Bear with me, I'm sort of confused on this. I understand that DOs learn osteopathic manipulation techniques. Is it a useful way to treat sport injuries? And is that the only difference between MD and DO sports medicine physicians?
I'll try to answer your question...
I am a Family Medicine and Sports Medicine physician, who is also a DO, so I should be able to give you some perspective on your question. I completed a sports medicine fellowship and also passed the Certificate of Added Qualifications in Sports Medicine Exam.
Because of my training as a DO, I have successfully integrated Family Medicine, Sports Medicine, and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment in my practice. I perform consults for both Sports Medicine and OMT which adds to my Family Medicine base for patient care.
The biggest difference between myself and my Family Medicine colleagues is that I do OMT. The truth is that many DOs (and yes, even sports medicine DOs) don't utilize their OMT training enough. I integrate it when applicable to both sports medicine and non sports-medicine related patients and it has for me very successful in my practice.
OMT has been useful for my patients more for a chronic sports medicine related spinal injury (neck, back). There are DOs who use it for more acute issues but I rely on my sports medicine training to treat the acute injury with conventional medical strategies and employ OMT when appropriate as part of the overall recovery program.
The difference between a DO and an MD sports medicine physician may be nothing more than formal OMT training. And the actual practice of OMT is variable. But by not using OMT, not only is a DO not optimizing their care with an additional tool, but they are also missing extra potential income.
More importantly, one should ask if any physician that makes the claim of being a "sports medicine doctor": are they fellowship trained and do they have a CAQSM (Certification of Added Qualifications in Sports Medicine).
Generally it is more important to have the fellowship as the CAQSM for many is more an academic achievement meant to allow them to direct a sports medicine fellowship program. That and it is also validation of their sports medicine training-"board certification".
Hope this answers your question. MD or DO, you'll see both types of physicians in local high schools, colleges, semi-professional, and professional sports.