Sports Medicine

What is sports medicine? 

Sports medicine involves taking approaches to decrease your risk of injury by learning about training techniques, stretching and strengthening exercises, and even proper footwear. If you develop an injury or start experiencing pain because of your sport or exercise routine, you may need any of the following sports medicine treatments:

• Physical therapy
• Taping or strapping
• Therapeutic ultrasound
• Bracing, splinting, or casting
• Sport-specific rehabilitation exercises
• Corticosteroid medications or injections 
• Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT)
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

As a last resort, if conservative therapies aren’t effective for your sports injury, you may need surgery. But many types of sports injuries or related conditions can be treated using minimally invasive arthroscopic measures, so you experience a quicker recovery period, less postoperative pain, and fewer missed games. 

In any case, whether you need conservative sports medicine care or surgical repair, throughout your sports medicine treatment plan, you learn how to cross-train and build up strength. This helps you return to the field as quickly as possible.

When should I see a sports medicine specialist?

You’re encouraged to come to the office any time you’re experiencing pain or discomfort that’s affecting your training or sports performance. The Doctors want to see you right away if you notice:

• Bruising or redness 
• Difficulty pointing or flexing your foot
• Swelling, tenderness, or inflammation
• Limited joint range of motion or joint stiffness
• Obvious deformity from a fracture or dislocation

You should also have a comprehensive sports medicine evaluation with the Doctors if you experience ankle, knee, or hip pain that’s so severe, that you can’t bear weight on it.

What happens during an orthopedic sports medicine exam?

When you come to the office for your sports medicine evaluation, our providers sit and talk with you about the symptoms you’re experiencing and what happened when the injury or pain first occurred. He may request in-office X-rays or ultrasound images to help with the diagnostic process. 

We perform a comprehensive evaluation where he checks your injury, evaluates your reflexes, and examines how well you can move the injured area. In many cases, we can get you diagnosed right away, so you can collaborate and work together to determine which sports medicine treatments may be right for you. 

Book your comprehensive sports medicine examination at the office directly through the website. You can also call the clinic to schedule.