Dr. Bob’s experience as a sports medicine doctor on the road and in the training rooms at UT has allowed him to broaden his sports medicine practice. Each individual sport comes with a unique type of athlete, injuries and rehabilitation goals.
“I have over 25 years of experience as a sports medicine doctor and sports injury specialist effectively treating the nations top athletes with sports injuries at the University of Texas Athletics Program. In 1997, I opened the Spinal Rehab Sports Medicine clinic in Austin, TX, with the mission to make the same advanced sports medicine technology and sports injury treatment methods I provide for pro athletes, available and affordable for families and athletes of all levels. Hook ‘Em! ”
– Dr. Bob Meyer
Sports medicine doctors work primarily with athletes on various sports related injuries and training programs. Sports medicine doctors treat professional and amateur athletes alike, and are trained to address issues that may involve nutrition, sports psychology, substance abuse, injury prevention, and injury rehabilitation. Sometimes sports doctors will even focus on specific groups of people, such as teenagers or the elderly. They can also have many titles, including physician, athletic trainer, physical therapist, exercise physiologist, and more.
Sports medicine doctors may work in a setting alongside physical therapists to create treatment programs or with sports trainers to create appropriate exercise regimens. They do not operate on patients, but they may see patients before or after surgery. Sports doctors can work in multiple settings including medical clinics, physical therapy practices, hospitals, schools, and professional sports groups. Sports medicine doctors help patients with:
Sports medicine doctors provide comprehensive medical care for professional athletes, amateur athletes and people with active lifestyles. They are also a great resource for individuals who want to become active or begin an exercise plan but have had previous injuries. Sports doctors can help patients understand injury prevention thoroughly, and address current injuries or other conditions before they worsen from activity.
Both sports medicine doctors and orthopedic surgeons are well trained in musculoskeletal (muscular and skeletal) medicine. Sports doctors specialize in the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions that don’t require surgery, or may treat patients before and after operations. Orthopedic surgeons are trained and licensed to perform operations to improve the patients conditions. Luckily, about 90% of all sports injuries are nonsurgical, and only require sports injury rehabilitation.
Some examples of musculoskeletal issues that can be addressed by sports medicine include:
Sports medicine doctors have received adequate training in the non-musculoskeletal aspects of sports medicine. Examples of these include:
Since doctors that specialize in sports medicine have extra training in conditions that may affect active individuals during sports and activities, it is beneficial to gain a relationship with one as an athlete. These doctors share the goals of preventing injuries, and treating and managing current injuries. Consider seeing a specialist if you have a sports injury, or wish to practice sports and other fitness related activities safely.
“I was suffering with knee pain for months. Dr. Bob gave me an evaluation and after just one treatment I was back on the track running”
Asafa won a gold medal and set Olympic records in 2008. He now holds the current world record for the 100 yard dash.
