One of the biggest shifts in the sports medicine industry over the past decade is not even related to the practice of medicine, according to one sports medicine physician.
For John Christoforetti, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, a top development has been changes to name, image and likeness rights in college athletics.
Dr. Christoforetti practices at Maryland Orthopedic Specialists, which is part of Bethesda, Md.-based The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics, and has previously served as a team physician for both collegiate and professional sports teams.
“In the last five to 10 years, one of the biggest changes that’s affected sports medicine has been the name, image and likeness revolution. College and professional sports have blended together, which has created a shift in trying to become a sports medicine guide to players and patients who may previously have simply been high school students,” Dr. Christoforetti told Becker’s. “Now, they may already be professionals in ways that we didn’t ever anticipate before. That non-medical change has been the big paradigm shift in sports medicine.”
The changes directly impact the way that sports medicine surgeons and specialists provide and think about care for college athletes who are patients, adding a new ethics layer.
“The gravity associated with this individual and the ethics associated with return to sport, they’re not exactly different, but it brings a new layer when someone is injured,” said Dr. Christoforetti, “Are they injured at work, or are they injured at sport? Previously, there were big differences between college and professional athletes in that regard, as a professional athlete was always a work injury from the beginning.”
Dr. Christoforetti urged for the protection of team physicians and surgeons providing care to athletes from what he dubbed a liability crisis. Medical societies are attempting to address the new sports medicine obstacles created by NIL.
“We are in a new era for sports medicine,” Dr. Christoforetti said. “With NIL still hot off the press, we as a society — and as physicians — are navigating new territory. Our priority is always to do what is right for the athlete. That means working diligently to avoid unnecessary surgery and first exploring proven, effective non-surgical interventions whenever possible. When I care for a young athlete, I make sure they fully understand their injury, the risks involved and how each treatment option could impact their long-term health and return to play.”
