Sports Medicine Physician - Career Profile |
Career OverviewA sports medicine physician works to assist professional athletes and other individuals involved in sports and athletic activities in the treatment and prevention of sports related injuries and conditions. Often a sports medicine physician works with a professional sports team or works in private or hospital practice but deals specifically with sports related medicines and injuries.
A sports medicine physician may work with chronic conditions that require special treatments in sports such as asthma, diabetes, joint or bone conditions or even injuries that occur due to sports such as muscle and joint pains, breaks, sprains or soft tissue damage.
Sports medicine physician usually work as part of a team of physicians and medical professionals to treat the injured person. They are very aware of both the short and long-term complications of sports injuries and strive to have any injury have the shortest and least serious impact it can on the individual. Sports medicine physician often recommend physical therapy, drug therapies or even surgeries as part of the treatment program.
Sports medicine physician may also help design special equipment or braces to help athletes participate in sporting events safely and without causing additional injuries. Sports medicine physicians often work with individuals in preventing sports injuries as well. He or she may recommend various exercises or warm-up activities that target muscle groups and prevent problems.
A sports medicine physician must be familiar with the training and physical requirements of the various sports and athletic activities. He or she will need to be comfortable working in team treatment settings and should have good communication skills with both patients and medical professionals. Some sports medicine physicians may have to travel, especially if they are working with a professional sporting team. This can mean time away from home both during the sporting season as well as in the off-season.
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Career RequirementsA sports medicine physician is required to complete the standard training for all other doctors that includes a four-year degree, a four-year graduate degree in medicine and then a residency that focuses on sports medicine or sports related injuries.
After completing this residency the individual must pass all required exams and may need to complete up to another two-year residency if they wish to further specialize in one aspect of sports medicine.
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Job OutlookThe demand for sports medicine physicians continues to increase in a steady pace. The high profile careers of some sports medicine physicians, especially those that work for professional sports teams often draws a lot of applicants to the positions. The constant travelling with these positions often causes high turnover rates that can lead to more positions being posted.
Sports medicine physicians can find employment in almost any area although small or rural communities may not have as great a demand for sports medicine physicians as larger cities.
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Career TrackA sports medicine physician can easily move into private practice or can work as a consultant to various teams and professional organizations. Some sports medicine physicians may decide to return to teaching and work as a faculty member at a medical school. Sports medicine pharmaceutical companies may also hire sports medicine physicians to complete research.
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CompensationDepending on the type of employment the sports medicine physician has and if he or she is certified to complete orthopaedic surgery the average salary range is between $280,000 and $370,000. Those sports medicine physicians that are required to travel have all costs associated with the travel paid for in addition to the salary.
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