Sports medicine is a medical specialty that focuses on the treatment and prevention of injuries related to sports, fitness, and exercise. Exercise and physical activity are an important part of our overall health. When being active results in injury, pain, and immobility, it becomes harder to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Injury with activity becomes more common with overuse and age.
Like with any injury, prevention is key and Sports Medicine deals with much more than injuries! Injury prevention, rehabilitation, nutrition all are key points of discussion when working with a provider.
An active lifestyle, whether through sports or regular exercise, can lead to direct trauma injuries that affect your ligaments, cartilage, and soft tissues. Seeking treatment early and proactively prevents long-term damage from sports-related activity can occur due to untreated injuries and stress on your joints.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common sports-related injuries.
Common Sports Medicine Injuries
Concussions
Knee ligament tears
Meniscal tears
Rotator cuff tears
Shoulder impingement
Sprains and strains
Tendonitis and bursitis
Tennis elbow
Golfer’s elbow
Pitcher’s elbow
Shin splints
Prevention is Key
Prevention really is the best form of treatment. As tempting as it is to jump right into an activity without preparing, it is a recipe for injury. Be sure to stretch and warm up before participating in any fitness activities. In addition, take time to practice proper technique and ensure you are using good equipment. During physical activity be mindful of fatigue, dehydration, and listen to your body. Finally, be sure to cool down after.
When to Seek Help
The physicians of Performance Orthopedics are skilled sports medicine experts in the non-operative care of sports medicine and orthopedic injuries (also known as primary care sports medicine). Our board-certified, fellowship-trained sports medicine physicians bring specialized training and experience to patients of all ages. Our mission is to return you to your pre-injury condition as quickly as possible, utilizing a multi-faceted team approach. We treat weekend warriors and active adults as well as school-aged, amateur competitive, and professional athletes.
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