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What are some careers in Sports Medicine?
Although I am still interested in engineering, I have also become interested in Sports Medicine. However, I don't know what I would decide to do if I decided to pursue that dream. I would rather not be a physical therapist, but more of a trainer. If anyone could provide some examples of careers that would be helpful. Thank you! #physical-therapy #physical-therapist #sports-medicine #trainer #student-trainer #JULY20
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Doc’s Answer
CAREER OPTIONS IN SPORT MEDICINE
Emilie there is a wide array of sports medicine career choices. Even the careers of some nurses, nutritionists and dietitians can fall under the umbrella of sports medicine, if those professionals focus on some aspect of fitness or sports. Some of the most common job titles within the field of sports medicine include sports medicine physician, exercise physiologist, kinesiotherapist and physical therapist.
SPORT MEDICINE PHYSICIAN – Both medical doctors and doctors of osteopathy deal with sports-related injuries and illnesses. Medical doctors diagnose and treat patients, prescribe medications and perform surgery. They go to an accredited medical school and earn a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree. Osteopathic doctors also diagnose and treat patients, but they take a more holistic approach to medicine and focus on the body's musculoskeletal system. They go to a college of osteopathic medicine and earn a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree (D.O.). Both types of doctors must complete resident training and be licensed to practice medicine. The average Physician - Sports Medicine salary in the United States is $235,000 as of June 28, 2020, but the range typically falls between $200,299 and $298,500. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.
PHYSICAL THERAPIST – Physical therapists diagnose and treat patients facing a wide array of physical challenges, including sports-related injuries or disabilities. They help restore function and mobility to injured limbs or other parts of the body, relieve pain and try to prevent or limit the effects of disabilities caused by an accident or disease. Most people entering the profession today need a postgraduate degree in physical therapy from an accredited program, according to the BLS. A list of accredited programs can be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association. The BLS also notes that physical therapists must be licensed to practice in every state. Though licensure requirements vary, they usually include a degree from an accredited program and passage of the National Physical Therapy Examination. The average Physical Therapist salary in the United States is $88,000 as of June 28, 2020, but the range typically falls between $81,000 and $96,000. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.
CLINICAL EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST – A clinical exercise physiologist works with patients to maintain and improve their physical fitness. They focus on the cardiovascular system, and help rehabilitate people who suffer from heart problems or other chronic diseases. Clinical exercise physiologists also develop customized exercise plans and offer sports training guidance and counseling. There can be a difference between being a clinical exercise physiologist and an exercise physiologist. Typically, a clinical exercise physiologist is a certified health care professional with at least a bachelor's degree in exercise physiology and an accumulated amount of hands-on clinical experience. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) is one main organization providing a certification as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist, and the American Society of Exercise Physiologists is another. The average Exercise Physiologist salary in the United States is $56,000 as of June 28, 2020, but the range typically falls between $49,000 and $62,000. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.
KINESIOTHERAPIST – Kinesiotherapists also focus on the health benefits of exercise. They develop and supervise exercise programs to help people regain their strength and mobility following an injury or illness. They develop therapeutic exercise plans, including aquatic exercise, and help people re-learn how to walk or use a prosthetic limb. The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredits degree programs in kinesiotherapy. A kinesiotherapists can gain certification as a Registered Kinesiotherapist (RKT) through the American Kinesiotherapy Association. The average Kinesiotherapist salary in the United States is $55,500 as of June 28, 2020, but the range typically falls between $48,000 and $60,900. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on the city and many other important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.
Emilie while there are many career paths within sports medicine, most professionals in the industry will deal with the prevention and treatment of sports injuries. The field as a whole can expect to see above average job growth over the next decade, with physical therapist job growth at the top of the pack. A bachelor's degree is required as a minimum for entry into this field, but candidates may need as much as a doctorate, depending on their intended career path.
Hope this was Helpful Emilie
Emilie there is a wide array of sports medicine career choices. Even the careers of some nurses, nutritionists and dietitians can fall under the umbrella of sports medicine, if those professionals focus on some aspect of fitness or sports. Some of the most common job titles within the field of sports medicine include sports medicine physician, exercise physiologist, kinesiotherapist and physical therapist.
SPORT MEDICINE PHYSICIAN – Both medical doctors and doctors of osteopathy deal with sports-related injuries and illnesses. Medical doctors diagnose and treat patients, prescribe medications and perform surgery. They go to an accredited medical school and earn a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree. Osteopathic doctors also diagnose and treat patients, but they take a more holistic approach to medicine and focus on the body's musculoskeletal system. They go to a college of osteopathic medicine and earn a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree (D.O.). Both types of doctors must complete resident training and be licensed to practice medicine. The average Physician - Sports Medicine salary in the United States is $235,000 as of June 28, 2020, but the range typically falls between $200,299 and $298,500. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.
