A sports medicine physician can sometimes be stereotyped in treating injuries only related to athletics. It is the misconception that a sports doctor deals with on a daily basis that all they do is treat injuries geared toward sports. This false statement has pinned a sports doctor as one who has a limited supply of knowledge when treating patients. The reality is that a sports medicine physician goes through the very same process as any other doctor; if anything it can be difficult for a sports medicine physician as they can get a wide variety of patients that come in.
A sports doctor can be a one-stop shop for a plethora of injuries because you as the patient can schedule a consultation, go through surgery, and get rehabilitated all in one place. The surgical portion of the visit (depending on the severity of the injury) can result in arthroscopic surgery that requires the sports doctor to make small incisions are made on the affected area and a small camera is placed in that area, giving the doctors a better idea as to what is going on without the process in removing skin and tissue. Then there is the post-op procedure that requires rehab protocols in order for the muscle to heal a lot better. Rehabilitation requires constant stretching and keeping the muscle active for a period of time so it can develop the strength to heal faster.
Still think a sports doctor is only geared toward athletes? To say athletes do not go to sports doctors would be a complete lie; but there any many non-athletes ranging from a wide demographic who do go to these special doctors. Anyone with low-back pain, joint issues, tears, and in need of soft-tissue repair can go to a sports doctor for help. If you or anyone experiences these issues then please set-up a consultation with your local physician today.
