What is sports medicine?
Sports medicine is a field of health care that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of common sport-related injuries that affect the musculoskeletal system. The orthopedic specialists at Tier 1 Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Institute offer comprehensive services to relieve your pain and help you heal from sports injuries like:
- Fractures
- Tendinitis
- Bursitis
- Concussions
- Dislocations
- Rotator cuff tears
- Muscle sprains and strains
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears
There are also injuries that are common in specific sports because of the repetitive use of certain joints, ligaments, and tendons. Conditions like tennis elbow and jumper’s knee can be painful and limit what you can do physically.
When should I schedule a sports medicine consultation?
You should schedule a sports medicine consultation soon after you experience an injury. In some cases, pain and other symptoms of a sports injury don’t show up right away. The team at Tier 1 Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Institute recommends an evaluation soon after the incident to reduce your risk for complications. They provide on-site X-rays and other diagnostic imaging tests to evaluate your injury. The team also customizes a treatment plan to quickly relieve your pain and get you started on your recovery.
What treatments are available in sports medicine?
The orthopedic specialists at Tier 1 Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Institute offer a wide variety of treatments, including comprehensive fracture care, to help you heal from a sports injury. Initially, they may recommend conservative therapies to reduce your pain and help you regain mobility in the affected area. Conservative therapies that are available for sports injuries include:
Medications
Pain relievers and anti-inflammatories can provide long-lasting relief of pain and swelling. You might also benefit from heat or ice therapy to manage your symptoms and help your body heal.
Steroid injections
Steroid injections are available when oral medications aren’t working effectively. The injection delivers the anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medication directly into painful joints to alleviate inflammation and pain.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
PRP is a substance naturally in your blood. It contains growth factors that stimulate your body to produce new cells to replace those that have damage. Injections of PRP harness the natural healing ability of your body, so you can recover more efficiently from musculoskeletal sports injuries.
Minimally invasive surgery
If you have a severe fracture, joint deformity, or other serious condition, you might be a candidate for surgery. Minimally invasive surgery uses small incisions and specialized techniques to reduce your risk for unnecessary trauma to your soft tissues. Following surgery, the team can get you started on a rehabilitation plan. They offer on-site physical therapy to speed up your recovery and reduce your risk for additional sports injuries. If you experience a sports injury and need an orthopedic evaluation, request one online or by calling the Tier 1 Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Institute nearest you today. Urgent care services are available.