PHYSICAL THERAPIST – Physical therapists diagnose and treat patients facing a wide array of physical challenges, including sports-related injuries or disabilities. They help restore function and mobility to injured limbs or other parts of the body, relieve pain and try to prevent or limit the effects of disabilities caused by an accident or disease. Most people entering the profession today need a postgraduate degree in physical therapy from an accredited program, according to the BLS. A list of accredited programs can be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association. The BLS also notes that physical therapists must be licensed to practice in every state. Though licensure requirements vary, they usually include a degree from an accredited program and passage of the National Physical Therapy Examination. The average Physical Therapist salary in the United States is $88,000 as of June 28, 2020, but the range typically falls between $81,000 and $96,000. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.
CLINICAL EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST – A clinical exercise physiologist works with patients to maintain and improve their physical fitness. They focus on the cardiovascular system, and help rehabilitate people who suffer from heart problems or other chronic diseases. Clinical exercise physiologists also develop customized exercise plans and offer sports training guidance and counseling. There can be a difference between being a clinical exercise physiologist and an exercise physiologist. Typically, a clinical exercise physiologist is a certified health care professional with at least a bachelor's degree in exercise physiology and an accumulated amount of hands-on clinical experience. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) is one main organization providing a certification as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist, and the American Society of Exercise Physiologists is another. The average Exercise Physiologist salary in the United States is $56,000 as of June 28, 2020, but the range typically falls between $49,000 and $62,000. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.
KINESIOTHERAPIST – Kinesiotherapists also focus on the health benefits of exercise. They develop and supervise exercise programs to help people regain their strength and mobility following an injury or illness. They develop therapeutic exercise plans, including aquatic exercise, and help people re-learn how to walk or use a prosthetic limb. The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredits degree programs in kinesiotherapy. A kinesiotherapists can gain certification as a Registered Kinesiotherapist (RKT) through the American Kinesiotherapy Association. The average Kinesiotherapist salary in the United States is $55,500 as of June 28, 2020, but the range typically falls between $48,000 and $60,900. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on the city and many other important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.
Emilie while there are many career paths within sports medicine, most professionals in the industry will deal with the prevention and treatment of sports injuries. The field as a whole can expect to see above average job growth over the next decade, with physical therapist job growth at the top of the pack. A bachelor's degree is required as a minimum for entry into this field, but candidates may need as much as a doctorate, depending on their intended career path.
Hope this was Helpful Emilie
Brian Farr
Director, Athletic Training Program & Clinical Assoc. Professor, Dept of Kinesiology and Health Ed University of Texas
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Brian’s Answer
The more common sports medicine practitioners include athletic trainers, sports medicine physicians (non-surgical), orthopedic surgeons, and physical therapists. Most healthcare professions have some kind of a "sports" focus too (e.g. chiropractor, dentist, psychologist, etc.)
Also look at: sports nutritionist, biomechanist, sports scientist, exercise physiologist, massage/soft-tissue therapist, strength and conditioning/performance coach - all of whom can be part of the "sports medicine" team.
Also look at: sports nutritionist, biomechanist, sports scientist, exercise physiologist, massage/soft-tissue therapist, strength and conditioning/performance coach - all of whom can be part of the "sports medicine" team.
Thank you for this answer! I had done a bit of research before asking this question and you helped me understand it a little more.
Emilie
Updated
Maryann’s Answer
Hi,
If you still not sure of what to study try volunteer work. That will give you a first hand scope of things. Try to volunteer in a sports outpatient facility. You will see physical therapist, exercise physiologists, athletic trainers and many others working together. You can do the same for engineering.
Hope this helps,
If you still not sure of what to study try volunteer work. That will give you a first hand scope of things. Try to volunteer in a sports outpatient facility. You will see physical therapist, exercise physiologists, athletic trainers and many others working together. You can do the same for engineering.
Hope this helps,
Thank you for answering my question. I will definitely look into volunteering.
Emilie
Best of luck. Hope you can find where your heart is and enjoy your future work.
Maryann Capetillo
Updated
Samantha’s Answer
While all of these previous answers are fantastic, I would like to add in one more. Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA). It is a 2 year AS degree and must be from an accredited program just like the physical therapist (PT). There is also a list of school on the American Physical Therapy website (APTA.org). As a PTA, we assist the PTs in all settings with patient care. They will perform the evaluations, set the plan of care and goals, and then will hand off the patient/client to the PTA. We work in a variety of settings: hospitals, skilled nursing facilities/long term care, outpatient clinics, home health, school systems and more. PTAs are licensed in the state they take the state boards in, however can obtain a license in another state, same as a PT is able to do. There are many different avenues, certification, specializations open to you depending on what are you find that you are interested in more.
Thank you for answering my question! You definitely helped me out.
Emilie