What Is Sports Medicine?

A sports medicine degree program teaches you how to treat and prevent sports injuries and prepares you for a career as an in-demand healthcare professional.
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Updated on February 27, 2024
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Portions of the following article were drafted using an in-house natural language generation platform. The article was then reviewed, fact-checked, and edited by multiple members of our editorial team prior to publishing.

  • Sports medicine focuses on treating injuries and improving athletic performance.
  • As a healthcare profession, sports medicine is a rapidly growing field.
  • Certain sports medicine jobs may require additional training, certification, and/or licensure.

Sports medicine is an allied health field that focuses on preventing illness in active individuals, improving physical performance, and restoring function to injured patients. Sports medicine specialists may work with professional athletes or the general public.

Sports medicine specialists who work with professional athletes help them design workout plans, establish nutrition goals, and improve their physicality through strategic conditioning. Sports medicine professionals who provide services to the general public may offer many of the same services as they do for athletes, but they also treat common conditions like concussions, tendonitis, and exercise-induced asthma.

This article provides an overview of the many occupations in the field, as well as the requirements to work in sports medicine.

Featured Online Sports Medicine Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

What Does a Sports Medicine Physician Do?

A sports medicine physician plays a multi-faceted role, focusing on the overall health and well-being of athletes and those who lead an active lifestyle. Their primary objective is to ensure that these individuals can perform at their best while minimizing the risk of injury.

To fulfill this objective, they undertake a variety of responsibilities:

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    Diagnose and treat conditions related to movement and functionality, specifically those affecting the body's musculoskeletal system.
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    Order, interpret, and analyze results from various lab tests and imaging procedures.
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    Evaluate injured athletes to provide suitable treatment strategies and to determine their readiness for competition.
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    Oversee injured athletes' rehabilitation, ensuring safe and effective recovery.
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    Perform procedures like injections and diagnostic ultrasounds, further aiding in diagnosis and treatment.
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    Offer education to athletes and their coaches on imperative topics such as nutrition, hydration, training routines, and injury prevention.

Where Does a Sports Medicine Major Work?

As a sports medicine major, you have many career paths to explore in diverse environments. Depending on your education level, you can pursue roles such as exercise physiologist, athletic trainer, or sports medicine doctor in areas like professional athletics, health services, academia, and research.

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    Rehabilitation Centers

    In rehabilitation centers, you supervise the recovery of injured athletes. You collaborate with healthcare staff and perform procedures to diagnose and treat patients. Your ultimate goal is to help patients regain strength, flexibility, and functionality, enabling a safe return to their pre-injury activities.
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    Hospitals and Medical Clinics

    In hospitals and clinics, your primary focus is getting patients back to their activities quickly and safely. You diagnose and treat musculoskeletal disorders, supervise rehabilitation, prescribe medication for injuries, and educate on injury prevention.
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    Professional Sports Organizations

    As a sports medicine doctor working for a professional sports organization, you play a vital role in athlete care. You diagnose and treat musculoskeletal disorders, advise treatment plans, supervise athletes' rehabilitation, and coordinate with other personnel. Your work environment can range from clinics to live event coverage.
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    Colleges and Universities

    Many sports medicine professionals find employment at colleges and universities to focus on the health and well-being of student-athletes. As a team physician, you cover practice sessions, and competitions and supervise students-athletes' physical performance. Your role primarily involves injury prevention, management, and rehabilitation.
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    Private Practices

    In a private practice setting, you diagnose and treat musculoskeletal disorders, supervise rehabilitation, and educate patients on injury prevention. As a self-employed physician, you can tailor your practice according to your preference, which can involve working primarily with individuals, families, and/or professional athletes.

8 Popular Sports Medicine Jobs

While your educational attainment and practical experience play a major role in your job opportunities, the field of sports medicine offers a wide array of career paths. At the bachelor's level, you can consider roles in coaching, exercise physiology, or recreational therapy.

If you go on to earn a master's degree in sports medicine, roles such as athletic trainer and physician assistant become viable. To become a sports medicine doctor, physical therapist, or orthopedic surgeon, you'll need a professional degree.

Below are eight jobs you can consider pursuing as a sports medicine major. Salary data is taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

1. Exercise Physiologist

  • Minimum degree required: Bachelor's degree
  • Median annual salary (May 2022): $51,350

Working alongside physicians, these professionals develop fitness programs to help patients manage chronic diseases and strengthen flexibility and cardiovascular function. They evaluate a patient's medical history and conduct stress and fitness tests to create personalized exercise plans.

