Orthopedic Sports Medicine

No, anyone who is active, exercises regularly, or has a physical hobby can benefit from sports medicine. Weekend warriors, children in youth sports, seniors wanting to stay mobile, and workers with physical jobs can all use these services.

You should see a sports medicine doctor when you have a muscle, joint or bone injury from physical activity that does not improve after a few days of rest.

Sports medicine physicians treat injuries and conditions that affect the bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints. This includes acute injuries, such as sprains, strains, fractures, tears and dislocations, as well as chronic overuse injuries and joint pain, including tendonitis, osteoarthritis and cartilage damage.

Sports medicine physicians perform physical evaluations, diagnostic imaging, and functional testing to diagnose, manage and prevent athletic injuries. This may include biomechanical assessments, diagnostic ultrasound to view soft tissues, like tendons, ligaments and nerves in real time, and X-rays, MRIs and CT scans to identify fractures, tears or joint damage.

Sports medicine doctors provide non-surgical treatments, such as physical therapy, joint injections, bracing and customized rehabilitation plans, as well as minimally-invasive arthroscopic surgery techniques.

In general, arthroscopy results in less pain and faster healing than traditional open surgery. As a result, recovery takes anywhere from 1 to 8 weeks for basic healing, though full recovery for high-impact activities can take several months. Key factors affecting recovery time include the joint involved, the procedure performed, and whether you diligently followed your prescribed physical therapy.

Sports medicine injuries can be prevented by combining proper physical conditioning with good form, adequate rest, and balanced nutrition. Three simple ways to lower your risk of injuries include warming up properly before exercise, increasing your training intensity gradually, and listening to your body.