Sports Medicine: What You Need to Know Before Making an Appointment

Jan 24
08:40

2012

Aloysius Aucoin

Aloysius Aucoin

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If you have an injury, seeing a specialist well versed in sports medicine could be your fastest track back to wellness.

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If you have an injury,Sports Medicine: What You Need to Know Before Making an Appointment Articles seeing a specialist associated and well versed in sports medicine could be your fastest track back to wellness. Having said that, it's important to understand that you're potentially entering murky waters. There's no recognized medical specialty that goes by that name, which means nearly anyone can call themselves a specialist in the field with no consequences. While you should always do a background research check on anyone you're entrusting with your health, the importance of this is doubled in this instance. Here are some things you should know before making an appointment.

While there may not be a residency for sports medicine, there are doctors who chose to gain additional training and certification in the area after completing a residency in a separate specialty. They can then bring that knowledge to their practice. Of course, there are few things as valuable as professional learning and experience, and that's what you really want out of your doctor, therapist, or surgeon. You want someone who associates with athletes, treats them, and understands the various intricacies of working out and pushing yourself beyond what the average individual is willing to do. They will have a different outlook on your recovery than the average doctor might.

If you're suffering from a persistent injury to the musculoskeletal system, you can't go wrong by visiting an orthopedic surgeon. If they have additional sports medicine training, even better. At the same time, you needn't believe that just because an orthopedic surgeon (or even a family doctor for that matter) has no such training that they will be unable to address your problems. If convenient, seek them out for a diagnosis and see what they have to say. If you don't like the answers and feel that what they are saying is an indication of ignorance about an athlete's lifestyle, you can always get a second opinion.

While you should be fine when looking for a surgeon or doctor certified in sports medicine, be wary of physical therapists, personal trainers, and other occupational "experts" who claim to have similar training. By the same token, if you have injuries or problems that have nothing to do with sports medicine, don't be thrown off by a surgeon who advertises his ability to work with athletes. If anything, they may be able to treat you in such a way that you will be on a much faster path to recovery than you would if you had gone to a surgeon with no such training.