Orthopedic sports medicine isn’t just for athletes or people who play sports on the weekend. In fact, anyone can visit an orthopedist for any muscle or ligament issues that occur. Sports medicine relies on rehabilitation methods to help get the patient back on their feet in the shortest amount of time possible.
Who Needs Orthopedic Sports Medicine?
Orthopedic sports medicine is an umbrella term that encompasses a wide range of healthcare professionals who focus on helping people improve their athletic performance, as well as prevent future injuries. They typically treat amateur athletes, people who have suffered injuries, and those who want better results from their exercise routine.
Sports medicine physicians are well-trained in musculoskeletal medicine and often treat acute or overuse injuries. They’ve also received additional training in the non-musculoskeletal aspects of sports medicine. This includes healthy lifestyle promotion and exercise prescription for patients who want to increase their fitness level. Additionally, they typically help make “return-to-play” decisions.
Common Sports Medicine Injuries
You may also see a specialist if you want to avoid sports injuries. Like repetitive use injuries, these often occur because your body moves a specific way over and over. When a person develops tennis elbow, for example, they often suffer from chronic pain due to overuse in the muscles and tendons in the back of the forearm. Other common sports injuries include ankle sprains, ACL tears, rotator cuff tears and more.
Treatment Options for Sports-Related Injuries
While some injuries will require surgery, depending on the type of injury and its severity, doctors may prescribe braces or other support mechanisms, physical therapy, strength workouts, and other non-surgical remedies. If surgery is required, our sports medicine surgeons provide minimally-invasive surgical procedures and follow up with detailed recovery and re-injury prevention plans.
In short, anyone can rely on orthopedic sports medicine to treat and prevent injuries related to sports and exercise. Make an appointment today at ProOrtho to begin your healing journey!
Curious about other health, exercise, or pain management tips? Contact the top orthopedic doctors at ProOrtho today. Request an appointment here.
