More than 21% of active adults experience a sports injury. You might think you’re immune to sports injuries if you’re not an athlete, but anyone who does sports is susceptible. You can tear your ACL just by stepping off the curb wrong!
When you’re injured, sometimes it’s not enough to see a regular doctor. A sports injury requires a sports medicine physician for optimal healing.
A sports medicine doctor is someone who specializes in sports-related injuries and rehabilitation. They can restore you from injured to health quickly.
If you’re injured, or you do a lot of sports read on to learn more about the value of sports medicine!
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They Can Deal With Sudden Injuries
Common sudden injuries are muscle or ligament tears, broken bones, dislocated joints, and tendon injuries.
All of these injuries can happen suddenly during both individual or team sports. Usually, you’ll know exactly when they happen. You might not know what happened, but you’ll know something is wrong.
This is where a sports medicine doctor can help the most. They can diagnose you immediately and start forming a treatment plan to get you back on the field or in the gym.
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They Can Address Long Term Injuries
If you do a lot of sports, you can probably identify your “problem areas.” If you’re a runner, one calf might be tighter than the other. You might have a shoulder that’s always causing trouble.
Long-term issues can be sprains, strains, or other injuries that develop over time due to overtraining or incorrect movement patterns.
A sports medicine doctor can identify the source of these issues, and make it so you don’t have to work around a problem spot. You can enjoy better movement and less pain in the long term!
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They Can Prevent Injuries
You shouldn’t wait until you have an injury to see a sports medicine doctor. Think about it the same way you think about your normal doctor. You don’t wait until you’re in the emergency room to see them, you get a check-up every year!
You can prevent a sports injury by checking in with a sports medicine doctor. They can give you an exam and check out your movement patterns and coordination. They’ll give you a good warm-up and cooldown routine that is personalized for your body and will prevent injury.
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Long Term Recovery
If you had a sports injury, your sports medicine doctor can help you with your rehabilitation practice. They’ll be able to monitor your injury in the long term, keeping track of swelling, pain, and range of motion.
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Surgery Consultation
If a doctor recommends orthopedic surgery, it’s important to get a second opinion from a sports medicine doctor if you value your athletic life.
A sports medicine doctor can analyze the benefits and potential outcomes of surgery with regard to sports. If you love doing sports, it’s always worth a second opinion before going under the knife!
Use a Sports Medicine Physician Proactively
Remember, it’s best to listen to your body when it’s whispering. Don’t wait until it’s screaming at you! Don’t wait for a sudden injury to see a sports medicine physician.
You can give your body a tune-up and manage long-term nagging issues. And, if it does come to injuries, a sports medicine doctor is the best option to restore full athletic function.
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