We all know that pros like LeBron James and Serena Williams play hard and sometimes get injured. But anyone, athlete or not, can get a sprained ankle (unfortunately). Sports doctors are specialists who know all about athletic injuries. Their job is to diagnose, prescribe treatment and therapy, refer patients to other specialists, and consult on how to prevent further injuries. Sure, the reality is they often work with star athletes (both collegiate and pro), and it’s certainly a major perk of the job. But, as with becoming any kind of doctor, there’s lots of college (eight years, in fact) and a special state license you have to get—so be prepared to work hard to get this career. Of course, if you’re good at science and biology, and would be jazzed by a job where you could help your favorite sports team stay healthy and winning, then this career just might be a slam dunk.
The Details
Medical Doctor (MD)
Pro athletes get paid to play, and good sports medicine physicians help their injuries heal quicker, so they can stay in the game longer, make a living, and entertain thousands (if not millions) of fans.
Today’s sports doctors are lucky enough to have some rather awesome modern technology to help them out—for instance, arthroscopy is the process of inserting tiny fiber optic scopes into small cuts in the skin so doctors can see what’s actually happening inside joints.
