FOR FOOTBALL PLAYERS, staying healthy means more than treating an injury when something hurts.
From annual physicals and illness to nutrition, sleep, mental wellness and injury prevention, young athletes need care that looks at the whole person.
That’s where having a primary care provider with sports medicine training can make a difference.
“Sports medicine is about much more than treating injuries,” said Michaela Hull, DO, a family medicine physician with fellowship training in sports medicine at Falcon Health Center. “It’s understanding the demands athletes put on their bodies and helping them stay healthy both on and off the field.”* Someone who knows your athlete before an injury
A primary care provider is often the first call when something isn’t right. When that provider also has sports medicine expertise, they can evaluate common illnesses and health concerns while also understanding how an injury or condition may affect an athlete’s ability to practice, compete and safely return to play.
That relationship can be especially valuable for growing athletes. A physician who sees them regularly can get to know their health history, development and goals rather than meeting them for the first time after an injury.
For parents, it also means having one place to start.
Looking beyond the injury
A sore knee may be the reason an athlete walks through the door, but good care considers the bigger picture. Family medicine addresses preventive care, routine health concerns, chronic conditions and overall wellness. Sports medicine adds specialized knowledge of musculoskeletal injuries, injury prevention, rehabilitation and the physical demands of athletics.
That combination can help identify concerns early and guide families through what comes next, whether that means treatment in the office, rehabilitation or referral to another specialist when needed.
“An athlete isn’t just a knee, shoulder or ankle,” Dr. Hull added. “My goal is to understand what’s going on with the whole person and help them stay healthy for the sport they love and for life beyond it.”
Care that continues after the season ends
For most young athletes, sports are part of a much bigger life. Their healthcare should reflect that.
A family medicine physician can continue caring for an athlete whether they are in season, between sports or eventually finished competing altogether. And because family medicine cares for patients throughout different stages of life, that same provider can be there for routine care long after the final whistle.
At Falcon Health Center, Dr. Hull combines comprehensive family medicine with sports medicine expertise to care for athletes, active individuals and families.
Because the goal isn’t simply getting through the next game. It’s building a foundation for lifelong health. ✲