2. Certified Athletic Trainer

  • Minimum degree required: Master's degree
  • Median annual salary (May 2022): $53,840

Certified athletic trainers diagnose, treat, and prevent injuries and illnesses of the bones and muscles. They can find employment with fitness centers and healthcare facilities, as well as in educational settings, like secondary schools and universities. Schools offer athletic training programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

3. Sports Medicine or Orthopedic Nurse

  • Minimum degree required: Bachelor's degree
  • Median annual salary (May 2022): $81,220

Registered nurses who have passed the Orthopaedic Nurses Certification exam can become orthopedic nurses. These professionals treat musculoskeletal injuries and conditions, including osteoporosis, fractured bones, and arthritis. They also assist surgeons with procedures like joint replacements. Sports medicine nurses primarily work at physical therapy practices and orthopedic clinics.

4. Kinesiotherapist

  • Minimum degree required: Bachelor's degree
  • Median annual salary (May 2022): $51,350

Similar to exercise physiologists, kinesiotherapists focus on applying scientifically based exercise principles to enhance the strength, endurance, and mobility of medically stable individuals. To become a kinesiotherapist, you must earn a bachelor's degree and take the registered kinesiotherapist credentialing exam. Some employers may require or prefer a master's degree.

5. Physical Therapist

  • Minimum degree required: Doctoral or professional degree
  • Median annual salary (May 2022): $97,720

Sports medicine specialists who obtain a doctorate and pass the National Physical Therapy Examination can work as licensed physical therapists. Physical therapists help ill and injured people manage pain and strengthen mobility. After reviewing a patient's medical history and diagnosing their condition, these professionals create individualized care plans detailing specific goals and outcomes.

6. Sports Psychologist

  • Minimum degree required: Master's degree
  • Median annual salary (May 2022): $85,330

Sports psychology is a specialization that practitioners can pursue after earning a graduate degree — usually a doctorate — in a primary psychological field and attaining licensure. These professionals help athletes achieve optimal performance. They also study the social aspects of athletic participation and systemic issues in the sports industry during their training.

7. Primary Care or Team Physician

  • Minimum degree required: Doctoral or professional degree
  • Median annual salary (May 2022): $229,300

These doctors provide holistic care to professional athletes and the general public. With in-depth knowledge of athletic conditioning, they can diagnose skeletal and muscular conditions and offer nutritional guidance to enhance patients' endurance and strength.

8. Orthopedic Surgeon

  • Minimum degree required: Doctoral or professional degree
  • Median annual salary (May 2022): $239,200

As medical doctors with at least 14 years of formal training and board certification, orthopedic surgeons are leaders in the sports medicine field. These professionals diagnose, treat, and help prevent musculoskeletal conditions in patients of all ages. In lieu of a generalist route, some orthopedic surgeons specialize in a particular area of the body, such as the hands, spine, or hip.

How Much Do Sports Medicine Doctors Make?

In 2022, physicians earned a median annual salary of $229,300, according to the BLS. The lowest 10% earned $65,620 while the highest 10% earned more than $239,200 annually.

Sports medicine physicians' salaries vary based on geographical location, educational background, and professional experience. Exercise physiologists, another popular career choice for sports medicine majors, ranged from $39,250-$77,980, with the median pay being $51,350 as of 2022.

Is a Career in Sports Medicine Right for You?

When deciding whether to pursue a career in sports medicine, consider if it's a field you're passionate about and if you're able to complete the necessary educational journey.

If you prefer working in a team context rather than in a clinic and enjoy hands-on work, sports medicine might be the right path for you. However, bear in mind that positions involving professional athletes are extremely competitive.

The pay in sports medicine varies depending on your specialty, and providing field support for top-tier teams can result in irregular hours. If these conditions mesh with your professional aspirations and lifestyle choices, a career in sports medicine may be rewarding.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sports Medicine Careers

What can you do with a bachelor's degree in sports medicine?

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A bachelor's degree in sports medicine can lead to a range of career options, including working as a coach, exercise physiologist, or recreational therapist. These roles are available in various settings such as schools, hospitals, sports centers, and government agencies. A master's degree opens doors to professions like occupational therapy and physician assistantship.

Is a sports medicine degree worth it?

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Pursuing a sports medicine degree can be rewarding if you're passionate about sports and medicine. Earning this degree makes it possible to work with professional athletes and earn a six-figure salary. However, this path requires a significant investment of time. The BLS also projects growth in this industry over the next 10 years.

What degree do you need to become a sports medicine physician?

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Becoming a sports medicine physician requires an undergraduate degree, followed by a medical degree (MD or DO), and a residency in a related field such as family medicine or orthopedic surgery. After that, a fellowship in sports medicine is needed. The process typically takes 10-12 years, plus additional time for licensure and board certification.

Are sports medicine majors in demand?

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The BLS projects jobs in the healthcare sector, which includes sports medicine, to grow much faster than the average for all other occupations from 2022-2032. This growth translates into numerous job opportunities and competitive salaries across various positions, with some professionals earning over $100,000 annually. The BLS projects jobs for athletic trainers and physician assistants to grow 14% and 27%, respectively, between 2022 and 2032.

BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

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