NEARLY EVERY PROFESSION in the world requires certain tools. It could be as simple as a laptop, a wrench, or a stethoscope. For professional athletes, that tool is their body. When it gets damaged through an injury, it can threaten both their livelihood and overall quality of life.
The same idea applies to everyday people. Dr. Joshua Kluetz is a Community Health Network Sports Medicine Specialist and the Team Physician for the Indy Fuel. He says injured patients at any level could take a cue from their professional counterparts, who tend to do their homework before an appointment. “They ask specific questions, and they want to understand the ‘why’ behind every recommendation,” he says.
By comparison, everyday athletes tend to approach their care differently. “They want us to tell them what’s wrong and just fix it,” he says. “Neither of these approaches is necessarily wrong, but the athlete’s mindset of partnership with their care team is something that all patients, professional or not, can certainly benefit from.”
Kluetz wants to make sure patients at every level have space to ask questions. “The best appointments are the ones where the patient leaves feeling heard and not just treated,” he says.
He adds that people often accept the first clinical recommendation without exploring alternatives. “But asking those extra questions can lead to a more personalized plan,” he says. “For instance, a patient may prefer to accept a longer recovery timeline to avoid an invasive procedure or surgery, or they may be willing to modify or reduce their workouts or sports for a time in order to limit pain and the negative impact on things like their workday.”
Before their visit, Kluetz recommends patients think through three questions:
- What is my goal?
- What am I worried about?
- What do I want to understand better?
Writing the answers down can help.
“Athletes ask these questions instinctively because their careers depend on it,” he says. “But everyone’s health matters just as much. We want patients to share in decision-making and help build a personalized treatment plan focused on their long-term health, not just a quick fix. Walking in prepared can change the entire conversation, improve outcomes, and build a lasting, trusted partnership.”
Recreational athletes do share one thing with their professional counterparts: the urge to get back to their activity of choice as quickly as possible. “Athletes are wired to push. Professional athletes do this daily, and their goal is to attain peak performance,” he says. “They may tell us they’re ready when they’re not, because the mindset tends to be, ‘I can handle it.’ Our role is to act in the best interest of the athlete, slow down when needed, and keep the long-term picture in focus.”
A fast return without proper medical clearance can lead to re-injury and long-term problems, no matter what the patient does for a living.
“Advocacy is powerful, but it has to be paired with trust in the medical team,” says Kluetz. “That’s true for pros and for athletes at any level. At the end of the day, sometimes it’s our job to protect patients from their own competitiveness.”
Community Health Network currently offers same-day orthopedic and sports medicine care through five walk-in clinics in Anderson, Greenwood, Indianapolis, Westfield, and the newly opened Noblesville location.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit ecommunity.com/services/sports-medicine.
