20 Highest Paying Sport Medicine Physician Jobs In the World

If you’re interested in both sports and becoming a medical professional, you might want to consider a career as a sport medicine physician. This career path will provide you with the ideal opportunity to combine your two passions in a way that helps people live healthy, active lives.

But where do sports medicine physicians work and what do sports medicine doctors actually do? We will discuss the daily tasks of a professional sports medicine physician and the path to pursuing this exciting specialty in this article.

What is sports medicine?

Sports medicine is a rapidly expanding field with a focus on improving athletic performance, treating injuries sustained while participating in sports, and offering therapy and exercise regimens to help avoid further injuries.

Despite the fact that sports medicine specialists primarily treat professional and amateur athletes, they frequently work with everyday people with disabilities and injuries to help them find relief from their mobility and chronic pain problems.

Who Is A Sport Medicine Physician?

Sports medicine is a medical specialty that focuses on physical fitness as well as the treatment and prevention of sports and exercise-related injuries. Sports medicine physicians are licensed health professionals who have received specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic (musculoskeletal) injuries sustained while participating in sports.

These medical professionals provide all-inclusive care that includes providing nutritional advice, athletic conditioning, injury prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. They can even perform minor surgery and oversee the patient’s rehabilitation.

Typically, physicians refer patients to these specialists in order to avoid the need for surgery. Sports Medicine Physicians, on the other hand, can quickly determine whether surgical intervention is necessary and make appropriate referrals.

Benefits of Sports Medicine

Sports medicine focuses not only on rehabilitation or treatment of discomfort or pathologies but also on sharing all of our experiences with those who want to begin enjoying sports in good health.

There is no doubt that sports medicine allows us to discover our own limits while performing adequate exercise, allowing us to prevent or improve diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, or obesity, among others.

Thanks to the various personalized physical exercise programs, we can improve our memory, mental function, speed, and personal autonomy. Aside from that, of course, they help us improve our own body image, our overall health, and our overall sense of well-being.

Here are the ways that athletes benefit from sports medicine physicians:

Specialized Care

Sports medicine doctors are specially trained to treat athletes, fitness professionals, and people who are physically active. They understand the effects of sports and exercise on their patients’ bodies, such as concussions and repetitive motion injuries, and work with orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists to develop customized treatment plans for each patient.

Enhanced Injury and Reinjury Prevention

Sports medicine doctors have a thorough understanding of how athletes use their bodies during practice and play; as a result, they can offer patients expert advice and instructions on avoiding injuries and avoiding re-injuring previously injured areas.

They assist both professional and amateur athletes in making important “return to play” decisions, as well as performing pre-participation physical exams to ensure their patients are ready to resume activities.

Cutting-Edge Treatment Options

Sports medicine physicians and surgeons use cutting-edge reconstructive surgical techniques as well as regenerative medicine procedures such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy and stem cell therapy to help restore function to injured areas.

Enhanced Athletic Performance

Sports medicine specialists are frequently involved in the development of customized training programs based on an athlete’s unique needs, strengths, and weaknesses. These professionals have the knowledge and tools to assess an athlete’s anatomical strengths and weaknesses, recommend training regimens, and identify areas for improvement.

What Do Sport Medicine Physicians Do?

Physicians work to care for patients in a variety of ways, from treating chronic illnesses to advising about preventative healthcare.

Here are the duties and responsibilities of sports medical professionals:

  • Diagnosing and treating disorders of the musculoskeletal system
  • ordering and analyzing lab tests or diagnostic imaging procedures
  • Physical examinations and the documentation of athletes’ medical histories
  • Examining injured athletes to advise on treatment plans and determine competition readiness
  • Supervising the recovery of injured athletes
  • Medication is prescribed for the treatment of athletic injuries.
  • Coordination with other personnel, including coaches, athletic trainers, and orthopedic surgeons,
  • Procedures such as injections and diagnostic ultrasounds are performed.
  • Athletes and coaches are being educated on nutrition, hydration, exercise regimens, and injury prevention.
Recommended:  Biology Salary In West Virginia

Where Can Sports Medicine Physicians Work?

Here are the places you can work as a sports medicine expert:

  • Rehabilitation Facilities
  • Hospitals and Health Care Facilities
  • Private Practices
  • Athletic Organizations

Rehabilitation Facilities

In these jobs, you could put your training and knowledge to use by assisting others with their physical therapy regimens. You could help a wide range of patients, including those recovering from nerve damage or torn ligaments.

Hospitals and Health Care Facilities

Sports medicine physicians can work in both public and private hospitals, as well as other types of healthcare facilities. In this position, you may diagnose, treat, and counsel patients. You could also give patients who need more intensive care or invasive procedures references and recommendations.

Private Practices

If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, you might consider starting your own private practice. This might enable you to establish your own schedule, choose which patients to work with, and possibly develop a specialty within the field.

