The specialty of sports medicine deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of sports-related injuries. A physical therapist assists people with regaining or maintaining mobility and function following an injury or illness.   A sports medicine specialist usually treats injuries sustained while participating in sports or physical activity. Sports-related injuries are not the only conditions that can be treated with physical therapy. To improve strength and flexibility, physical therapists often provide patients with therapeutic exercise and PNF technique – Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation.   In physical therapy, recovery and healing back to the previous functional status are the main goals. There are aspects of sports medicine that are related to rehabilitation, but there are also aspects that relate to performance enhancement or athletic training.   Physical therapists and sports medicine doctors are both medical professionals who love helping people improve in their favorite sports, whether they play recreational sports like baseball, follow fitness routines designed by professional athletes, or simply go out for a walk on the weekend. Both physicians and physical therapists focus on improving patient care through rehabilitation techniques that focus on injury recovery and prevention strategies used in healthy individuals to prevent future surgery.