A sports medicine doctor is a medical professional who practices sports medicine – a specialty area within orthopedic medicine that is focused on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of problems related to the musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system is composed of muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons, all of which can be damaged by sports injuries.
A sports medicine doctor receives extra training in treating any injury or condition affecting people who live an active lifestyle, play sports, or are weekend warriors.
If you’re wondering whether you should see a sports medicine doctor, this article is for you. We’ll walk you through some common reasons why you should see a sports medicine specialist, and where you can go in Farmington Hills, MI to receive care from a highly qualified sports medicine doctor.
Treatment for Sports Injury
The most common reason to see a sports medicine doctor is to get treatment for a sports injury. However, sports injuries are not just limited to the injuries you sustain during sports – they also include injuries that occur during exercise, occupational work, and other physical activities.
Below are some common sports injuries that sports medicine doctors diagnose and treat:
- Sprains and strains
- Tennis elbow
- Shin splints
- Achilles tendon rupture
- Stress fracture
- Shoulder instability
- Bicep tendon tear
- Labral tears
- Tendon ruptures
- Knee ligament tear, such as an ACL tear
- Meniscal tear
- Iliotibial band syndrome
- Patellar and quadriceps tendonitis
- Knee instability and malalignment
- Concussion
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Symptoms of sports injuries include pain, swelling, and/or reduced range of motion. Sports medicine doctors not only diagnose these sports injuries but also treat them with surgical and nonsurgical treatment options, including the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation), NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), joint injections, casting, physical therapy, arthroscopic surgery, and joint reconstruction surgeries.
See a Sports Medicine Doctor to Stay Active, Safely
If you regularly hit the gym or do other physical activities to maintain an active lifestyle, you should visit a sports medicine doctor. Sports medicine physicians can teach you exercises that are best for your unique physique, along with techniques that can prevent unexpected muscular problems. Not only this, but they can also teach you tips and tricks to achieve the desired result from your exercise or other physical activity.
Prevent Future Injuries
Disease and injury prevention is a crucial part of any field of healthcare but in particular, it is a large focus in sports medicine. If you are planning to start a new exercise, sport, or physical activity, you should see a sports medicine physician so that they can help you integrate that activity into your lifestyle safely. To prevent future injuries, sports medicine doctors:
- Do a physical examination to determine if the activity you want to do is safe for you
- Give advice about training safety and use of equipment
- Provide conditioning and exercise programs to help you become fit for your activity
- Offer nutrition and lifestyle advice
Speed Up Your Recovery From An Injury
Want to recover quickly from a sports injury you’ve sustained? A sports medicine doctor can help you by outlining a recovery schedule for you so that you can set some realistic recovery goals and achieve them. You’ll likely find that this recovery schedule has you returning to mobility sooner than expected after surgery or an injury. While the timeline varies based on the type of injury, studies show that introducing mobility exercises into rehabilitation can speed up recovery by improving blood flow and healing as well as decreasing scar tissue formation. However, it is important to re-introduce mobility slowly and with the permission of a sports medicine doctor who has been overseeing your recovery.
Sports Medicine Doctor Near Me in Farmington Hills, MI
If you’re looking for a highly trained and reliable sports medicine doctor for your unique problem, look no further than our board-certified sports medicine doctor at Tri-County Orthopedics, Dr. Jack D. Lennox. Dr. Lennox provides high-quality, comprehensive, and individualized treatment and rehab plan to each patient. His goal is to help you recover swiftly and safely so you can stay at the top of your game.
To make an appointment with us, call today at (248) 474-5575 or use our easy online appointment request form. We look forward to serving you!
