Sports Medicine Physician, One-stop Service

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.

Orthopedic Surgeons vs. Sports Medicine Physicians

Orthopedic surgery is a branch of surgery and a focus of medicine that involves the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons are often specialists in sports medicine as well in order to offer their patients optimum support. Orthopedic surgeons practice surgical and nonsurgical means in order to treat different sports injuries, traumas, infections, disorders, diseases, and tumors. Orthopedic surgeons generally face countless similar abnormalities as sports medicine physicians. Therefore they either team up and often work together such as a part of a sports medicine clinic or most commonly an orthopedic surgeon also may specialize in sports medicine.

Though orthopedic surgeons treat non-surgical injuries as well as surgical, many of the common surgical procedures include arthroscopies of numerous kinds, joint replacements, fracture repairs, and spinal fusions. Arthroscopic surgery is a very common procedure that allows a lot of choices and worry free procedures amongst patients. A reason why arthroscopy is so common is that it can be used for multiple measures, as well as having a very small impact as a traditional surgery might with a fast recovery time.

In addition to an arthroscopic surgery, orthopedic surgeons are generally specialists with arthroplasty procedures. Arthroplastic surgery is generally an elective procedure where arthritis patients hope for the surgery to relieve pain and restore function in the affected joint. An example of an arthroplastic surgery is a procedure such as a hip or knee replacement.

Sports medicine physicians work with arthritis patients as well as orthopedic surgeons. Sports medicine doctors will work with them not so much on a surgical aspect as an orthopedic would but more so, on a treatment level ranging from going to physical therapy to learning how to strengthen and live about your arthritis. Generally a sports medicine physician deals with physical fitness and the prevention of sports related injuries before they become bad enough where surgery by an orthopedic surgeon is necessary.

Sports medicine and orthopedic specialists will often work together to create the best treatment plan possible for patients with conditions as severe as osteoarthritis.  Osteoarthritis is a condition mainly affecting older people by limiting their range of motion and looseness of joints, typically affecting knees, hips and shoulders. As a sports doctor would start by trying medication, different levels of exercises, and gentle stretching to help ease the pain, an orthopedic surgeon may suggest carrying out surgery. Surgery would involve a prosthetic joint, which is found to be very common among older osteoarthritis patients but is also seen as a last resort for the patient.

Both orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine physician’s work together to give their patients optimum benefits and recovery no matter what their injury or abnormality may be. It is unbelievable all that technology has to offer to bring such success with such little harm through technological advances.