What is sports medicine?
Sports medicine is a specialty area that focuses on the health needs of athletes. You don’t need to be a pro to benefit from sports medicine. The team at Mid Atlantic Orthopedic Associates, LLP, helps amateurs, students, and professionals.
In addition to diagnosing and treating sports injuries, sports medicine providers can also identify musculoskeletal imbalances and weaknesses that increase your risk of injury or impede your performance. They can also offer nutritional advice to help you achieve your goals.
What are common sports injuries?
You can develop acute traumatic injuries or repetitive strain injuries while training and competing in sports. Some of the most common sports injuries include:
- Sprains and strains
- Knee ligament tears
- Meniscus tears
- Tendinitis
- Bursitis
- Fractures
- Dislocations
- Rotator cuff tears
- Labrum tears
Your risk of a sport injury increases if you don’t warm up correctly, wear inappropriate footwear, or leave your protective gear on the bench. Rapid increases in the duration or intensity of your physical activity can also lead to injury.
What should I expect during a sports medicine appointment?
When you meet with your sports medicine specialist, they begin by reviewing your medical history, sports participation, and any injuries or other health issues.
Your provider completes a physical exam, even if you don’t have an injury, to evaluate your fitness and look for signs of any degenerative conditions, inflammation, or imbalances that could increase your risk of injury.
If necessary, they may use diagnostic testing, including X-rays or MRIs, to collect more information about your physical health or diagnose and gauge an injury.
Following your evaluation, you and your sports medicine specialist talk about your needs and any potential treatments or lifestyle and training adjustments. Your doctor can also provide any treatments you require on the day.
What are the benefits of sports medicine?
Sports medicine experts are often athletes themselves. They understand your passion and desire to get back to your sport as quickly as possible. They work with you to help you understand your body’s needs while also providing treatment to help you safely return to sports.
A sports medicine expert can also help you optimize your physical and mental health, enabling you to perform at your peak. They can suggest physical therapy or training adjustments to reduce your risk of injury and help you build strength, stamina, and flexibility.
