issues, or even the elderly playing light sports with sore shoulders. Is A Sports Medicine Specialist Different From A Primary Care Physician? “The majority of sports medicine specialists do complete a residency in family medicine, but then go on to do an additional fellowship in sports medicine,” said Dr. Averill. “Still, it’s not just family medicine, you could go on to do that sports med training if you did a residency in pediatrics, emergency medicine, internal medicine, and physiatry.” Dr. Averill explained that most sports medicine specialists come from different medical backgrounds, but have chosen to get that additional training to focus on musculoskeletal medicine. Who Can Benefit By Seeing A Sports Medicine Specialist? A sports medicine physician offers several benefits for athletes. Their roles in helping prevent and treat sports-related injuries include: • Examining and diagnosing injuries such as sprains, strains, fractures, and concussions. • Developing and supervising rehabilitation programs to help patients recover from injuries. • Monitoring patients’ progress and making any necessary adjustments to their treatment plans. • Advising athletes and other active individuals on ways to prevent future injuries and maintain their physical fitness. • Collaborating with other healthcare professionals, such as physical therapists and trainers, to provide comprehensive medical care. Young Athletes And Parents Children and their parents can also significantly benefit from the help of sports medicine specialists. Some children can be very excited and energetic while competing in their favorite sports. Understandably, immersion in a sport can distract a child from proper form and movement, which can lead to injuries over time. “We see a lot of kids after the fact, so if they have any type of pain or curiosity at all, they can come in and we can do a full assessment in my office where I can look at their dynamics, arches, how
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