As you probably know, I have met with many different sports medicine providers since I have been running. Over the past 10 years I have been to probably a dozen or more chiropractors, PTs, and sports medicine doctors. I have learned quite a bit about what I am looking for in a provider and what works the best for me. When I was dealing with my first running injury, I was just searching for providers online and didn’t really know what I was getting myself into. I thought I would share some tips I have learned over the years. Hopefully if you are trying to find someone to help you prevent an injury or recover quickly this will help you find a good fit the first time!
Tips for Choosing a Sports Medicine Provider
1. Get a recommendation from someone in your area.
This was difficult for me when I was first living in Baltimore because I didn’t know any other runners who were dealing with injuries. When I started having hip pain, which eventually lead to surgery, I did get a recommendation for the orthopedist who did the surgery. From there, he recommended a PT in my area who was really great. (Before that, I had a not-so-good experience with a physical therapist). If you are a member of a running club chances are pretty good that other runners will have been injured in the past and can recommend providers. You could also probably just go to a local running store and ask someone there.
2. Do your research.
Once you have a provider in mind, you can check online to see if they have a website that explains their credentials or any specialty areas they treat. I know that most of my injuries have responded really well to ART and Graston, so I make sure the provider I am going to is certified in those areas. It may also be helpful to gain some insight into your injury. While doctors have training and knowledge about injuries, it is your own body that is going through the pain and some providers are quick to jump to the most common diagnosis. If you can go in to your appointment able to specifically explain the issues you are having, as well as what you have tried (what has helped or not helped) and can ask insightful questions, you will most likely be able to get the best treatment. You may also get a better idea if that provider is a good fit based on his/her recommendations at that first appointment.
3. Trust Yourself.
As I said above, this is your body and no one else knows exactly how it feels. Trust your instincts. When my hip was hurting, I was told by a PT that it was just an alignment issue. I came to find out that I had a torn labrum. I knew when the treatments were not helping (and sometimes making it worse) that I needed a second opinion. This can be tricky because on the other hand, we may have our own guess at to what is going on but a more experienced person may know better. I try to listen openly to what they have to say but if I don’t feel like the treatment plan is helping after a few weeks, it may be time to reconsider.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
I think most sports medicine providers have heard it all. Being in appointments with knowledgeable PTs and chiropractors has actually taught me so much. I have also learned that there are many different views on topics. (If you read articles about sports related injuries, you have probably noticed that). Again, I try to listen and see what works best for me. It is so important to learn about why you got injured in the first place, and how to prevent it from happening again.
5. Get a second, or third, or fourth opinion.
I have to admit that I grow attached to providers, and somewhat dependent on them. I finally found a sports chiropractor that I felt was a really good match for me…but he left his practice to work close to home (home being 2 hours away…). So I started seeing the other chiro at that practice, and I knew within the first couple of visits that it wasn’t a good match. If you feel like you are not getting better, it may be a good idea to get a different opinion. You may also want to consider the different options of physical therapy vs chiropractor vs orthopedist, depending on your injury.
Things to consider when looking for a sports medicine provider:
- Location
- Office hours
- Specialties
- Insurance coverage
- Personality of provider
- Do appointments run on time?
- Do you feel like they will go out of their way to help you?
- If they run/treat runners regularly
Ultimately I consider my appointments with a good chiropractor as a form of therapy. While they “fix” me we chat about running and other things that are going on. However, if you are dealing with a more serious injury, such as a stress fracture, it is more important to make sure that the doctor you are seeing is knowledgeable about your injury. You won’t be hanging out in his/her office twice a week while they provide manual treatments. Your own preferences will likely differ based on the injury you are dealing with.
What do you look for in a sports medicine provider?
Have you ever had to seek out a second (or 5th) opinion?
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What a good topic for a post! If I ever have an injury I’m coming back here to read this again. Thanks for the tips!
I hope that you don’t have to check back for these tips. but I’m glad you found it helpful!
I’ve only had to see a doctor once, and it was a straighforward diagnosis with pretty straightforward treatment. With any doctor I think the 2 most important things (besides insurance) are a personal recommendation from someone you trust plus your gut reaction to them. Great points 🙂
Yes! I think a straightforward diagnosis/treatment make it a little easier to choose someone but it definitely gets more complicated when its unclear exactly that is going on!
This is such good advice! Thanks for the tips, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about where I’ll find a good sports doc if my tibial tendon issues come back so I’ll definitely be bookmarking this 🙂
I hope it gets better on its own, but good luck if you do seek professional help:)
Great tips! Fortunately I have not had any injuries that I had to seek professional help with. My sister on the other hand has been having IT band issues for quite some time now and she has been going to PT and have seen several doctors about it. Slowly it is getting much better.
It can definitely be annoying to get treatment and not feel like you’re getting better! I’m glad you haven’t had any serious injuries, and I hope your sister gets better quickly!
A lot of doctors seem to guess at what’s wrong too much. Some seem reluctant to do an MRI for some reason (costs I assume). I found an ortho who will always do an MRI if I insist on it, and he’s very good at interpreting the results. I would always get a second opinion before any surgery. Luckily that hasn’t happened yet, but I do have a knee problem right now…
I guess MRIs can be expensive but it sounds like its better to know for sure than risking treating an injury according to an incorrect diagnosis. I’m glad you have found someone that will follow through for you. I hope your knee heals quickly!
Great advice. Thanks for sharing what you know.
