A sports medicine doctor is a practitioner who has additional expertise in conditions that frequently affect people participating in sports. These physicians help their patients avoid, treat and handle several injuries. In emergency rooms, some jobs. Others have the practice of family, pediatric, or recovery. Some sports medicine doctors are surgeons who specialize in muscles and bones (orthopaedics).
Bear in mind that both surgeons and non-surgeons can perform sports medicine and orthopaedic sports medicine. If you need a surgical examination, be sure to look for a surgeon board-certified in orthopaedic sports medicine.
Sports doctors aren’t just for athletes. A sports injury may occur to someone who exercises or plays sports on weekends. Your primary care doctor may be the first physician you see. You’ll typically be referred to a sports medicine doctor if he or she feels you need specialized treatment.
Here are five explanations for getting this specialist’s attention.
You’ve got an acute injury from sports.
Some accidents happen unexpectedly when you’re playing a sport or exercising. Sprains and strains are conventional ones. Muscle and knee pain, fractured bones, dislocated knees, and fractures to the Achilles tendon are more severe. This is the tendon behind your ankle, which binds the muscle in the back of your calf to the bone of your foot.
Acute injury symptoms can include:
- Sudden pain
- Inflammation
- Weakness
- Movement failure
- A joint or bone that looks out of place
You have a chronic sports injury.
These are injuries that, over time, grow. Often they come from the preparation that is too rough or too long. An injury to your rotator cuff is a common example (a group of muscles and tendons in your shoulder). A swollen tendon (tendinitis) and fractures in the bone are other examples.
Symptoms of these injuries include:
- Pain when playing or exercising
- Swelling that gets worse after stopping the activity
- A pain or ache that remains when you are resting
You need orthopedic surgery.
You may need to see an orthopaedic surgeon if you have a fractured bone or a dislocated joint from a sports injury.
Treatment can involve repair by surgery:
- The tendon torn
- Ligament tore (tissue that connects a bone to another bone or holds a joint together)
- Injuries to the rotator cuff
You’re healing from injuries from sports.
A sports injury clinic will help you heal and return to your normal activities if you’ve had a sports injury or surgery. Recovery needs to begin as soon as possible. This avoids stiffness and muscle fatigue. However, returning to your sport or to exercising too soon may result in another injury. A specialist in sports medicine will outline for you a recovery schedule and can assist you with:
- Swelling and pain relief medications
- Splints or aids for region stabilization
- Healing-promoting therapies such as massage, heat and cold, electric stimulation or stimulation by sound waves
- Range-of-motion activities to help you fully stretch and flex the joint affected
- Exercises for Stretching
- Exercises for strengthening
You want to prevent a sports injury.
A valid reason for seeing a sports medicine doctor is to avoid a sports injury. If you are beginning a new sport, physical activity, or exercise, suggest it. The visit can involve:
- A physical test to ensure that the activity or sport is safe for you
- A regimen of conditioning and exercise to get you fit for the activity
- Advice on secure training and facilities
- Nutrition and safe lifestyle tips
- A program of exercises for warm-up, stretching and cooldown
