Skip to main content
MCHS_Logo_2024_BLACK
  • Patient Portal
  • Pay Bill Online
  • Request an Appointment
    • Services

      Featured Services

      • Cardiology (Heart)
      • Gastroenterology & Hepatology (Digestive Care)
      • Neurosurgery
      • Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB-GYN)
      • Oncology (Cancer)
      • Orthopedics & Orthopedic Surgery (Bones)
      • Primary Care
      • Spine Care
      • Sports Medicine
      • Surgery
      • Urology

      View all services
    • Providers
    • Locations

      Minnesota

      • Albert Lea
      • Austin
      • Belle Plaine
      • Blooming Prairie
      • Butterfield
      • Caledonia
      • Cannon Falls
      • Fairmont
      • Faribault
      • Lake City
      • Lake Crystal
      • Mankato
      • Montgomery
      • New Prague
      • Northfield
      • Owatonna
      • Plainview
      • Red Wing
      • Rochester
      • Sherburn
      • St. James
      • St. Peter
      • Waseca
      • Waterville
      • Wells
      • Zumbrota

      Wisconsin

      • Arcadia
      • Barron
      • Bloomer
      • Chetek
      • Chippewa Falls
      • Eau Claire
      • Ellsworth
      • Glenwood City
      • Holmen
      • La Crosse
      • Menomonie
      • Mondovi
      • Onalaska
      • Osseo
      • Prairie du Chien
      • Rice Lake
      • Sparta
      • Tomah

      Iowa

      • Decorah

      View map
    • Classes/Events
    • Blog
    • Wellness
    • Referrals
    Posted By
    Robert Freed, D.O.

    Robert Freed, D.O.

    Orthopedics & Orthopedic Surgery (Bones), Sports Medicine

    Recent Posts

    • Tennis ball on racket
      Speaking of Health
      Student athletes: Have you gotten your sports physical?
      June 21, 2023
    • fbBlog_dumbbells_504x504 cropped
      Speaking of Health
      Pump you up: Exercise with dumbbells
      October 17, 2017
    Featured Topics
    • Behavioral Health
    • Cancer
    • Children's Health (Pediatrics)
    • Exercise and Fitness
    • Heart Health
    • Men's Health
    • Neurosurgery
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology
    • Orthopedic Health
    • Weight-loss (Bariatric) Surgery
    • Women's Health
    Join our email newsletter
    Speaking of Health
    Monday, May 13, 2024

    Could you benefit from a sports medicine consult? Check out these top 5 FAQ

    Topics in this Post
    • Sports Medicine
    • Orthopedic Health
    Player bouncing tennis ball

    Are you curious about whether seeing a sports medicine professional is right for you? These top five questions about sports medicine can help you with the answer.

    1. Do you need to be an athlete to benefit from a sports medicine evaluation or clinic appointment?

    Even if you don't consider yourself athletic but want to increase your physical activity or stay strong for your job, a sports medicine professional can be a great resource. They can tailor a plan to maximize your workout routine based on your interests and goals and help you reduce your risk of injury, whether you're on the field, at the gym or on a work site.

    2. What makes a primary care sports medicine physician qualified to treat people?

    These professionals have advanced training in the science of sports medicine. Sports medicine professionals can help maximize your body's systems and reduce pain so you can avoid time away from sports or other physical activities due to injuries.

    The training these professionals undergo is extensive and includes:

    • Undergraduate training
    • Four years of medical school
    • Three to four years of residency training
    • One to two years of fellowship training

    In addition, primary care sports medicine physicians are required to pass a certification examination in sports medicine to obtain a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine.

    Sports medicine physicians are expected to complete continued medical education and recertification every 10 years to distinguish them from other physicians without this specialized training.

    3. What's the difference between a primary care sports medicine physician and an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon?

    An orthopedic sports medicine surgeon is trained in those areas, as well as surgical treatment of those conditions. Together, they create a comprehensive team to improve performance, prevent injury, guide rehabilitation, and relieve joint and muscle pain.

    4. What types of conditions are treated by a sports medicine physician?

    Common musculoskeletal and orthopedic conditions that sports medicine physicians treat include acute injuries, such as:

    • Activity-specific injuries
    • Fractures
    • Low back or neck sprains
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Overuse injuries
    • Shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, foot, or ankle sprains
    • Strains

    Because of additional training, primary care sports medicine physicians, and some orthopedic sports medicine physicians and surgeons also:

    • Counsel athletes on decisions to return to play
    • Provide training for Injury prevention
    • Treat sports-related concussions

    5. What sports or team play activities does a sports medicine physician support?

    Most primary care sports medicine physicians and orthopedic sports medicine surgeons serve as team physicians for local or national sports teams and can provide:

    • Care of sports-related medical needs
    • Coordination of care with other sports medicine team members, including athletic trainers, physical therapists and surgical specialists
    • Injury assessment
    • Management or prevention
    • Preparticipation physicals

    Athletes and nonathletes alike benefit from the care of sports medicine professionals. These experts advise sports professionals, weekend warriors, anyone who wants to begin or return to being active, and people whose work involves high physical demands, such as strength, endurance, flexibility and coordination. They all require the same expert care to function as fully and safely as possible.

    Next steps:

    • Learn more about Sports Medicine services and treatments.
    • Read how a basketball stand-out benefited from specialized caree.
    • Read more about ankle, arm and shoulder strains and sprains.
    • Watch a video on what to expect at your sports medicine consultation:

    Robert Freed, D.O., is an orthopedics and sports medicine specialist in Mankato, Minnesota.

    Topics in this Post
    • Sports Medicine
    • Orthopedic Health

    Related Posts

    Pickleball player on court Feel a pop, then pain in your knee? It could be an ACL tear
    Runner wearing number tag Planning for your big run
    Concussion football players The real impact of a concussion

    Stay Connected

    • Contact Us
    • Notice of Nondiscrimination
    • Notice of Privacy Practices
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
    • Careers
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
    • For Patients & Visitors
    • Financial Assistance
    • Price Transparency
    • Community Resources
    • Mayo Clinic Connect
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Press Room
    • Mayo Clinic
    • Manage Cookie
    © 2018 - 2025 Mayo Clinic Health System