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. Louisiana has 53 practicing sports medicine doctors. Broken out by city, sports medicine doctor density in Alexandria is 8, in Bastrop is 1, in Baton Rouge is 9, in Bogalusa is 1, in Bossier City is 3, in Breaux Bridge is 1, in Covington is 1, in Cut Off is 1, in Destrehan is 1, in Hammond is 1, in Harvey is 1, in Jefferson is 3, in Jonesville is 1, in Kenner is 2, in La Place is 2, in Lafayette is 3, in Lake Charles is 1, in Mandeville is 1, in Marksville is 1, in Marrero is 1, in Metairie is 1, in Monroe is 4, in Napoleonville is 1, in Natchitoches is 2, in New Iberia is 1, in New Orleans is 13, in Pineville is 1, in Port Allen is 1, in Ruston is 1, in Shreveport is 7, in Sulphur is 1, in Thibodaux is 1, in Vidalia is 1, and in West Monroe is 3.

Louisiana was named after French King Louis XIV, and the state joined the union in 1812. Louisiana’s population is 4,523,628, and Baton Rouge is its capital city. Louisiana has rich cultural heritage that is celebrated at many festivals all over the state. Taste a variety of cuisines, including Cajun and Creole food. Listen to jazz or zydeco music in New Orleans, visit the French Quarter, attend the Mardi Gras in the spring, or take a steamboat trip down the Mississippi River.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Louisiana has a population of 4,523,628. Of this population, 1,132,763 are under the age of 18 and 528,837 are at or above the age of 65.