Understanding Sports Injuries: Roles of Sports Doctors, Therapists, and Chiropractors

This brief article was prepared by medical specialist Dr. Roberto García García of Oaxaca City for Oax Sport. It is intended as professional guidance for active athletes who follow our programs and publications.

Managing Sports Injuries

When we experience a sports-related injury, it’s common to feel uncertain about which professional to consult. Should we see a physical therapist? A sports doctor? An orthopedic specialist? Or perhaps a chiropractor?

This article offers a clear overview of each professional’s role in sports injury management. By understanding what each one does, athletes can make informed decisions about who to turn to when injuries occur.

What Should You Do?

The goal of this article is to provide a general understanding of how various healthcare professionals treat sports injuries. Below, we explain the qualifications and responsibilities of each one so you can choose the right path for your recovery.

Sports Doctor

The primary role of a sports doctor is to evaluate the athlete and understand how their body reacts to physical activity and stress. This includes identifying the physiological mechanisms behind injuries and how the body responds to various training loads.

In general, the sports doctor’s mission can be summarized into three areas:

• Guidance
  • Advises athletes based on their physical abilities by creating personalized training plans aimed at improving performance and maintaining optimal fitness.
  • Provides nutritional guidance to ensure adequate nourishment. To do this, the doctor:
    • Studies exercise physiology and how the body functions under physical demand.
    • Understands how physical activity affects individuals across different life stages.
• Prevention
  • Helps prevent injuries or illnesses caused by physical activity by improving overall health through:
    • Evaluating physical health and fitness levels before beginning a sport.
    • Helping design effective training plans that balance workload and recovery.
    • Providing ongoing medical support to individual athletes and teams.
    • Advising on critical performance factors such as hydration, nutrition, and adaptation to training.
    • Understanding gender differences in physiology and how they impact sports performance.
    • Monitoring legal performance-enhancing substances and educating athletes about anti-doping protocols.
• Treatment
  • Applies physical therapy and rehabilitation to restore lost functions through movement.
  • Has knowledge of sports-related trauma to diagnose and treat injuries effectively.

On the field, the sports doctor can quickly assess the injury and provide immediate care, such as first aid or stabilization. They determine if the athlete can safely continue or must stop and possibly immobilize the affected area.

In the clinic, the doctor orders diagnostic tests to confirm the type of injury and recommends the appropriate treatment. They may also prescribe or perform physical therapy to reduce pain and restore mobility.

If surgery is necessary, the sports doctor refers the athlete to an orthopedic trauma specialist.

Physical Therapist

Physical therapy is a specialized area of health sciences focused on the study of human movement. It addresses dysfunctions that affect daily activities and aims to restore optimal physical function.

In the context of sports, physical therapy examines how the body responds to physical exercise. The therapist considers key elements such as nutrition, training, and recovery to help athletes reach their full potential.

Within a sports team, a physical therapist plays an essential role in:

• Preventing injuries
• Managing recovery and rehabilitation processes
• Improving motor control, strength, coordination, endurance, and agility
• Relieving muscle fatigue caused by overtraining using techniques such as:
  • Hydration strategies
  • Cryotherapy (cold therapy)
  • Electrostimulation

This makes physical therapy one of the most relevant areas in sports science for injury prevention and recovery.

A physical therapist is trained to perform the treatments and exercises needed for sports injury rehabilitation. However, it is the doctor who must prescribe the appropriate therapy based on the diagnosis.

Therapists typically hold a degree in physical therapy, though some may also be physicians specializing in rehabilitation. They are essential members of the athlete’s care team, often working alongside sports doctors and orthopedic surgeons.

Orthopedic Surgeon (Traumatologist)

Sports injuries can arise from improper training, lack of preventive care, or accidental causes. They range from mild to severe and can seriously impact an athlete’s health and performance. By understanding the most common injuries and their related sports, orthopedic surgeons are equipped to provide accurate diagnoses and individualized treatments based on an athlete’s competitive level.

Orthopedic specialists confirm prior diagnoses or assist with complex cases. When a serious injury is suspected, they order complementary tests to validate their findings. For example:

• MRI or ultrasound for soft tissue injuries (tendons and muscles)
• X-rays or CT scans for bone and joint damage
• MRI for suspected meniscus or ligament injuries in the knee, or shoulder tendon damage

In many cases, orthopedic surgeons treat injuries to muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones surgically. However, modern advances now allow for non-surgical treatments using regenerative medicine, promoting healing without invasive procedures. Common techniques include:

• Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections
• Mesenchymal stem cell therapy

Steroid injections are rarely used in athletes due to the risk of rupturing the injected muscle, tendon, or ligament.

Although orthopedic surgeons can assist with prevention and athletic guidance, their primary role is focused on curative interventions — whether surgical or regenerative.

Following surgery, the physical therapist becomes essential to support the athlete’s rehabilitation and return to sport.

If the patient is a high-performance athlete, the orthopedic surgeon will refer them to a sports physician for further care, including nutritional planning and injury prevention.

Chiropractor

Chiropractic care is a health profession focused on the adjustment of joints throughout the body, especially the spine. These adjustments may be performed manually or with mechanical tools, and can be active or passive. The goal is to restore joint alignment and function, helping the body move properly and without pain.

There is increasing interest in spinal manipulation for sports-related injuries, especially due to the high incidence of back pain syndromes in athletes.

The chiropractic concept of “adjustment” suggests that spinal injuries occur in two stages:

• Dysfunction: The initial stage, involving “subluxation” or misalignment of the joint. Chiropractic adjustments aim to realign the joint and prevent further deterioration.
• Instability: The advanced stage, where chiropractic care is no longer recommended and may even cause harm if performed.

Chiropractic adjustments are high-speed, low-amplitude movements designed to restore freedom of movement between joint surfaces. This may result in an audible “pop,” though the sound is not essential to the success of the treatment. Importantly, no adjustment should ever be forced.

Because of the rapid nature of these movements, adjustments carry a risk of worsening injuries if performed by someone with limited experience or training.

Doctors of Chiropractic are trained to evaluate, diagnose, and treat common musculoskeletal injuries. Their doctoral programs emphasize:

• Spinal manipulation and soft tissue mobilization
• Posture education for spinal health
• Emergency care for acute pain episodes
• Recognition of contraindications and treatment risks
• Referral to other health professionals when necessary

An experienced chiropractor can effectively treat sports injuries, identify those not suitable for manipulation, and refer athletes to the appropriate specialist.

Before any chiropractic session, it’s essential to understand the risks involved in improper handling, as this may delay or prevent full recovery and return to sport.

About the Author

Dr. Roberto García García is a highly respected orthopedic surgeon and traumatologist based in Oaxaca City, Mexico. With over 38 years of experience in orthopedic care and a long-standing career as a professor at UABJO, he has dedicated his life to both practicing medicine and training future healthcare professionals. Dr. García was trained at the prestigious Hospital Juárez in Mexico City and is recognized for his commitment to education and patient care.

He currently sees patients at Médica Ángelus in downtown Oaxaca City. You can also explore his academic publication on orthopedic medicine at DrGarciaGarcia.com.