A Cleveland Clinic caregiver examining a football player's arm.

Sports Medicine

Whether you’re a weekend warrior or Olympian, one thing is true — you need your body to be in tip-top shape to excel at the sport you love.

Athletes know that wellness and prevention are just as important as recovery and rehabilitation. But when something goes wrong, it disrupts your ability to train, compete and to simply do what you enjoy.

At Cleveland Clinic, our sports medicine experts focus on everything from helping you improve your performance to creating a custom treatment plan for you as you recover from injuries and other exercise-related conditions. Whether you’re at the top of your game or recovering from an injury, our specialists are here to make your health your number-one priority.

Why Choose Cleveland Clinic for Sports Medicine Care?

Trusted experts:

Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine is one of the oldest and most established, well-respected programs in the country. Our specialists care for athletes of all ages, skill levels and sports — from children and high schoolers to collegiate and professional athletes. As the official healthcare providers for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Guardians, multiple universities, high schools and clubs, our team of experts has the experience to get you back in the game. Meet our team.

Collaborative care:

Our sports medicine experts span many specialties to provide a broad range of care options. They work closely together to make sure that you’re receiving treatment that’s targeted to your specific and unique needs.

Minimally invasive options:

Whenever possible, our orthopaedic surgeons and sports and exercise medicine physicians use minimally invasive techniques to minimize your pain, scarring and recovery time.

Virtual visits:

If getting to your provider’s office is tough, you might be able to have a virtual visit for some appointments. You’ll get the same great care but from the comfort and convenience of home. All you need to get started is an internet connection and a smartphone, computer or tablet.

National recognition:

Cleveland Clinic is a trusted healthcare leader. We’re recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for our expertise and care.

Sports Medicine Evaluation at Cleveland Clinic

When you come in for your first appointment with our sports medicine specialists, we’ll spend some time learning about you and your goals. This helps us customize care to match your needs. We might ask about:

Your medical history (including any conditions you have and your past injuries).
The sport you play.
How injuries or conditions have impacted your ability to play sports.
Your goals.

Meet Our Sports Medicine Team

When you choose Cleveland Clinic, your sports medicine team includes board-certified, fellowship trained sports medicine physicians who work with each other — and with you — to make sure that your treatment gets you back into the game. Your team may also include:

Orthopaedic sports medicine surgeons.
Radiologists.
Exercise physiologists.
Physical therapists.
Athletic trainers.
Sports psychologists.
Physician assistants.
Dietitians.

Providers Who Offer Sports Medicine Services

Locations

Our team of dedicated experts see patients at the following locations in Northeast Ohio and Florida.

Sports Medicine Care at Cleveland Clinic

The kind of care you need depends on what you’re going through. You might be riding the bench after a break, tear or sprain. Or you could be recovering from another condition that’s taken you out of the game, like a concussion, or tendonitis. Or maybe you’re just trying to maximize your performance and prevent future injuries.

Whatever you’re facing, our specialists are experienced in handling many sports-related health conditions, including:

Acute (sudden) injuries like broken bones (fractures), sprains, muscle strains and torn ligaments.
Overuse (repetitive motion) injuries like tendonitis, plantar fasciitis and stress fractures.
Sports-related concussions that require emergency evaluation, the latest testing and treatment methods to return you safely back to play.
Sports-related illnesses like mononucleosis (mono), asthma or COVID-19.

Exercise and performance counseling

Feeling great? Let’s make sure you stay that way. Our performance training programs help you amp up your skillset and keep injuries at bay. They’re individually tailored to meet your fitness and athletic goals through strength and conditioning training. And they include specific programs for runners, golfers, soccer players, skaters, throwing athletes and more.

Nutrition education

An important part of being an athlete is helping your body perform at its very best, and that includes feeding it what it needs. No matter your sport, our dietitians will work with you to design a personalized nutrition plan that helps you achieve your goals.

Taking the Next Step

No matter your age, your level of activity or the sport you play, our sports medicine specialists are here to treat you, support you and answer all of your questions and concerns. Our goal is the same as yours — to help you get and stay healthy so that you can continue to do the things you love.