Specialist Sports MedicineNoosa & Maroochydore

Think of it like seeing a cardiologist for your heart. A Sport and Exercise Medicine Physician is the specialist doctor for your muscles, bones, joints, tendons, and ligaments.

This specialist training bridges the gap between GPs, surgeons, and physiotherapists. In practice, a sports physician works collaboratively with all three, providing thorough assessment, a clear diagnosis, and a treatment plan that may include imaging, hands-on procedures like injection therapies, medication, exercise prescription, and coordinated rehabilitation. If surgery is needed, the sports physician refers to the right surgeon and supports recovery.

The letters FACSEP after a doctor's name mean they have completed specialist training and passed national fellowship examinations with the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians. After six years of medical school and three years as a junior doctor, a sports physician completes a minimum of four years of specialist training. From starting medical school to receiving these letters takes at least thirteen years.

A GP referral is not required to be seen, but it is strongly recommended. With a valid referral, you access the Medicare specialist rebate (MBS A4). Self-referrals are always welcome.

No. The name "Sport and Exercise Medicine" comes from the training pathway, not the patients we see. We treat people of all ages and backgrounds, including office workers with back pain, retirees with arthritis, teenagers with growing pains, weekend gardeners with sore shoulders, and yes, athletes too. If your problem involves muscles, bones, joints, or movement, you are in the right place.

Yes. As a specialist Sport and Exercise Medicine service, we can refer you for an MRI under a Medicare item number that is bulk-billed at some participating radiology providers, which usually means no out-of-pocket cost for the scan, though bulk-billing is at the radiology provider's discretion. A GP usually cannot refer for a Medicare-rebateable MRI for most musculoskeletal conditions, so patients who go straight to imaging without a specialist referral often pay hundreds of dollars out of pocket.

All three play important roles in musculoskeletal care, but have different training and focus.

• Sport & Exercise Medicine Physician (FACSEP). A medical specialist who diagnoses and manages the full range of musculoskeletal injuries non-surgically. Coordinates your care, provides treatments including injection therapies and medication, orders imaging and investigations, and refers to surgeons or other specialists when needed.
• Orthopaedic Surgeon. A surgical specialist for conditions that may need an operation. If surgery is the best option, we refer you to the most appropriate surgeon and support your care before and after.
• Physiotherapist. An allied health professional providing hands-on treatment and rehabilitation exercises. We work closely with physios to ensure your rehabilitation aligns with your diagnosis and goals.

See a Sport and Exercise Medicine Physician if you have a new injury needing diagnosis, a condition not responding to physio alone, need imaging or a medication review, are unsure whether you need surgery, or have a complex problem.