Benefits to Seeing a Sports Physician

Many sporting activities push you beyond your physical limits to achieve a goal. But when you push hard enough, there’s a high risk you can get injured. Whether you’re a professional athlete who built a career around a sport or a weekend warrior just passing time, no one is immune to sports-related injuries.

Why Visit a Sports Physician?

Most sports injuries are caused by trauma or overuse of muscles or joints, often manifesting in bruises, sprains, strains, fractures, and dislocations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that from 2010 to 2016, an annual average of 2.7 million visits was made to the emergency department by patients ages 5–24 years old after sustaining an injury from sports or recreational activity.

Fortunately, there are medical specialists trained to evaluate, diagnose, and treat these injuries and help you get back on your feet. Here are some benefits of seeing a sports physician.

Treatment of Sports Injuries

Sports physicians can treat sports-related injuries either through surgical or nonsurgical means. For instance, a severe case of an ACL tear may require surgical treatment along with physical therapy. Meanwhile, some injuries may only require you to rest, use assistive devices, and take medication as prescribed by your doctor. You can turn to orthopedic doctors trained in sports medicine to provide the care you need for such conditions.

Pain Management

Aside from treating injuries, sports physicians can also address acute or chronic pain. Pain management does not need to involve surgery, and your treatment is highly individualized depending on the extent and cause of your pain.

There are multiple options to relieve pain, like epidural steroid injections, joint injections, nerve blocks, and trigger point injections. Talk to your doctor about the various pain treatments that can best fit your needs.

Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation

After receiving treatment for your injury, a sports physician can also draw up a customized rehabilitation plan to help strengthen the injured body part. Physical therapy and rehabilitation can also improve your flexibility and mobility to help you get back on your feet.

This plan is developed in collaboration with your orthopedic surgeon or primary care physician to ensure that it fits your needs and medical profile. Therapists assigned to patients recovering from an ACL tear, for instance, might place special emphasis on exercising the quadriceps and hamstring muscles.

Injury Prevention and Performance Enhancement

A sports physician can also educate you about injury prevention and performance enhancement. An important part of your rehabilitation plan is set aside for preventive care once you are cleared to return to the sport or revert to your active lifestyle. Remember, avoiding further injuries through wellness and fitness is the most sustainable way to keep playing the sport you love.

Depending on your needs and goals, your sports physician can offer you ways to improve your physical performance. You can expect customized nutrition counseling and performance advice to help you get back on the field faster and stronger than ever.  

Sports Physicians in Missouri

Don’t let a sports-related injury prevent you from living your best life. When you sustain an injury, Dr. Brandon Larkin and our team at Advanced Bone & Joint in Missouri can get you the comprehensive and patient-centered care you need.

Dr. Larkin is a board-certified, fellowship-trained sports medicine physician who has been providing both athletes and non-athletes with quality orthopedic care since 2007. An advocate of lifelong wellness and fitness, Dr. Larkin is sure to direct your path of care, from evaluation and treatment to discharge and rehabilitation.

At Advanced Bone & Joint, we treat a variety of sports injuries affecting the shoulders, elbow, hips, knees, feet, and ankles. To reach us, call (636) 229-4222, or you may schedule an appointment online. We look forward to bringing you the quality care you deserve!