7 Things Your Doctor Needs to Know if You’re an Athlete
To get the best, most accurate care, your doctor needs to know a few things about your training. – Christina Bonnington
As athletes, we’re pretty in tune with our bodies. But sometimes our bodies start sending signals that something is amiss. Maybe your occasionally achy knee is starting to hurt more often. Or perhaps your partner has complained about your constant grumpy mood.
Issues like those above might mean it’s time to make a doctor’s visit. But whether you’re heading in for a simple checkup or because of a nagging issue, there are certain things you should make sure your primary care practitioner knows. Your level of training can explain a lot about your health, and could affect the advice he or she gives you. That advice might include adding cross-training to your workouts to prevent repetitive stress injuries, or altering your diet to ensure you’re fueling properly. Particularly if you don’t have a coach to keep things in check, your doctor can make sure your training routine isn’t just effective—it’s healthy for you, personally.
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We chatted with Aaron Mares, assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and associate medical director of the Pittsburgh Marathon; and Kortney Parman, a cyclist and family nurse practitioner at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center; to find out what changes and observations athletes should always mention to their doctors for the best, most accurate care.