Sports medicine is often misunderstood as a specialty reserved for elite athletes recovering from dramatic injuries sustained on the playing field. In reality, it’s a form of orthopedics designed to help anyone, from a recreational runner to someone with knee arthritis, move through life without pain. Sports medicine physicians combine musculoskeletal expertise with training in nutrition, sleep, and rehabilitation to treat the whole person, not just the injury. Whether you’re a professional athlete chasing peak performance or simply someone who wants to garden without knee pain, sports medicine offers a path to staying active at every age and ability level.
Dallas McCorkle, DO, FAAFP, CAQSM, and Jason A. Boothe, MD, CAQSM, AT-R, both provide specialized sports medicine care within the scope of family medicine for individuals aged 13 and older at Tryon Medical Partners in Charlotte. Each brings a background rooted in hands-on, active care: Dr. McCorkle came to medicine after years of work as a personal trainer, while Dr. Boothe treated athletes on the sidelines with professional and collegiate teams.
What is sports medicine, and how does it differ from orthopedics?
Sports medicine is best understood as orthopedic medicine that doesn’t involve surgery. Physicians in this field focus on rehabilitation, preventive care, and minimally invasive treatments such as injections for tendons and joints, rather than surgery.
“In the broadest strokes, sports medicine is non-surgical orthopedics,” Dr. McCorkle explains. He notes that sports medicine physicians typically train first in family medicine before completing an additional fellowship year, which builds on that broad foundation with specialized musculoskeletal and rehabilitative training.
Dr. Boothe frames the distinction around goals rather than tools. “We’re not surgeons,” he says. “We are here to help active folks stay active and not be in pain.” He points out that many orthopedic surgeons complete the same sports medicine fellowships, so the two specialties often work side by side.
Why sports medicine? The physicians’ paths to the specialty
Both physicians arrived at sports medicine through firsthand experience with the demands of an active body.
Dr. McCorkle worked as a personal trainer for three to four years before attending medical school. “I enjoyed the musculoskeletal system and the specialized training with athletes carried over to my interests in medical school,” he says of that period.
Dr. Boothe’s connection to the field came through his work as an Athletic Trainer. He spent time with the Miami Dolphins and at Florida State University, working within teams of other sports medicine professionals on injury prevention, evaluation, and management. “I am someone who likes to be hands-on. I want to put my hands on that muscle or joint, come up with a diagnosis, and ultimately figure out a treatment plan that works best for the patient,” he says.
What does a sports medicine physician actually do?
Sports medicine physicians serve as an initial point of contact for musculoskeletal complaints, handling everything from concussions to tendon pain, and referring out to surgeons or specialists only when necessary.
“We definitely see athletes (high school, college, professional) and advise them on how to protect themselves and perform on the highest level,” Dr. Boothe says. That can mean treating iron-deficiency anemia so a runner can finish her race, or managing a stress fracture to get a player back on the field. But athletes are far from the only patients who benefit. “As long as you want to move without pain, we want to help with that,” Dr. Boothe says.
Dr. McCorkle agrees.
“We often help patients experiencing pain related to using the same arm, hand, or wrist for repetitive work. Our team is also a great resource for people struggling with arthritis pain due to age, previous injury, or excess weight,” he adds. “If you have been told that you might eventually need surgery for a musculoskeletal injury or spine problem, we may also be able to help you manage your symptoms until surgery becomes necessary.”How does sports medicine relate to physical therapy?
Sports medicine and physical therapy overlap significantly, and the two often work in tandem.
“That relationship is a very close one, especially for me,” Dr. Boothe says, noting that his wife is a physical therapist. “PTs have a longitudinal relationship for six to eight or twelve weeks and deal with all of the body systems and try to restore function,” he explains.
While Dr. Boothe refers patients to physical therapists regularly for that kind of extended, whole-body care, he also performs some of the same interventions himself, including dry needling and shockwave therapy, for patients who benefit from a more hands-on approach in the moment.
Common misconceptions about sports medicine
Misconception:
Sports medicine is only for athletes
Reality:
While sports medicine physicians do treat athletes at every level, from high school to professional, the specialty is built around helping anyone move without pain. As Dr. Boothe puts it, sports medicine can “help someone manage joint pain just as readily as it helps a college athlete return to competition.”
Misconception:
A sports medicine doctor is the same as an orthopedic surgeon
Reality:
Sports medicine physicians are not surgeons. They focus on rehabilitation, prevention, and minimally invasive treatment, and only involve surgical colleagues when non-surgical options have been exhausted.ge joint pain just as readily as it helps a college athlete return to competition.”
Misconception:
Sports medicine and physical therapy are interchangeable
Reality:
The two fields are closely connected but distinct. Physical therapists build longitudinal treatment plans over several weeks to restore whole-body function, while sports medicine physicians often provide more immediate, hands-on interventions and refer patients to physical therapy for ongoing care.
A specialty built around staying active
Whether you’re an athlete looking to perform at your highest level or want to keep up with your grandkids, sports medicine offers a non-surgical, whole-person approach to musculoskeletal health.
If you’re interested in discussing sports medicine and how it might help you stay active, visit the Tryon Medical Partners website to schedule an appointment with a clinician today.
