Training

44M – Should I see a sports doc?

radiant_999Oct 26, 6:54 AM

Hey guys, I’m 44, generally healthy, and do a yearly health check (bloodwork, ultrasound, etc.). But I’m wondering if it’s worth seeing a sports medicine doctor just to make sure I’m not overdoing things or training in a way that could backfire long-term. Stats: • 176 cm / 82 kg, good shape Training (monthly averages): • Swim: 4x → 2 km freestyle, HR ~130, sprints up to 185 • Run: 2–3x → 5–10 km, ~5:30 min/km, HR ~150 • Road bike: 3x → 20–40 km, ~25 km/h avg, HR ~125 • Bodyweight workouts: ~8x • Did a sprint triathlon this year (0.5/21/5) Lifestyle stuff: • Balanced diet (protein, healthy fats, good carbs) • Every morning: 5 min cold shower + stretching + breathing exercises (~1 hr total) Goal: Honestly just to feel good, stay fit, and keep my body in a good place. So yeah — would you bother with a sports doc in my situation, or just stick to the regular annual check-ups? Thanks!

11 replies

gawd4·Oct 26, 10:16 PM
What do you expect a sports doc to do that your regular doctor can’t? Are you expecting to participate in some form of unusually strenous exercise in the near future?
wooden_glove_2384·Oct 27, 1:04 AM
Find a PT that works on pro, ammy, college, high school athletes and dancers They'll take care of you
festering_fecal·Oct 27, 11:52 PM
Just see your physician.
reasonable_bunch_458·Oct 28, 2:00 AM
No; that's not what a sports medicine doc does ...
vladi_l·Oct 28, 5:17 PM
You don't really go to a sports doc or PT without symptoms, unless you're pretty much an elite athlete who needs to always be in top shape, or have a past injury that needs monitoring Just take note of any pains or aches, that are dissimilar to your typical soreness, or obvious and easily treated with rest ailments, such as sprains or small injuries that clear in under a week. This is mostly cardio, you haven't mentioned any heavy lifting, and haven't given details on your bodyweight workouts. It's very unlikely you'll spontaneously develop something, unless you've willfully ignored signs of overreaching and overuse injuries. Basically, if you feel weird pains, cease the activity, rest a few days, resume at a lower intensity before steadily increasing within a period of a week or two, and if pain appears again before you can reach previous level of effort, THEN you go to a sports doctor
norooster1790_9·Oct 29, 11:29 AM
I swear some of you never went outside as children
sovarya·Oct 29, 5:49 PM
If all is OK. Then don't.
franciscoshreds·Oct 30, 6:01 PM
Sounds like you're fairly healthy in terms of diet and your activities. no need to see a sports doctor unless you really want to, I would maybe see a PT and see if you have any inflammation on your joints given all the activities but as long as you're taking all the little supplements for joints/inflamation (collagen, turmeric, etc) you're probably fine.
fcalive·Oct 30, 10:04 PM
Lift weights
quadruledpad_2·Oct 31, 7:41 PM
Sports docs are usually orthopedists who advise on joint problems. It sounds like you’re looking for a life coach/personal trainer. Maybe check out Peter Attia’s stuff. If you feel good, that’s your best metric.
unfixablesteve·Nov 1, 5:49 PM
Honestly I think a lot of people are just hoping to be told they should be taking T.

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