Sports medicine is an important branch of orthopedics that serves patients with musculoskeletal conditions and injuries. A common misconception is that sports medicine only benefits athletes, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Patients of all ages and backgrounds can benefit from it.
What is Sports Medicine?
Sports medicine is a branch of orthopedics that focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing injuries and conditions caused by athletics, exercise, and other physical activities. Children and adults who participate in sports or exercise regularly see sports medicine doctors for diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions.
Usually, sports medicine involves a team headed by a board-certified orthopedic physician, plus physical therapists, athletic trainers, nutritionists, and more. These well-credentialed professionals optimize fitness, treatment, prevention, and follow-up care for acute and chronic injuries to help patients return to daily activities and athletics.
What Injuries Do Sports Medicine Doctors Treat?
Your body is incredibly complex, and when it’s engaged in athletic activity, you subject it to a wide range of stresses. Your muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, and bones absorb tremendous pressure and stress. This can result in injuries and conditions that can impact your athletic performance as well as normal movements and functionality.
Accordingly, you may encounter any one (or more) of the following injuries as you play your favorite sport:
- Sprain
- Strain
- Dislocation of a joint, such as a shoulder or patella in the knee
- Fracture of long bones, wrists, ankles, toes, and fingers
- ACL and meniscus tears in the knee
- Shin splints in the lower legs
- Achilles tendinitis between the calf and heel
- Bursitis, inflammation of fluid-filled sacs in the knee
- Arthritis, inflammation and pain caused by cartilage wear and/or injury
- Plantar fasciitis, inflammation of the connective tissue stretching across the arch of the foot
- Rotator cuff tears in the shoulder
- Concussion, a traumatic head injury
What Will My Sports Medicine Treatment Involve?
Your treatment will depend entirely on the type of injury you incurred, as well as its severity. Your orthopedic doctor will oversee your treatment, recovery, and return to normal function. If you need conservative treatment, your doctor can provide it. If you need surgery, this doctor will also perform it.
Evaluations are based on a complete physical examination and state-of-the-art imaging, such as digital X-rays, CT scans, and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). Treatment plans are multi-disciplinary and can include:
- Surgery to repair, replace, or stabilize injured hard or soft tissues (including joint reconstruction and small incision arthroscopic techniques)
- Casting for immobilization of a joint or bone
- Changes to your athletic training routine
- Advanced nutrition to enhance performance and lose/gain weight
- Pain management, including over the counter analgesics and joint injections
- Physical therapy to reduce pain, improve stamina, and increase range of motion, flexibility, and strength
- Return to play instructions
- Education on athletic injury prevention
Sports Medicine Doctors in Farmington Hills, MI
At Tri County Orthopedics, our doctors have a wealth of experience diagnosing, treating, and preventing a multitude of injuries and conditions related to athletes. We serve both professional and amateur athletes of all ages and strive to get patients back to active lifestyles and optimal performance as quickly as possible.
To request an in-depth consultation, call us at (248) 474-5575 or request an appointment online.
