-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 A4e9ksiOmO0R6J6JHtbITNLRjn78pU+QcQpsU/PKVJRxyIniAmWzCN1R6hgul/fe
 AaoMVcnCmKUMN4GXtZERVQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000904454-03-000905.txt : 20031218
<SEC-HEADER>0000904454-03-000905.hdr.sgml : 20031218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031218184843
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000904454-03-000905
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031218
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031218

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ENCORE MEDICAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000944763
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ORTHOPEDIC, PROSTHETIC & SURGICAL APPLIANCES & SUPPLIES [3842]
		IRS NUMBER:				650572565
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9800 METRIC BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 1900
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78758
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5128329500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9800 METRIC BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 1900
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78758

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HEALTHCARE ACQUISITION CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950531

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GALEN PARTNERS III L P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001034486
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26538
		FILM NUMBER:		031063386

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		610 FIFTH AVE
		STREET 2:		5TH FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10020
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2122184990

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		610 FIFTH AVE
		STREET 2:		5TH FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10020
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-18</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000944763</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ENCORE MEDICAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ENMC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001034486</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GALEN PARTNERS III L P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GALEN ASSOCIATES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>610 FIFTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10020</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>956172</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>6.25</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8714303</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNa
ture></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes/><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Bruce F. Wesson, Managing Member of Claudius, L.L.C., General Partner of Galen Partners III, L.P.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-18</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----