Advanced Bone & Joint

Top Frequently Asked Questions About Sports Medicine

Sports medicine focuses on the treatment and prevention of injuries arising from sports and exercise. It helps athletes as well as physically active people improve their performance, recover from injury, maintain fitness, and prevent future injuries.

Below are a collection of FAQs regarding sports medicine.

Q: What Does a Sports Medicine Physician Do? 

A sports medicine physician specializes in caring for injuries acquired from playing sports, exercising, or from otherwise being physically active. Your sports medicine physician cares for your injury and explains how to take care of it at home while remaining active.

Q: What are Sports Injuries? 

Sports injuries happen when playing sports or exercising. Most are caused by overuse of muscles or tendons that have not been conditioned, and are exerted too fast and too soon.

Acute injuries occur suddenly when playing or exercising, such as is common with sprained ankles or broken bones.

Chronic injuries happen after playing a sport or exercise over time.

Q: Is an Evaluation Necessary? 

It is important to be evaluated by a physician before you start a functional fitness exercise program, to ensure your fitness and the suitability for the program.

Q: Are Opioids OK? 

Opioids may be prescribed for pain relief due to high-contact sport injuries, especially fractures. This practice is now being strictly controlled for younger athletes.

Q: When Should Heat and Ice be Used?

Ice is used in the acute stage of an injury, within 24 – 48 hours after injury, or when there is swelling. Ice reduces inflammation and swelling by decreasing blood flow to the injured area.

Heat increases blood flow and promotes pain relief after inflammation and swelling subside. It warms muscles before exercise, physical activity, or physical therapy.

Q: What Are Common Sports Injuries?

 

Some of the more common sports injuries include:

  • Strains, sprains and pulls to the ankles, knees, hamstrings, or groin area are among the most common sports injuries
  • Shin splints involve pain along the shin bone (tibia)
  • Knee injuries comprise more than half of all sports injuries; these include:
    • Tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), one of the major ligaments in the knee
    • Patellofemoral pain syndrome is an injury resulting from the repetitive movement of the kneecap against the thigh bone
    • Meniscal tears are traumatic knee injuries from sports that involve a lot of heavy landing, twisting and pivoting such as soccer, football, and basketball
  • Tennis elbow (epicondylitis), when tendons in your elbow are overloaded, usually due to repetitive motions of the wrist and arm
  • Shoulder injuries include sprains, strains, and dislocations caused by overuse and repeated overhead movement
  • Concussion and brain injuries due to trauma to the head during contact sports. Symptoms include nausea, difficulty concentrating, loss of balance, dizziness, amnesia, disorientation, headaches, and other symptoms. Unconsciousness may occur in severe cases
  • Sciatica, disc pain, and lower back pain affects athletes who participate in baseball, cycling, running, tennis, and golf. Sciatica is most commonly caused by a lack of proper stretching.
  • Achilles Tendonitis involves inflammation and pain in the Achilles tendon, common among runners and athletes.

Q: When Should I Seek Medical Attention?

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen usually relieve the pain of common sports injuries. If not, or if you suspect a serious injury or are experiencing any of the following symptoms, see a doctor as soon as possible:

  • Deformities in the joint or bone (a crooked appearance or abnormal movement)
  • the injured area cannot bear weight
  • Excessive swelling
  • Changes in skin color beyond mild bruising
  • RICE (rest – ice – compression – elevation) therapy does not help

Q: How Can Sports Injuries be Prevented?

Many sports injuries are preventable by following safe exercise habits.

Every workout should start with a gentle, pre-participation warmup. This increases blood flow to the muscles, providing flexibility and decreasing the likelihood of injury.

Recognizing the signs of fatigue and strain is also important. Stop the activity when your body tells you to. Muscle fatigue erodes protective mechanisms and increases the risk of injury.

If you have suffered a sports injury contact Advanced Bone & Joint today at (636) 229-4222. Or go online to schedule an appointment. Our orthopedic specialists can help get you back to your active lifestyle.