How to find a sports doctor that’s right for you

Injuries are an unfortunate reality for many runners. If you are experiencing an injury, it is important to find the right sports doctor or health-care practitioner to get you back running. Here are some tips.

Do your research.

Find out the options that are available in your area and look into what common treatments for your problem are. If you don’t exactly know what the problem is, look for clinics that have a team of practitioners–a sports medicine doctor, physiotherapist and  massage therapist.

Ask people you trust.

Likely, you know at least one (and probably many more) other runners that have dealt with an injury. Ask your running buddies where they have gone for treatment. If you know someone with a similar problem to you, ask them what they did for treatment and how successful that was. It is always good to visit a practitioner whose reputation precedes him or her.

Come prepared.

You can’t expect your sports doctor or athletic therapist to have all the answers if you don’t have all the questions. Brainstorm a list of questions prior to your first visit. Also jot down some background information, like when you first started experiencing pain, what movements are aggravating and any changes that you have recently made regarding training.

Consider philosophies.

What mindset are you going into treatment with? Is this a “do whatever possible to get me through my next big race” or a “I have my long term future in mind” situation? This is important to share with your practitioner, as it may drastically change their course of action.

What extras do they have?

Look at the extra certifications that your practitioner may have–are the certified to perform active release therapy (ART), can they perform acupuncture?

Hear them out.

Don’t shop around for a sports doctor that is going to tell you what you want to hear. Listen to the plan that they have in mind and give it a fair shot. This means holding up your end of the bargain by performing the stretches and exercises they assign to you, or taking the rest that they recommend. Ask them how long an injury like yours takes to heal and then give at least that amount of time to their treatment program before looking for other options.

Consider your comfort.

Not every health-care practitioner has a sunny personality and that is fine. If they are knowledgable and proficient, that is worth the most. However, if you don’t have a good vibe, or really don’t share the same perspective as your doctor, it is probably not going to be a good fit. You need to consider that you may be seeing this person fairly frequently while treating your injury and need to feel comfortable around them and have trust in their opinions. This is why clinics with a dedicated sports focus are often great options for injured runners, as the staff is not only likely to have experience treating similar injuries, but is also likely to be athletes themselves, with a better understanding of the frustrations of being sidelined.