What is the difference between sports medicine and orthopedics

Orthopedic surgeons are qualified to operate on patients if they require surgery as part of their treatment, and may set broken bones or repair disks or other parts of the body that have been impacted by illness or injury.

The job responsibilities of a sports medicine doctor typically center around providing medical care to athletes. Some specialists may work in clinics, while others are employed by hospitals, sports teams, and fitness centers. The sports specialists who work with teams may need to travel with the team. Their job responsibilities include:. The job responsibilities of an orthopedic surgeon typically centers around conditions of the musculoskeletal system, such as arthritis or broken bones.

We know there is a lot of confusion and misinformation out there about what is open and what is closed in the state of Florida due to the current COVID outbreak. We wanted to offer some clarity for our patients who have upcoming appointments or are thinking about making one— currently, all of our offices are currently open for normal business hours! Since we are treating existing patients as well as seeing new patients, we want to stress firmly that we are taking every precaution to minimize your chances of exposure to COVID If you have been injured while participating in sports, your Sports Medicine Specialist will work to:.

A Sports Medicine Physician can also accelerate referral to an orthopedic surgeon if a surgical option is required. However, most sports injuries do not require surgery. Non-Operative Musculoskeletal Injuries.

Knowledge gained from years of treating athletes applies just as well to the treatment of non-athletes. This does not mean orthopedic surgeons choose surgery every time or for every patient. Many prefer to begin with the least invasive approaches, and only use surgery when there are no other options to restore proper function to the affected area.

Sports medicine doctors can treat orthopedic and non-orthopedic issues. Only some sports medicine doctors perform surgery, but many choose to focus solely on non-surgical interventions. Types of Patients Orthopedic surgeons can treat any type of patient with any type of orthopedic needs, regardless of the reason for the condition.

While they treat patients as a whole person, their primary focus is on the part of the body requiring immediate attention. Despite being called sports medicine, a sports medicine specialist may work with clients who are not athletes. They are an excellent resource for guidance when beginning a new training plan or just wanting to live a healthier lifestyle. Orthopedic surgeons are often consulted for injuries requiring surgery, though many prefer to try non-invasive and minimally invasive procedures first.

Some of the conditions they treat are:. A Sports Medicine specialist can diagnose and treat many of the same injuries and issues as an orthopedic surgeon, but may refer severe cases if surgery is needed.

They may also refer a patient to the surgeon if the injury is not responding to non-surgical treatment plans. Many physicians choose to pursue training as both orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine physicians.

This means they have extensive training and can offer surgical, non-surgical and lifestyle treatment plans without the need for a referral elsewhere.