Expert: Dr. Kevin D. Kanz - 6/29/2008

Question
Hey! I was wondering how to become a sports doctor?? What qualifications do i nedd as i am heading into doing my gcse???

Answer
Geriant,
It really depends on what area of sports you wish to study.  Sports medicine is a broad field and encompasses many areas and disciplines.  For example, I am a member of the American College of Sports Medicine.  Many members of this organization are teachers, professors, researchers, medical doctors, surgeons, podiatrists, psychologists, chiropractors and other various specialists in sports and human performance (all sports doctors).  The best first step, is to pick a discipline, an area of healthcare, science or research that best matches your interest.  In healthcare, many doctors come from backgrounds in orthopedic surgery, physical medicine & rehabilitation (physiatry) or chiropractic (functional movement & performance).  All help athletes prevent and recover from injury as well as enhance their performance as athletes.  Go to http://www.acsm.org/ and look over the basic and applied science of sports medicine.  See who is doing what, and see if that interests you.  If interested in alternatives to medicine, here are some more interesting links:
http://www.acasc.org/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24968702/
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2042981
http://naturalsportsmedicine.blogspot.com/2006/12/celebrating-life-of-man-i-was-...

Hope this helps,
~Dr.K