Please explain to me the difference between a sports medicine physician and a physical therapist.?

Physician is a M.D.: A sports medicine physician completes medical school or osteopathic school, an internship/ residency and additional fellowship training in sports medicine. A physical therapist attends physical therapy school following college which is, like medical school, highly competitive. Some will continue training to receive their doctorate in physical therapy. Both are essential to the care of athletes.

Leader v. Team: The physician (either md or do) is the leader in directing the care of an athletic injury. They would diagnose and determine the best treatment. The therapist is a member of the team that treats the athlete's injury. The therapist may be one of many team members assisting in the athlete's treatment.

Different training: A sports medicine physician completed medical school (4 years), residency (3-5 years), and sports medicine fellowship (1-2 years) and is a doctor who can order tests, prescribe medications, prescribe physical therapy, some give injections, some are surgeons. A physical therapist treats patients with hands on treatments.