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Athletes Preferring Athletic Doctors

Posted January 15, 2008 at 01:00 PM by Denise Musumeci

Section: In The News, His Health, Physical Health, Lifestyle Health

People can be very selective about which doctor to seek. Some seek certain specialties, some (actually many of us) seek whatever our insurance will pay for, and some seek whatever is easiest and most convenient in terms of location. But—as an athlete—would you prefer an athletic doctor? A recent article from the NY Times analyzed this exact question.

While it may not be proven that athletic doctors are better for athletes, a study of 4,000 female doctors found that those who are at least moderately active are much more comfortable giving advice about exercise to patients, and their advice would be more meaningful, since the active doctor sets the example about a healthy lifestyle. Athletic doctors are less likely to take off-the-wall conservative approaches to pain, such as, “Running destroys the cartilage in the knees.”

Gina Kolata of the New York Times found that many of the athletes prefer an athletic doctor. For example, Richard Hulnick, 40, saw an orthopedist because his knee was bothering him. The doctor, who did not look like an athlete, told him to stop running. Mr. Hulnick resumed running anyway and the knee healed. He never saw this doctor again. All he wanted was a doctor to work with him, but the doctor failed to do so.

Many doctors give athletes different advice to athletes than to ordinary patients. For example, a non-athletic doctor may tell an athletic patient to stop exercising because of a heart disorder. But the athletic doctor knows that as long as the heart rate is not raised too high and the patient has no shortness of breath, the patient will be able to continue exercise.

Athletes may prefer athletic doctors, but how do doctors feel about athletes? Dr. Paul Thompson says, “They drive you nuts. They are very demanding. They are innately a select group, and a lot of athletes have a superior attitude and are a little bit defensive.” Athletic patients will use doctors as a source for a second opinion, but go with their own instincts.

Athletes choose active doctors because they provide encouragement for their endeavors as being active and competitive. Some may not have a preference about their doctor’s physical routine. The most important thing that matters is that the patient chooses a doctor who is qualified, who they are comfortable with and who is sensitive to each individual situation.

For example, a doctor’s first instinct should not be to tell a marathon runner to stop running because of knee discomfort, unless the injury is in serious condition. The doctor should be sensitive to the athlete’s exercise routines and do everything in their power to keep them active and on the playing field. Athletes seem to feel more comfortable with an active, athletic doctor probably because of similar experience and an understanding of what is most important for competition.

Research sources and for more information: [NY Times]

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Tags: athletes, athletic doctors, choosing the right doctor, comfort, convenience, doctors, exercise advice, fit doctors, fitness, injuries, injury prevention, men, ny times, second opinion

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