Most people who are injured while playing sports seek medical treatment from their primary care physician. The physician makes an effort to diagnose the injury, treat it with physical therapy or medication, and then release the athlete to return to play.

A better option is to visit a sports medicine specialist. When working with an experienced sports medicine team, you have access to better services, diagnostics, treatments, and more.

A sports medicine doctor can help with a variety of injuries, including:

• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears
• Nerve Compression Injuries
• Sprains and Strains
• Fractures
• Knee Cartilage Injuries
• Shoulder Separation
• Patellar Tendonitis
• Meniscal Tears
• Shoulder Dislocation
• Tennis Elbow – Lateral Epicondylitis
• Tendonitis
• Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) injuries

All athletes injure themselves at one point or another, and a sports medicine provider can help speed up recovery and minimize the recurrence of future injuries.

It does not matter what sport you play – there are some things that all athletes have in common when it comes to injuries, including muscle strains, pain, loss of flexibility, and swelling near the area of injury.

A sports medicine doctor can address these concerns, diagnose the problem, speed up recovery, and optimize your performance when you are back on the field again.

Even though sports medicine is a relatively new specialty, it is gaining popularity because of its many benefits for athletes and active adults. An experienced sports medicine doctor can make an undeniable difference for athletes who need injury treatment, rehabilitation, and performance improvements.

Here are a few benefits you can expect when choosing a sports medicine specialist instead of a general practitioner:

1. Specialized Services: Sports medicine doctors focus on the musculoskeletal system specifically, with years of training on conditions affecting the joints, bones, muscles, ligaments, and more. They understand how exercise and sports impact the human body and provide pro-level care for people of all ages.
2. Personalized Treatment: Every athlete is unique, which is why your treatment plan is customized to your body, injuries, and activities. These tailored treatment plans help athletes feel good both on and off the field.
3. Faster Recovery: Everyone faces injuries at some point, but it doesn’t have to be something that leaves you out of the game indefinitely. Our specialists have a variety of treatment solutions to speed up recovery and minimize long-term consequences from these injuries.
4. Injury and Reinjury Prevention: A sports medicine specialist can offer specific advice for training and therapy, helping to reduce the risk of injury in the future. Additionally, doctors can provide pre-game physical exams to help athletes make “return to play” decisions.
5. Modern Treatment Options: Cutting-edge technology provides optimal results for athletes, including both surgical solutions and minimally-invasive therapies.
6. Enhanced Performance: You want to play your best game every time you step onto the field, and a sports medicine doctor can help. Talk to our team about a personalized training program designed around your strengths and weaknesses.   

• Therapeutic modalities (e.g., ultrasound)
• Rehabilitative modalities (e.g., electrotherapy, cryotherapy)
• Preventive modalities (exercise prescription)
• Surgical procedures (e.g., arthroscopy)
• Prescription medications (e.g., pain relief and symptom management)

When dealing with patients who have suffered an injury, the primary goal of sports medicine doctors is to alleviate pain and prevent any additional damage from occurring.

The doctor will need to do a physical examination of the injured area to determine whether surgery will be necessary. Whenever possible, our team prioritizes minimally-invasive treatments to speed up recovery.

Whether you participate in team sports such as football, basketball, baseball, soccer, or individual sports such as running, cycling, or swimming, any sport can lead to injury. If an injury occurs, it is essential to get the proper care and treatment from a qualified professional.

Even if you don’t have an injury, you can still benefit from sports medicine services. Athletes often take a proactive approach through sports medicine to minimize the risk of injury and boost performance at the same time.

Whether you are a competitive athlete or want to keep your body moving in old age, a sports medicine team can help you maintain peak physical performance.

At Orthopedic Associates, we offer a full-service approach to treat everything from chronic pain to sports injuries and more. Contact our team to book an appointment: (972) 420-1776.

We require all refill requests to be called in prior to 4:00 P.M. Monday – Thursday and 3:00 P.M. on Friday. Any requests after these times are subject to being refilled the next business day. A change in medication or dosage may require a follow-up visit with your physician.