“For more than 30 years, I have been involved in sports medicine. This has included youth sports, as well as high school and college athletics. Orthopaedic coverage on playing fields is very important. As a former athlete, I understand that if an injury occurs, immediate attention and treatment is beneficial and can reduce further complications. The benefit for the athlete is that the diagnosis and treatment of an injury starts immediately,” says Dr. Richards. “I have been treating athletes for a few years now and have found that incorporating care into the schools through the partnership with athletic trainers offers student-athletes timely and valuable advice, which helps them maximize their success. Having an open dialogue between athletic trainers and the orthopaedic team allows patients to be seen by the right person quickly, have their care initiated, and leads to faster return to play with prevention of injuries in the future,” says Dr. Wool. “I have been in my position as team physician for Shippensburg University for four years. We have a great sports medicine team including athletic trainers who are very knowledgeable and know the student-athletes very well. One of our successes is the accessibility of our sports medicine team to ensure prompt diagnosis of an athlete’s injuries and provide coordinated care.” says Dr. Holzshu. “I have been with UPMC as a sports medicine physician for three years. My experience on the sidelines, along with my colleagues, provides a real-time, inside view and assessment of an injury which improves communication with all involved as well as the care of the athlete. As a result, we can get them into the office quickly for evaluation, easily coordinate rehabilitation plans, and discuss return to play timelines,” says Dr. Patel. The primary goal of sports medicine doctors is to diagnose, manage, and treat injuries. Various therapies may be incorporated into the treatment plan. Physical therapy plays a key role for athletes who have been sidelined by an injury. Sports medicine doctors collaborate with a physical therapist to develop a treatment plan that helps athletes restore function in balance, strength, flexibility, and speed, and work to return to pre-injury levels of fitness and performance. Visit UPMC.com/CentralPaOrtho for information about all our services and providers. Editor's Note: This article was originally published on August 20, 2021, and was last reviewed on July 13, 2023.