Choose the Right Sports Medicine Expert
July 7, 2020
By Christina Eyers, Ed.D., AT, ATC
Henry Ford Health System
If you're an athlete, chances are you'll require specialized care from a health professional during your career.
Confused about the differences between athletic trainers, sports medicine physicians and exercise physiologists, among other experts? You're not alone!
Each of these professionals has different levels of training, expertise and certifications, but the care they provide often overlaps. That's one reason why they often work together.
Sports Professionals Defined
Caring for athletes isn't always clear-cut. In fact, most athletes require a full team of professionals working in concert to stay at the top of their game. Yet confusion remains about which professionals you need to see for training, injury prevention, and recovery and treatment after an injury.
Each type of professional has its own set of experience, training and certifications. Here’s how they measure up:
· Sports medicine doctor: Sports medicine physicians are typically trained in orthopedic surgery, primary care or emergency medicine. These professionals have medical degrees as well as specialized training in sports medicine, including the prevention and treatment of injury. In addition to caring for conditions ranging from concussion to head colds, sports medicine physicians also focus on helping people return to sports safely and effectively after illness or injury.
· Athletic trainer: Athletic trainers take care of athletes from prevention through rehabilitation. In collaboration with a physician, these professionals offer insights that help minimize risk and prevent injuries. They evaluate athletes and provide immediate care and treatment, sometimes even on the sidelines. They also provide rehabilitation and reconditioning after an injury or illness.
· Exercise physiologist: Exercise physiologists study the effect of exercise on the muscular, cardiovascular, and sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. They examine functional capacity and strength due to endurance training or strength training. These professionals may also test athletes for VO2max (your oxygen volume while training) and body composition (the ratio of fatty mass to lean mass).
· Physical medicine and rehab physician: These professionals treat a variety of medical conditions that affect the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles and tendons. They take the whole body into account to pinpoint problems and enhance performance without surgery.
· Physical therapist: Physical therapists diagnose and treat individuals of all ages with conditions that limit their ability to move and perform daily activities.
Other Specialized Professionals Who Care for Athletes
In addition to the health care professionals described above, athletes may meet with a host of experts, including:
· Nurses and medical assistants
· Occupational therapists
· Cardiologists
· Neurologists
· Behavioral health specialists
· Dietitians
· Complementary medical practitioners, such as acupuncturists and chiropractors
None of these individuals are "fitness professionals," a term nearly anyone can use to describe a range of professional activities. Rather, these sports medicine experts are part of a comprehensive team that includes at least one physician. They are each licensed by the state to provide specialized care to athletes.
Personal trainers, on the other hand, focus on helping people find their way around the gym, hold them accountable to achieve their goals and help new exercisers and seasoned fitness enthusiasts stick to a workout regimen.
If you're an athlete, you need a team of health professionals who can provide comprehensive care to reach your highest potential.
Christina Eyers, Ed.D., AT, ATC, is the Director of Athletic Training & Community Outreach with Henry Ford Sports Medicine.
Want to learn more? Henry Ford Health System sports medicine experts are treating the whole athlete, in a whole new way. From nutrition to neurology, and from injury prevention to treatment of sports-related conditions, they can give your athlete a unique game plan.
Visit henryford.com/sports or call (313) 972-4216 for an appointment within 24 business hours.
Century of School Sports: Michigan Sends 10 to National Hall of Fame
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 1, 2024
The campaign to promote Michigan’s all-time high school greats for National High School Hall of Fame recognition is advancing full-speed ahead.
Just this summer, past Dearborn Heights Robichaud three-sport star Tyrone Wheatley became the Hall of Fame’s 10th inductee from Michigan. With his addition, Michigan’s collection still ranks only 22nd nationally in terms of number of honorees – but his selection makes three over the last nine years as the MHSAA continues to make cases for more recognition from our state’s rich history.
Michigan’s contribution to the Hall of Fame includes five athletes, three coaches and two retired MHSAA executive directors who also had colossal impacts on school sports at the national level. Wheatley joined the MHSAA’s first full-time Executive Director Charles E. Forsythe (inducted 1983), River Rouge boys basketball coach Lofton Greene (1986), Warren Regina athletic director, softball and basketball coach Diane Laffey (2000); Fennville basketball and baseball standout Richie Jordan (2001), Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett boys and girls tennis coach Bob Wood (2005), Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook hockey standout Jim Johnson (2007), Owosso football, basketball and baseball all-stater Brad Van Pelt (2011); Vermontville Maple Valley baseball national record holder Ken Beardslee (2016) and retired MHSAA Executive Director John E. “Jack” Roberts (2022).
In addition to his selection and induction this summer, Wheatley was selected to speak on behalf of the entire 2024 Hall of Fame class during the ceremony in Boston.
The National High School Hall of Fame was started in 1982 by the NFHS. Nominations are made through NFHS member associations, including the MHSAA. Hall of Fame inductees are chosen after a two-level selection process involving a screening committee composed of active high school state association administrators, coaches and officials, and a final selection committee composed of coaches, former athletes, state association officials, media representatives and educational leaders.
Of course, not everyone nominated is eventually selected. Candidates receive a three-year period of consideration, and the MHSAA unsuccessfully campaigned for a nominee as recently as 2017-19, although multiple times that candidate reached the second level of the selection process.
Criteria also must be followed; the MHSAA (like all state associations) is limited to one athletic inductee per year, and the NFHS requires inductees to attend the annual summer ceremony unless, of course, they are deceased.
Obviously, there are several Michigan standouts absent from the list above. But as noted, the work has ramped up to bring their accomplishments to the Hall of Fame stage.
Previous "Century of School Sports" Spotlights
Sept. 25: MHSAA Record Books Filled with 1000s of Achievements - Read
Sept. 18: Why Does the MHSAA Have These Rules? - Read
Sept. 10: Special Medals, Patches to Commemorate Special Year - Read
Sept. 4: Fall to Finish with 50th Football Championships - Read
Aug. 28: Let the Celebration Begin - Read
PHOTOS Clockwise from top left: Bob Wood, Lofton Greene (in suit) with his 1965 team, Diane Laffey, Charles E. Forsythe, Jim Johnson, Brad Van Pelt, Richie Jordan (shooting the basketball), Ken Beardslee, and Jack Roberts, surrounding Tyrone Wheatley (Robichaud) during a race. (MHSAA archives.)