Sports Medicine

Sports medicine specialists at Mayo Clinic provide a coordinated team approach to the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of injuries sustained by recreational, amateur and professional athletes. Sports Medicine's multidisciplinary team will work together to help you return to your sport. Preventive care is also promoted through wellness, fitness and performance-enhancement consultations.

A multidisciplinary team

To meet your individual needs, the multidisciplinary sports medicine team includes highly trained and experienced specialists:

Orthopedic surgeons — Provide surgical and nonsurgical treatment of musculoskeletal injuries

Physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists — Develop injury rehabilitation plans, create performance enhancement programs and treat nonsurgical musculoskeletal injuries

Sports medicine primary care physicians — Provide comprehensive medical evaluations, sports physicals, and evaluation and treatment of nonsurgical injuries

Sports physical therapists — Collaborate with orthopedic surgeons and physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists to develop rehabilitation and performance improvement programs

Depending on your needs, the sports medicine team that treats you may also include:

• Athletic trainers
• Musculoskeletal radiologists

Research into sports medicine and performance

Sports medicine specialists are involved in research and education to enhance the care and performance of athletes. Mayo Clinic offers sports education programs for health care providers, coaches and athletes locally, nationally and internationally.

Mayo's registered athletic trainers also provide contract services for middle school, high school and professional athletes and teams. For example, in Arizona the physicians, physician assistants and residents provide game day coverage for 15 high school football programs.