescribe physical therapy or prescribe medications that can help speed up healing and improve mobility at the same time. In most cases, this type of non-surgical care can get athletes back in the game faster than traditional surgeries would allow them to return. If you do need surgery, your sports doctor will work with the best possible surgeon to make sure that you get back on your feet as quickly as possible. They are highly trained professionals who know their field inside and out. When they refer you to a surgeon, it’s because they feel that it is truly necessary for your recovery.
3. Many of them are board-certified in other fields.
While sports medicine is a specialized field, most sports doctors are board-certified in other fields as well. They may be certified in family practice or orthopedics. This gives them a wide range of knowledge that they can use when treating athletes for injuries and illnesses. Their background experience allows them to look at your overall health and make recommendations for treatment based on what’s best for you as an individual patient rather than just treating your symptoms or injury itself.
4. They care for both children and adults.
Athletes come in all shapes and sizes, so it should be no surprise that sports doctors work with patients of all ages. They may specialize in pediatric care or adult care, but many can treat both children and adults. This allows them to take on a wide range of cases from young athletes just starting to older athletes who need special treatment for their injuries or chronic illnesses. Whether you’re an athlete who needs specialized care for an injury or illness, a parent seeking advice about how your child should participate in sports without getting hurt, or anyone else looking for answers about how the body works during physical activity, a sports doctor can help.
5. Sports doctors are part of a comprehensive health care team.
Athletes don’t just see sports doctors when they’re injured. They may also work with other specialists as part of their care team. This could include a physical therapist, an athletic trainer, a nutritionist, and more. When you have a sports doctor as your primary physician, they can help connect you with the best possible professionals to help you get back to your sport or activity as quickly as possible. Having a comprehensive health care team that includes a sports doctor can make it easier for athletes to recover from injuries and stay healthy during training.
After reading this article, you now know that sports doctors are more than just injury specialists. You also understand that they use non-surgical options to treat injuries and care for both children and adults. If anything in the article has piqued your interest or if you want to learn more about how we can help with your team’s health care needs, please don’t hesitate to call us today.
Dr. Chen sees patients at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital Center for Sports Medicine in Walnut Creek, California. He is a board-certified Pediatrician and Sports Medicine Doctor that specializes in the non-operative medical treatment of a wide variety of various musculoskeletal conditions, including back injuries. Dr. Chen graduated from St. George’s University School of Medicine and went on to complete Pediatric residency training at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey (Rutgers), then went on to fellowship training in Sports Medicine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, one of the perennially top-ranked children’s hospitals in the nation. There he provided sideline coverage for NCAA Division I athletics at the University of Cincinnati and Miami University (OH). Since graduating, Dr. Chen has continued his love of sports coverage by volunteering for the San Francisco Marathon, the San Francisco Giant Race, and as the team physician for Northgate High School in Walnut Creek. Being a part of The Center for Sports Medicine allows Dr. Chen quick access to a multidisciplinary team of orthopedic surgeons, podiatrists, physiatrists, and physical therapists to return you to your highest functional level quickly and safely. Click here to contact us for your next appointment!
925-934-3536
stephen.chen@eastbaysportsdoc.com