If you’ve experienced a sports injury, you’ll want to seek evaluation and treatment from a trusted sports medicine physician equipped to handle such an injury. But before you settle on any physician, it’s crucial to explore your options and make sure he or she is reputable and will be able to meet your needs as a patient. By following these helpful tips, you’ll find a great sports medicine physician who’s right for you. 

Education

Research their educational background. Sports medicine physicians typically receive a bachelor’s degree with a pre-med focus, and then go on medical school to complete a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine or a Doctor of Medicine degree. Medical students are also required to complete rotations in medicine under the supervision of physicians in hospitals and clinics for their last two years of medical school to gain hands-on experience. States also have requirements for physicians to be licensed, but they vary by state. Be sure to ask your physician or the doctor’s office about the degrees and license the physician holds. Often they are hanging around the office.

Experience

You should know how many years a physician has been working in sports medicine and roughly how many patients with sports-related injuries he or she has treated. You should discuss this information either with the physician directly or someone in his or her office who is knowledgeable about that information. If possible, you should ask other patients who have worked with a specific physician about their experiences. You may get such information from word of mouth or through websites that rate physician care. Some sports medicine physicians specialize in only one aspect of the field of sports injuries, so be sure to ask about any specialties they may have.

Treatment

Doctors have many different treatment methods when it comes to patient recovery. Discuss with the sports medicine doctor what sort of methods or techniques he or she utilizes when treating patients so you’re aware of the process that may be used to treat your injury.

Meeting

It’s important to meet with the sports medicine physician face to face to determine whether you mesh well. If you feel uncomfortable around a particular physician, you may want to continue your search. If your injury is serious, you may be seeing a physician for an extended period of time, so you want to be wsure you trust him or her. Before selecting a sports injury physician, it’s crucial to do your research. Use the Internet and friends and family in the community as resources. Be sure to meet with a practice or a specific physician before making your choice. They’re used to being interviewed by patients and may even welcome it. Your health is important, so it’s essential to make an informed decision when choosing a sports medicine physician.