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. Colorado has 146 practicing sports medicine doctors. Broken out by city, sports medicine doctor density in Alamosa is 1, in Arvada is 3, in Aspen is 2, in Aurora is 11, in Basalt is 2, in Berthoud is 1, in Boulder is 13, in Breckenridge is 3, in Broomfield is 3, in Buena Vista is 1, in Centennial is 1, in Colorado Springs is 14, in Commerce City is 1, in Craig is 1, in Crested Butte is 1, in Delta is 1, in Denver is 23, in Durango is 3, in Eagle is 1, in Edwards is 3, in Englewood is 4, in Fairplay is 1, in Fort Carson is 5, in Fort Collins is 9, in Frisco is 13, in Golden is 12, in Grand Junction is 4, in Greeley is 3, in Greenwood Village is 6, in Gunnison is 2, in Highlands Ranch is 1, in Lafayette is 1, in Lakewood is 2, in Leadville is 1, in Littleton is 10, in Lone Tree is 2, in Longmont is 3, in Louisville is 4, in Loveland is 2, in Montrose is 1, in Pagosa Springs is 1, in Pueblo is 2, in Steamboat Springs is 2, in Sterling is 1, in Superior is 1, in Thornton is 5, in U S A F Academy is 2, in Usaf Academy is 1, in Vail is 24, in Westminster is 2, in Wheat Ridge is 3, and in Windsor is 1.

Colorado is the Centennial state; having won statehood in 1876. Its capital is Denver, called the “Mile High City,” because its altitude at the state capitol steps is 5,280 feet. Colorado’s population is 4,653,023, and over half the state’s population is in the Denver metro area. Known for its Rocky Mountains and abundant outdoor sports opportunities, such as skiing, hiking, fishing and hunting, Colorado also offers tourists Pike’s Peak, the Royal Gorge, and the Red Rocks outdoor amphitheater. Denver is home to an active theater culture, a world-class symphony, and many sports activities. You can visit a gold mine, tour the state capitol building, climb a mountain, or relax in some therapeutic natural hot springs.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Colorado has a population of 4,665,177. Of this population, 1,140,002 are under the age of 18 and 462,190 are at or above the age of 65.