Athletic Organizations

Jobs in sports medicine with collegiate or professional sports organizations are among the most sought-after. You would be working directly with athletes while they train and compete in this position. You would use preventative measures to help athletes maintain their wellness and provide immediate care for athletes during practices and games in this capacity.

How To Become A Sports Medicine Physician?

In order to be a sports medicine physician, the candidate must do the following :

  • Pursue a bachelor’s degree. Earn a bachelor’s degree in a scientific field such as biology or chemistry.
  • Take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT).
  • Attend medical school.
  • Complete a residency.
  • Pursue a fellowship.
  • Earn your licensure and certification.

Sports medicine physician education

Get A Degree

A bachelor’s degree in a scientific field is the most required sports medicine physician education. Keep your undergraduate coursework and extracurricular activities in mind as you prepare for medical school and a career as a sports medicine doctor.

To complete the entry prerequisites for medical school, it is recommended that you enroll in a pre-med program.

Attend medical school

Another sports medicine physician education is for you to enroll and graduate with a Doctor of Medicine or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. The latter is more concerned with preventative care and the musculoskeletal system. Expect to take classes on medical ethics, patient care, and the human body, such as:

  • Biology
  • Anatomy
  • Biochemistry
  • Basic Pathology
  • Physiology
  • Psychology
  • Pharmacology
  • Medical Ethics

Complete a residency

Residencies is a sports medicine physician education that gives you the hands-on specialty experience and skill development you’ll need as a sports medicine physician. If you want to be a primary care sports medicine doctor, you should do a three-year residency.

Family medicine, internal medicine, and rehabilitation medicine residencies are among the options. To become an orthopedic surgeon, you must first complete an orthopedic surgery residency. Most residencies last a year and prepare you to apply for fellowships.

Sports Medicine Physician Skills

If you have the necessary skills that are required in the field of sports medicine, it can be a very rewarding job in terms of both satisfaction and financial compensation. We’ve compiled a short list to give you an idea of the skills required to be a doctor.

After all, medicine is as much about your soft skills as it is about your education, so don’t overlook the importance of these essential qualities. This is what you’ll need to succeed as a physician.

  •  Communication skills
  •  Emotional intelligence
  •  Problem-solving skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Decision-making skills
  • Professionalism
  • Teamwork skills
  • Leadership skills
  •  Resilience
  • capacity for learning.

Sports Medicine Physician Salary

In the United States, sports medicine physicians earn an average of $200,146 per year or $96.22 per hour, and at the bottom of the pay scale, or the bottom 10%, earn around $100,000 per year, while the top 10% earn $397,000.

The salary of a sports medicine physician is affected by his or her location. Kansas, Illinois, Mississippi, Wisconsin, and Maine pay the most for sports medicine physicians. The average salary for sports medicine doctors employed in the United States is $177,000 a year.

List Of The Highest Paying Physician Jobs

The following are the best-paying jobs that you can get in the field of sports medicine:

  •  Orthopedic Surgeon (Sports Medicine)
  •  Sports Psychologist 
  •  Orthopedic Physician (Non-surgical)
  •  Physical Therapist
  •  Physiatrist
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Family Medicine (Sports Medicine)
  •  Physical Therapy Aide
  •  Massage Therapist
  • Athletic Trainer
  • Chiropractor
  •  Personal Trainer/Fitness Instructor
  • Exercise Physiologist 
  •  Dietitian/Nutritionist
  • Physician Assistant (Orthopedic – Non-surgical)
  • Podiatrist
  • Physician Assistant (Orthopedic – Surgical) 
  •  Strength Coach
  •  Occupational Therapy Assistant
  •  Physical Therapy Assistant

Orthopedic Surgeon (Sports Medicine)

Sports medicine orthopedic surgeons have been trained to treat all musculoskeletal structures that can be affected by training, sports activity, and exercise. They are well-versed in physical conditioning, soft tissue biomechanics, performance, and health, as well as a field evaluation.

The majority of orthopedic sport medicine physician salaries in the United States currently range from $32,208 (25th percentile) to $33,333 (75th percentile).

 Sports Psychologist 

Sports psychologists work with athletes to help them improve their performance. Most of their jobs involve working with athletes on motivation, stress management, visualization, effective teamwork, and other psychological aspects of athletic performance.

Sports psychologists in university athletic departments can earn between $60,000 and $80,000 per year, with the highest salaries exceeding $100,000. Depending on where you live.

Orthopedic Physician (Non-surgical)

Non-surgical orthopedic doctors are usually board certified in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, or Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. They have additional training in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, but they only treat those issues non-surgically. In the United States, the average annual salary for a Non-Surgical Orthopedic is $80,787.

 Physical Therapist

This type of therapist assesses and documents a patient’s progress. Physical therapists assist injured or ill people in regaining movement and managing pain. In the United States, the average monthly salary for a physical therapist is $7,655.

