Sports medicine deals with all the medicines and treatments that are related to sports injuries. Like if your kid gets an injury during sports participation, physical activity or exercise, then you should immediately visit a sports medicine doctor. As far as the sports medicine doctors are concerned, they have received special training to treat injured patients. They aim to provide proper treatment to the injured persons so that they can play/move again without any difficulty. These doctors have complete knowledge about treating injury and preventing illness from inactive individuals.
When we talk about sports medicine, the first thing that comes in mind is that it only deals with professional sportsperson and athletes. But it is not true as sports medicine doctors also treat teens and kids who are involved in sports activities as well as the grown-ups who exercise for physical fitness. The people working in the construction industry can also get sports medicine treatment if they get injured during work.
We cannot call sports medicine a medical specialty. Majority of the sports medicine doctors have certification in family medicine, internal medicine, or emergency medicine, and then they get additional training. Some of these doctors have specialization in treating injuries in teenagers and kids whose body growth is quite different from adults. These doctors have board-certification in family medicine or pediatrics, with further training in the field of sports medicine. Some of the sports medicine doctors also receive surgical training, particularly as orthopedic surgeons.
Other professionals may also work along with sports medicine doctors and an Orthopedic Anesthesiologist to provide healthcare services and assist with surgery if needed.
These professionals include:
- Physical therapists: They help individuals recover and rehabilitate from injuries.
- Nutritionists: They help with weight gain or weight loss and provide dietary suggestions to improve their movability and physical functioning.
- Licensed athletic trainers: They provide rehabilitative exercise schedules to assist patients to recoup strength and avoid future injury.
Why you should visit a sports medicine doctor?
There are a number of reasons why people should visit a sports medicine doctor. Some of these reasons are listed below.
- Fractures
- Ankle sprains
- Shoulder injury
- Knee injury
- Tendonitis
- Concussions
- Heat illness
- Exercise-caused asthma
- Cartilage injuries
- Eating disorders
Furthermore, a sports medicine doctor can give advice on supplements, exercise, injury prevention, and nutrition.
When to get help from sports medicine doctor?
If in case your kid gets injured during physical activity, then it is highly recommended to get help from a sports medicine doctor. Signs of a severe injury include extreme pain, numbness, inability to place weight on an injured area, and swelling. If these symptoms are not present in your child, then let him rest at home and call a family doctor for guidance. Majority of sports injuries don’t need surgery. Their treatment usually includes using painkillers and mobilizing the injured area with a sling or cast. A sports medicine doctor may also recommend using foot orthotics that you wear inside your shoes to correct biomechanical foot issues such as problems with how you walk, stand, or run. They can also help with foot pain caused by medical conditions such as diabetes, plantar fasciitis, bursitis, and arthritis. In some circumstances, surgery is needed to realign bones or fix torn tissue.
