Primary care sports medicine specialists are primary care physicians (i.e. family medicine) with additional fellowship training in sports medicine. They have extensive experience and training in non-operative musculoskeletal care for both children and adults (including injections, splinting/casting, etc.). They serve as part of the sports medicine team at Penn State Hershey alongside orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, and athletic trainers.

Primary care sports medicine physicians also have specialized training in the non-musculoskeletal aspects of sports medicine. Common examples of these include:

Concussion

Care of athletes with acute or chronic illness (asthma, diabetes)

Sports psychology

Sports nutrition and supplements

“Return to play” decisions in the sick and/or injured athlete

Strength training and conditioning

Exercise prescription

Gait analysis

Injury prevention

Primary care sports medicine specialists at Penn State Hershey also function as team physicians to local high-schools, the Harrisburg Senators, and Hershey Bears. The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine maintains a helpful website for patients and practitioners at www.amssm.org.