Physiatrist

In order to recover from an injury, illness, or medical condition, physiatrist diagnoses, controls, and treats pain. Physiatrists make an average base salary of $248,500, with base salaries ranging from $224,800 to $277,200.

Occupational Therapist

Through the therapeutic use of daily activities, occupational therapists treat patients who are injured, ill, or disabled. They assist these patients in acquiring, regaining, maintaining, and improving the skills required for work and daily living. The average base pay for an occupational therapist working as a sports medicine physician is $94,076. However, base pay can range from $86,177 to $102,482.

Physical Therapy Aide

Physical therapists are in charge of and oversee physical therapist assistants, also known as PTAs and physical therapist aides. They support patients in regaining movement and pain management while they are recovering from illnesses and injuries.

 Massage Therapist

Massage therapists manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues of the body while providing treatment to their clients. With their touch, therapists help patients relax more, reduce stress, heal injuries, improve circulation, and relieve pain. They also contribute to their overall health.

Athletic Trainer

Athletes who are injured receive rehabilitation services from athletic trainers. Athletic trainers are experts in preventing, identifying, and treating diseases and injuries to the muscles and bones. Athletic trainers make $44766 on average per year in salary.

Chiropractor

A chiropractor is trained to use spinal manipulations to ease joint and muscle pain in order to ensure that your body is functioning as optimally as possible. The joints and muscles that are in pain will have more blood flow and nerve conductivity thanks to these spinal adjustments. The median annual salary for chiropractors is $75,000, or $36.06 per hour.

Personal Trainer/Fitness Instructor

A fitness instructor also referred to as a personal trainer, offers groups and individuals training and instruction in fitness regimens. Clients are enrolled in exercise regimens and weight loss programs by the fitness instructor, who also assists them in achieving their unique objectives. Fitness instructors make an average base salary of £27,844 annually.

Recommended:  Chemistry Teacher Salary In Canada

Exercise Physiologist 

To find the best exercise and fitness regimen for a patient, exercise physiologists examine their medical history. Exercise physiologists create exercise and fitness regimens that help patients recover from chronic illnesses and enhance flexibility, body composition, and cardiovascular health. Exercise physiologists make an average base salary of $55,819, with base salaries ranging from $49,619 to $63,485.

Dietitian/Nutritionist

Dietitian nutritionists use food science and nutrition to assist people in enhancing their health. In order to provide patients with care and consultation, nutrition and dietetic technicians collaborate with dietitian nutritionists.

General nutrition education may also be given by nutrition and dietetic technicians as well as dietitian nutritionists. The median annual salary for dietitians and nutritionists was $63,090.

Podiatrist

Podiatrists are medical professionals who assist with issues involving your feet or lower legs. They can handle both injuries and the aftereffects of chronic illnesses like diabetes. They may be referred to as a podiatric doctor or podiatric physician. The average base salary for podiatrists is $217,219, with salaries ranging from $179,502 to $287,571.

Strength Coach

With the three main objectives of enhancing athletic performance, lowering athletic injury rates, and imparting lifelong fitness and movement skills, the strength and conditioning coach is in charge of developing and upholding a strength and conditioning program for all sports. Strength and conditioning coaches typically earn $45,062 annually.

An Occupational Therapy Assistant

The skills required for daily life and employment are developed, recovered from, improved, and maintained for patients by occupational therapy assistants and aides. Occupational therapy assistants work directly with patients to deliver therapy; occupational therapy aides usually provide support. The starting pay for Certified Occupational Therapist Assistants is between $56,808 and $69,268 on average.

Physical Therapy Assistant

Physical therapists are in charge of and oversee physical therapist assistants, also known as PTAs and physical therapist aides. They support patients in regaining movement and pain management while they are recovering from illnesses and injuries. In the US, a physical therapy assistant makes an average salary of $59,918 annually.

CONCLUSION

Sport medicine physicians are licensed health professionals who are specially trained to diagnose and treat orthopedic (musculoskeletal) injuries sustained while participating in sports. They provide all-inclusive care. This includes providing nutritional advice, athletic conditioning, injury prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Physicians who specialize in sports medicine make an average of $200,146 per year, or $96.22 per hour, in the US. The lower end of that spectrum, or to be more precise, the bottom 10% of sports medicine doctors, make about $100,000 annually, while the top 10% make $377,000 annually.

FAQs

What Does a Sports Medicine Physician Do?

Here are the duties and responsibilities of a sports medicine Physician:
Diagnosing and treating disorders of the musculoskeletal system, ordering and analyzing lab tests or diagnostic imaging procedures…

Is Sports Medicine a Good Career Choice?

If you want to be a doctor and work in sports, yes, sports medicine is a good choice.

How Much Does a Sports Physician Earn?

Sports medicine physicians earn an average yearly salary of $200,890.

We Also Recommend

Lastly, ensure you visit the Moden News homepage and also check out our Jobs in USA category, for more essential information.

1 thought on “20 Highest Paying Sport Medicine Physician Jobs In the World”

Leave a Comment