Physical therapy in professional sports is extremely competitive. Even those who make it into a position may get exhausted after a few years of traveling with a team. Fortunately, there are plenty of clinics with robust sports performance programs that need talented PTs. Many sports performance PTs find it less stressful and more rewarding to work with athletes in their community.

At Lattimore Physical Therapy, our sports medicine committee has experience working with athletes at all levels, from youth sports all the way up to elites. This article introduces our sports medicine committee and six places where you can support athletes in your community as a member of the Lattimore team.

Where can I find a sports physical therapy job?

The first thing you can do is research your local physical therapy clinics to see who has sports medicine programs. Make a short list of questions you’ll try to answer throughout the process to narrow down your top choices. You might want to ask: How many sports medicine PTs make up their team? What kinds of experience do they have? What does their fitness center look like and what kinds of equipment do they have? And finally, what kinds of athletes do they serve? What PT goals do they help them with, and what community relationships keep their sports medicine programs going strong?

6 ways to partner with your community as a sports physical therapist

You know that sports PT is about much more than rehabilitation and injury prevention, though those are important components. In a community clinic, you can support athletes who want to take a more proactive approach, beginning with form and technique. You can help them at all times of the year, through the offseason and competition. You can help them create strategies for cross-training and even help with the psychological aspects of their sport.

In a sports-focused clinic, you could be more valued for your expertise than you would in the competitive pro sports world. You may find yourself playing a bigger role as a training partner and supporter for talented athletes, and you’ll get recognition for contributing to their success.

We partner with the following members of our community to support athletes and teams at different skill levels:

• Doctors — Doctors are a great source of referrals for athletes with health concerns. They’re the first person a patient will see when they’re injured. They also recognize the importance of a highly personalized plan for training and nutrition.
• College teams — Many college teams don’t have the funding to hire full-time PTs, but their athletes are already performing at elite levels. We work with individual athletes and teams year-round on injury recovery and prevention as well as training programs. Many of our clients go on to have successful professional sports careers.
• High schools — High school sports can be super competitive, and recruiters are always watching them to spot their next star athletes. With scholarships in the equation, high school athletes are very serious about their performance. They also need to balance sports with academics and a healthy social life. We support high school athletes as they form training habits and routines that will shape the rest of their careers.
• Athletic trainers — Coaches and instructors at local gyms and training centers work with serious athletes in individual sports like gymnastics, cycling and boxing. These clients rely on their “team” of coaches and trainers for support a lot more than athletes with a team around them. The most talented among them can go far in national and global competition.
• Youth league sports — If you like to work with children, our partnerships with youth league sports bring in a lot of enthusiastic clients. Kids play sports for the love of the game. They face some specific challenges because their bodies are still developing and growing. They also get injured just like athletes at higher levels. These clients can be a refreshing change of pace from serious athletes.
• The clinic (individual athletes) — Sometimes individual athletes find us on their own because they’re not affiliated with a school or a team and they need support. These are often people who love running or cycling for fitness. For many, it’s an important stress reliever and a highlight of their week. We help them train smart so they can keep doing what they love for as long as they can.

Support your community in your next physical therapy job at Lattimore PT

Physical therapy jobs in professional sports come with a lot of politics and drama that don’t have much to do with the job itself. In a community clinic like ours, you can make a big impact on all kinds of athletes working on different physical therapy goals. The stakes can be very high for promising high school, college and independent athletes. Our sports PTs are there to support them at significant milestones throughout their careers.

Speaking of careers, are you searching for a sports physical therapy job right now? Our Lattimore PT sports medicine committee helps manage our programs and services for all of our athletic clients. We’re always looking for great team players!

Send us your information and we’ll be in touch. Best of luck with your job search.