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Sports Medicine Physicians

The occupation Sports Medicine Physicians covers people who diagnose, treat, and help prevent injuries that occur during sporting events, athletic training, and physical activities. A regular part of the work is to diagnose or treat disorders of the musculoskeletal system. The strongest interest signal is Investigative (5.4 of 7), then Social (5.3) and Realistic, which gives it the code ISR. Plan on graduate school and often five years or more of related experience; O*NET labels this extensive preparation. Strength in reading comprehension, judgment and decision making, and critical thinking helps most here. It tends to suit people who want research, analysis and working through hard problems, and it offers little for anyone seeking creative work with room for original expression.

What they do

Diagnose, treat, and help prevent injuries that occur during sporting events, athletic training, and physical activities.

Main tasks

  • Diagnose or treat disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
  • Order and interpret the results of laboratory tests and diagnostic imaging procedures.
  • Record athletes' medical histories, and perform physical examinations.
  • Refer athletes for specialized consultation, physical therapy, or diagnostic testing.
  • Provide education and counseling on illness and injury prevention.
  • Advise against injured athletes returning to games or competition if resuming activity could lead to further injury.

Skills

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Critical Thinking
  • Speaking
  • Active Listening
  • Social Perceptiveness

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You enjoy working out why something happens, not just what happened.
  • You get energy from helping other people move forward.
  • You are prepared for graduate-level study and a long training path.
  • You are comfortable relying on reading comprehension and judgment and decision making.

May not suit you if

  • You lose interest when a job asks for long stretches of analysis.
  • You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.2 out of 7 here.
  • You want to be working in the field within the next few years.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code ISR takes the three highest, and Investigative comes first here.

Preparation

Extensive preparation. Many jobs here need graduate study, and people often spend five years or more building specialist experience.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Post-Master's Certificate. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Athletic Team Physician
  • MD (Medical Doctor)
  • Nonsurgical Primary Care Sports Medicine Physician
  • Orthopedic Team Physician
  • Pediatric Sports Medicine Physician

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.