Sorting through the confusing array of medical professionals

By Therese Iknoian

Like it or not, each of us will probably get hurt someday thanks to the sports we love.

Usually, it won't be more than a minor muscle tweek from doing too much or not warming up properly. Sometimes it will be more major -- a freak twist or fall that rips a tendon or fractures a bone.

Once we're hurt, the big questions are, one, how to choose someone to treat us and, two, how to know what kind of health professional to choose.

The first thing to find out is if the injury is major. Don’t diagnose yourself because what seems minor could be major. Head off to the doc, then. If you did your homework when you initially chose your family doctor, he or she will have some sports savvy. Insist on a doctor who is either active or at least interested in sports. Find out if the doctor is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine, or if he or she regularly treats active people or athletes in your sport.

Get referrals from athletic friends, high school coaches or university physical education professors. Call your county's medical society or a local health club fitness director.

Be skeptical about yellow-page listings of sports medicine specialists. Physicians have no official specialty in sports medicine, and no one certifies physicians in sports medicine.

Archaic as it might sound, physicians without experience or interest in sports might take the easy route, advising you simply not to do anything. Oh, boy, is that a death knell or what? You don’t have to — nor should you — accept that. Rehabilitation theory has come a long way.

This is where the confusing series of other sports medicine professionals and rehabilitation specialists fit in. Once you've eliminated the possibility of a major injury, your physician might have to write a referral to some specialists.

• Physical therapists. Seek a physical therapist who is a sports certified specialist (SCS), or question them about their experience with your favorite activity.
• Osteopaths (DO) are medical doctors with a holistic approach. They can do initial evaluation and prescription, like any doctor, but may also specialize in soft-tissue manipulation. Look for one who is affiliated with the national association's sports practice group.
  
• Chiropractors, on the other hand, manipulate bones. However, some are certified as chiropractic sports physicians (CCSP), which requires one to three years of additional training in sports, injuries, kinesiology and nutrition. They look at the whole picture and not just the bone maneuvering.
  
• Certified athletic trainers (ATC) could mean additional sports expertise, especially if they also have a master's degree (MS) in an exercise or health field.
  
• Other treatments or specialties to consider: podiatrists, who not only evaluate mechanics of your feet, but also how that affects your entire body; and massage therapists, perhaps if you have muscle spasms that are pinching nerves. Some HMOs are not paying for some percentage of massage treatment.