While you may think that sports medicine doctors treat injuries of only athletes or sports professionals, they also treat any physically active person that incurs an injury or illness.
With that being said, sports medicine doctors not only treat your acute illnesses and injuries such as fractures, strains, and sprains, but they can also treat your long-standing musculoskeletal injuries and other illnesses that can potentially affect your performance.
Let’s talk about some common chronic illnesses an orthopedic doctor specializing in sports medicine can diagnose and treat and where you can find the best sports medicine doctor in Farmington Hills, MI.
Common Chronic Illnesses a Sports Medicine Doctor Treat
According to Cleveland Clinic, sports medicine doctors can treat chronic and non-orthopedic illnesses.
Chronic orthopedic conditions develop due to overuse, are long-standing, and can affect performance. These illnesses are generally progressive, starting slowly and continually worsening with time.
The following are some common chronic musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal illnesses that sports medicine doctors diagnose and treat regularly.
Osteoarthritis
Arthritis is a highly prevalent chronic condition in the US. This chronic illness has many forms that can lead to symptoms like pain, stiffness of joints, swelling of joints and surrounding area, redness of the skin over joints, and decreased range of motion.
Osteoarthritis, a form of arthritis, is a common chronic musculoskeletal system disease that sports medicine doctors diagnose and treat. Injury during sports or physical activity is a common cause of osteoarthritis in athletes and physically active persons.
A sports medicine doctor can identify osteoarthritis in its early stages and do necessary interventions to slow the progression of the illness.
Depending on the severity of cartilage damage, a sports medicine doctor can recommend treatments, including RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) therapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, joint injections, arthroscopic surgery, joint replacement and reconstruction, and physical therapy.
Hypertension
Apparently, athletes and physically active people are thought to be free from cardiovascular disease and hypertension. But, in fact, many athletes, particularly those who have sustained a spinal cord injury, can have arthritis – mainly because of loss of autonomic control of blood pressure.
In collaboration with your other doctors, a sports medicine doctor can manage hypertension by using interventions like dietary changes, lifestyle changes, weight loss, and medications.
Diabetes
A person who is a sports enthusiast but is diabetic can also get help from a sports medicine doctor. A sports medicine doctor can carefully manage diabetes while maintaining and maximizing your athletic performance.
Your sports medicine doctor will work with your dietitian and other healthcare specialists to develop a plan for you and ensure your disease doesn’t hold you back from your passion.
Sports Medicine Doctor in Farmington Hills, MI
If your chronic illness is holding you back from playing your favorite sports or physical activity, our sports medicine doctors at Tri County Orthopedics have got you covered. Our team of experts has a board-certified sports medicine doctor, Dr. Homer C. Linard, who offers a wide range of sports medicine treatment options for your acute and chronic injuries and illnesses.
If you would like to make an appointment with our sports medicine doctor, call us today at (248) 474-5575 or use our convenient online request an appointment form.
