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. Georgia has 185 practicing sports medicine doctors. Broken out by city, sports medicine doctor density in Albany is 7, in Alpharetta is 1, in Americus is 1, in Athens is 6, in Atlanta is 47, in Augusta is 20, in Austell is 5, in Blue Ridge is 2, in Brunswick is 3, in Buford is 1, in Canton is 3, in Carrollton is 4, in Clarkesville is 1, in Claxton is 1, in College Park is 4, in Columbus is 17, in Conyers is 1, in Cordele is 3, in Covington is 1, in Cumming is 7, in Dacula is 4, in Dallas is 2, in Dalton is 5, in Decatur is 13, in Demorest is 1, in Douglas is 2, in Douglasville is 5, in Dublin is 1, in Duluth is 12, in Dunwoody is 1, in East Point is 2, in Eastman is 1, in Eatonton is 1, in Elberton is 3, in Ellijay is 1, in Fayetteville is 7, in Fitzgerald is 1, in Fort Benning is 1, in Fort Gordon is 1, in Fort Stewart is 2, in Gainesville is 4, in Glenwood is 1, in Grayson is 1, in Greensboro is 2, in Griffin is 1, in Hapeville is 1, in Hinesville is 2, in Hoschton is 3, in Johns Creek is 1, in Lagrange is 7, in Lawrenceville is 7, in Lilburn is 1, in Macon is 11, in Manchester is 1, in Marietta is 5, in Mcdonough is 1, in Monroe is 1, in Morrow is 2, in Norcross is 2, in Peachtree City is 2, in Perry is 3, in Pooler is 1, in Powder Springs is 2, in Richmond Hill is 3, in Rincon is 2, in Rome is 1, in Roswell is 7, in Royston is 1, in Rutledge is 1, in Sandy Springs is 1, in Savannah is 8, in Snellville is 4, in Springfield is 2, in Statesboro is 2, in Stockbridge is 4, in Suwanee is 7, in Thomson is 2, in Tifton is 2, in Valdosta is 4, in Vidalia is 2, in Villa Rica is 1, in Warner Robins is 3, in Winder is 1, and in Woodstock is 2.

Georgia is rich in history, from its statehood in 1788, to its tobacco plantations, to its civil rights memorials. Atlanta is its vibrant capital city, and it offers a myriad of music, arts, sports and nightlife. While in Atlanta, visit the world’s largest aquarium, the Woodruff Arts Center, or the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Ride the Old Town Trolley in Savannah, and listen to some live jazz and blues at one of Savannah’s many festivals. Georgia’s mountain parks offer hiking, biking, climbing, and other outdoor activities. On Georgia’s coastline, you can go boating, deep sea fishing or kayaking in the Atlantic. The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge draws many visitors yearly.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Georgia has a population of 9,072,576. Of this population, 2,319,806 are under the age of 18 and 865,997 are at or above the age of 65.