If your child is injured while exercising, participating in a sport, or doing any type of physical activity, you may be advised to see a sports medicine healthcare provider for treatment.

About sports medicine specialists

Sports medicine healthcare providers have special training to restore function to injured patients so they can get moving again as soon as possible. They are experts in preventing illness and injury in active people. Sports medicine healthcare providers do work with professional athletes. But they also treat children and teens involved in sports and adults who exercise for personal fitness. Plus, they treat people who have physically demanding jobs, like construction workers.

Other experts who are not healthcare providers may work with a sports medicine healthcare provider to provide care:

• Physical therapists. They help people rehabilitate and recover from injuries.
• Certified athletic trainers. These trainers provide rehab exercise routines to help patients regain strength. They also develop conditioning programs to prevent future injury.
• Nutritionists. They may help with needed weight loss or weight gain. They can provide dietary advice to help people improve their physical functioning.