I think sports medicine providers are so different from one another that it is almost what workers do you like going to more. Obviously, you will want to make sure that the people are licensed and qualified to work in those fields, but I think you need to be a people person because you work very closely to the patients and being relatable is going to make it easier for people to get their therapy done.
A few days ago I wrecked my knee playing a pick up basketball game. I felt fire up and down the outside of my knee. Right now money is a bit tight, so I need to find some exercises that can keep my knee somewhat healthy while I save for surgery.
Great tips here for choosing the right sports medicine provider. The more research you can do the better off you will be and the less likely you will make a bad decision. Thanks so much for sharing!
This post fits in perfectly with mine this week! It’s like we planned it… :p Great tips, by the way!!!
Thanks! And I was thinking the same thing when I read your post!
Great advice Lisa! I’ve been to so many drs and PT specialists that weren’t a good fit. Usually they’ll tip me off by saying something off-putting right out of the box. Like “you need to stop running” “distance running is stupid” etc. I met my sports chiro (who has worked miracles on me) at a local race. Having someone who “gets” runners is key.
Yup if someone wants me to stop running all together then it is probably not going to be a good fit!
These are all great tips! With my ART doctor, I’m constantly asking him questions when I see him every week. It helps that he is an Ironman and marathon runner so I really appreciate his insights.
It’s so helpful when the doctor is an athlete- then they can usually relate to runners much better!
I agree about doing a lot of research. When I was looking for a sports medicine doctor I looked at educational credentials as well as work history. I felt like a doctor who had worked with a sports team was probably a pretty good doctor since teams want the best for their athletes. The first doctor I met with had been a team doctor for the North Carolina Panthers for a long time and the doctor I ultimately had surgery with is a doctor for the Miami Marlins and the Hurricanes.
Definitely agree about getting several opinions and then also just going with your gut feeling. The first doctor I met with was highly credentials but I just did not get a good feeling when I met him. He seemed disinterested in my case and also mentioned that he had never performed a fasciotomy before. That’s why I went through everything up to the MRI with him and then switched. I did not want him operating on me.
That was probably a smart move! Especially when it comes to surgery, you definitely want someone who is an expert and has a lot of experience in whatever you are dealing with!
Finding the right person is a game changer!!! From months of wait and see or just rest, to getting great advice that works. These are all tips that I totally agree with!!
Yes! I don’t think any runner wants to be told to just wait or to just rest. It always helps to be doing something and to feel like you are making progress towards your recovery.
Great tips! I need to get better about actually seeing a doctor when something’s not right!
I find that it helps ease my anxiety about a potential injury when I can talk to a professional about it and get their opinion/advice!
Yes! I have definitely had to get a second opinion from a sports medicine ortho because I just knew she was wrong. Also, she didn’t seem to want to listen to me! Worked out in my favor because the second opinion ortho repaired my meniscus tear which the first ortho swore I didn’t have (even though I had an MRI and you could totally see it). You definitely have to find a doc/PT/chiro that you gel with and feel comfortable with and one that actually listens to you and takes you seriously.
And I’m a total research hound. I’ve self-diagnosed my injuries pretty accurately and I like having that knowledge when I go in for an appointment. I think it makes the appointment go smoother (if you have the right doc) and so many more things get discussed!
I definitely agree it helps so much to do your research! Also to think about ahead of time what kind of information you want to tell the dr. or PT. Otherwise they may not get the whole story and could send up giving the wrong diagnosis!
When I moved from Dallas, my chiropractor told me to look at ART’s website for registered practitioners. That’s how I found my current chiropractor, and I love her. Her husband does dry needling and I’ve taken advantage of that a couple times too.
ART and dry needling are both such helpful treatments!
What a great post!! I’ve been toying with the idea of finding a chiropractor but haven’t had the guts to really make the leap to do it…
I’ve had a lot of success with chiropractors! Many of them can also prescribe and teach exercises so its like you get PT along with other treatments.
It is SO HARD to find someone who knows what they are doing. I got pretty lucky with my PT, but there are so many misconceptions out there
I agree, it can be really hard to find someone good! I always get so nervous when I need to find a new PT or chiropractor.
Good points about finding a professional. It’s hard because there are so many different types of treatments that might help – sometimes the hardest part is figuring out which direction to start with. Not to mention the time and $$ involved. I’ve never been to a chiropractor. Now I’m intrigued!
Oh I know, right? I think the reason I like chiropractors is that they can do a lot of different treatments but also help with rehab and exercise. I also think I benefit from the adjustments.
Great advice! It’s so important to find someone that you like and trust. My insurance doesn’t cover chiropractic, so that limits my choices. Of course, I’m feeling pretty good right now. Knock on wood. 🙂
Thats too bad that chiropractic isn’t an option for you, but I’m glad you don’t need it!
Great points! I’ve had quite a bit of experience with different providers too. One thing that I have learned is that always be open to new PT’s. Some things are pretty standard but the approach to treatment varies. For years I went to a woman who progressed everything really slow. I really liked her and got good results but then I switched practices based on a recommendation from my orthopedic (the new practice had an Alter G). My new PT was much more aggressive in treatment based on what I could tolerate. He pushed me and I saw great results.
I definitely get frustrated when treatments move too slowly or if I feel like Im doing exercises that are way too easy. It probably doesn’t help that I’ve been in PT so much that I feel like I know exactly what to expect at this point.