Sports medicine is the field of medicine that treats sports-related injuries and many other issues regarding those involved in sports. A sports medicine physician works with athletes to prevent injury and illness, and to improve health and fitness. This specialist promotes the prevention of injury, and is knowledgeable in cardiology, orthopedics, exercise physiology, nutrition, psychology, emergency medicine, and other fields.

Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, but some of the most common are Spinal Stenosis, Spinal Injury, Spinal Infection, Scoliosis, Tendonitis, Spondylolisthesis, Spinal Discectomy, arthritis, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Bursitis of the Hip, Spinal Deformity, Spinal Cord Tumors, Herniated Disc, Arthritis of the Shoulder, Tendinitis of the Wrist, Concussion, Frozen Shoulder, Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow), Bunions, and Torn ACL.

Once properly diagnosed, practitioners can perform numerous procedures on patients including cartilage transplant, Back / Spine Surgery , Hand surgery, Knee replacement, Hip Replacement, Disc Disease / Surgery, limb lengthening, Invasive Disc Surgery, Hip Surgery, shoulder surgery, Kyphosis Surgery, knee surgery, Joint Surgery, and Total Shoulder Replacement.

To diagnose patients with possible illnesses and diseases, specialists will often perform one of many tests including Arthroscopy, x-ray, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), musculoskeletal examination, physicial examination, and Cardiac Examination.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Florida has 339 practicing sports medicine doctors. Broken out by city, sports medicine doctor density in Alachua is 1, in Altamonte Springs is 1, in Amelia Island is 2, in Aventura is 4, in Belle Glade is 2, in Boca Raton is 5, in Bonita Springs is 2, in Boynton Beach is 1, in Bradenton is 6, in Brooksville is 3, in Cape Coral is 2, in Clearwater is 12, in Clermont is 3, in Cocoa is 1, in Coconut Creek is 1, in Coral Gables is 6, in Coral Springs is 1, in Crestview is 1, in Davenport is 1, in Davie is 3, in Daytona Beach is 8, in Deerfield Beach is 2, in Delray Beach is 6, in Destin is 2, in Doral is 1, in Dunedin is 1, in Fernandina Beach is 1, in Fort Lauderdale is 13, in Fort Myers is 7, in Gainesville is 12, in Gulf Breeze is 4, in Hialeah is 7, in Hollywood is 5, in Inverness is 1, in Jacksonville is 27, in Jacksonville Beach is 3, in Juno Beach is 1, in Jupiter is 9, in Key West is 2, in Kissimmee is 3, in Lake City is 1, in Lake Mary is 1, in Lake Wales is 1, in Lake Worth is 4, in Lakeland is 4, in Largo is 2, in Lauderdale Lakes is 5, in Leesburg is 1, in Lithia is 1, in Longwood is 7, in Maitland is 2, in Marathon is 1, in Margate is 3, in Melbourne is 4, in Miami is 19, in Miami Beach is 3, in Naples is 7, in New Port Richey is 2, in Niceville is 1, in North Miami Beach is 2, in Oakland Park is 1, in Ocala is 2, in Ocoee is 6, in Okeechobee is 1, in Orange Park is 2, in Orlando is 27, in Oviedo is 3, in Palatka is 2, in Palm Bay is 1, in Palm Beach Gardens is 3, in Palm Coast is 1, in Panama City is 2, in Pembroke Pines is 10, in Pensacola is 5, in Pinellas Park is 1, in Plant City is 1, in Plantation is 4, in Pompano Beach is 3, in Rockledge is 1, in Safety Harbor is 1, in Sanford is 2, in Sarasota is 3, in Sebastian is 2, in Sebring is 1, in Seminole is 2, in South Miami is 1, in Stuart is 11, in Tallahassee is 2, in Tampa is 17, in Tarpon Springs is 1, in Temple Terrace is 6, in Venice is 4, in Vero Beach is 5, in Wauchula is 1, in West Palm Beach is 21, in Weston is 7, in Williston is 1, in Winter Haven is 3, in Winter Park is 8, and in Zephyrhills is 1.

Florida’s warm and humid subtropical climate makes it a winter destination for many. Population in 2000 was 15,982,378, according to census statistics. Tallahassee, located in the north panhandle area, is the state capital. Tourism is a major industry in Florida, with Cape Canaveral, Disney World, the Everglades National Park, Universal Studios, the Atlantic coast and the Gulf coast all destinations for visitors and residents. Year-round outdoor activities include camping, golf, scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing and boating.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Florida has a population of 17,789,864. Of this population, 3,975,071 are under the age of 18 and 2,978,335 are at or above the age of 65.