As of 2016, the CDC estimated that 8.6 million Americans suffer from sports-related injuries each year. The key to overcoming these injuries relies on the type of treatment you receive.

With this in mind, it can be difficult to seek treatment without knowing the differences between them.

Two commonly misunderstood professions include a sports medicine doctor and an orthopedic doctor. This guide discusses the differences between these practices to help you decide which method is best for you and your injury.

Training

To become a sports medicine doctor, one must become board-certified in a specific medical area. This may include family medicine or rehabilitation. Believe it or not, this is only the beginning of their medical certification.

So, what does a sports medicine doctor do to become certified?

Once they have received certification in a specific field, they must then pass an exam. Passing this exam certifies these professionals as sports medicine doctors. This exam must then be taken every 10 years to continue practicing.

Sports medicine doctors are also required to continue education in a related field while practicing.

The path to becoming an orthopedic sports medicine doctor is more traditional. This profession takes roughly 14 years of training to attain credentials.

Orthopedic doctors only have to pass an exam once to certify their competence in the field.

Clientele

Orthopedic doctors typically see a wider range of clients. This is because they do not specialize in sports injuries alone. Orthopedic doctors may treat people with ailments like:

• Joint problems
• Injuries
• Musculoskeletal disorders

Sports medicine doctors treat athletes suffering from sports-related injuries. Based on its success, sports medicine has begun treating other types of conditions.

These conditions may include muscle strains, arthritis, or car accident injuries.

Treatment

As far as treatment goes, understanding sports medicine doctors and what they do relies heavily on the type of injuries. So, what do sports medicine doctors do for treatment?

Their primary focus is to get athletes back into their sport as soon as possible. This is achieved by regaining maximum function. Treatment areas may also include concussion recovery and acute sprains.

A sports medicine doctor may also construct exercise and nutrition plans to help you return to your sport.

Orthopedic and sports medicine doctors provide similar treatments but with one major difference. Orthopedic doctors are capable of performing surgery on different parts of the body.

Common surgeries may include fracture repairs, joint tissue reconstruction, and spinal surgery.

Both professions are capable of treating long-term pain. The type of care you receive will normally rely on the severity of your injury.

Making the Choice: Sports Medicine Doctor vs. Orthopedic Doctor

Understanding the scope of practice of a sports medicine doctor and an orthopedic doctor will greatly improve your recovery rate. In most cases, your primary physician will refer you to the one they believe best suits your injury.

Explore the rest of our useful tips section to learn more about different healthcare professions or injury treatments.