If you’re an athlete, it’s important to get specialized medical care. You push your body to its limits while in the middle of your game. This can result in overexertion of your muscles and tendons and cause injury over time. There is also a high possibility of getting injured while on the field during a game. Without proper guidance and treatment, these injuries can be detrimental in the long term.
Being strong and healthy is important both on and off the field – and sports medicine physicians understand that. Let’s talk about how sports medicine physicians help athletes and where you go in Greater Cleveland and Westlake, OH, for outstanding orthopedic care and sports medicine treatment.
What Does a Sports Medicine Doctor Do?
Sports medicine doctors are physicians specialized in treating men, women, and children with highly active lifestyles. In addition to treating professional and semi-professional athletes, sports medicine physicians also treat weekend warriors and fitness buffs. The main focus of sports medicine physicians is treating orthopedic injuries and conditions concerning the musculoskeletal system.
Common conditions sports medicine doctors address include:
- Fractures
- Sprains and strains
- Ligament tears
- Dislocations
- Concussions
- Arthritis
These conditions are often experienced by athletes, as they put a great deal of stress on their bodies to maintain their peak performance. Your physician’s ultimate goal is to help you correct these injuries, prevent reinjuries, and enhance your overall athletic performance.
Sports Medicine Physicians Correct Injuries
It’s not uncommon to see an athlete get injured during a sports event. How they get treatment for that injury can make or break their career in the future. Injury management is one of the most important aspects of sports medicine. When seeing your sports medicine physician for your injury, they’ll evaluate your condition, discuss any concerns you may have, and develop a tailored treatment plan to help you correct your injury and get back on the field as soon as possible.
Your sports medicine physician will likely try to exhaust all nonsurgical options to treat your condition before recommending a surgical procedure. Nonsurgical options include physical therapy sessions, medications, regenerative medicine treatments, and other minimally invasive procedures like injections.
If you need orthopedic surgery, many physicians will recommend arthroscopy. Arthroscopic procedures involve using a tiny camera, or arthroscope, to carry out your procedure while preserving as much healthy tissue around your affected area as possible. These procedures are less invasive and have a much shorter recovery period, making them ideal for athletes who want to get their heads back in the game.
Sports Medicine Physicians Prevent Further Injuries and Reinjuries
Once your injury has been addressed, you want to make sure that you don’t injure the same area again. You also don’t want to end up in a scenario where you have another detrimental injury. This is where your sports medicine physician comes into play. Sports medicine physicians understand the musculoskeletal system, and exactly how much the body can handle athletic performance before it starts to break down. Your sports medicine physician can provide you with techniques and methods to prevent injury and reinjury during future training and games.
Sports medicine physicians can help athletes by performing a pre-participation exam following their treatment and before they return to the field. This exam will help your physician determine whether you’re ready to get back to playing your sport or if more treatment is needed to get you back to a healthy condition.
Sports Medicine Physicians Enhance Athletic Performance
As stated earlier, your physician knows the anatomy of your musculoskeletal system inside and out. This makes them the perfect resource to enhance your athletic performance better. Sports medicine physicians help athletes by developing a tailored treatment plan that helps them utilize their muscles in the most effective and efficient way. These tailored fitness plans will include techniques and methods to prevent you from injuring yourself while training or on the field. Your sports medicine physician may also work with your coaches and athletic trainers to ensure you’re reaching your full potential while maintaining healthy training habits.
Sports Medicine Physicians in Northeast Ohio
If you are ready to up your game with the help of a sports medicine physician in Greater Cleveland, look no further. Orthopaedic Associates in Northeast Ohio has a team of experienced and successful orthopedic specialists who can provide comprehensive care for your sports injury and other musculoskeletal concerns, such as arthritis.
If you want to know how our physicians in Cleveland and Westlake, OH, can help you enhance your athletic performance or address your sports injury, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (440) 892-1440 or by filling out our appointment request form.
