Sports medicine is a type of medicine that involves physical fitness. Those who specialize in it focus on preventing and addressing injuries that result from and impact physical fitness. Sports medicine specialists can benefit weekend warriors, student-athletes, professional athletes … anyone who wants to improve their physical fitness. If you fit into any of these categories and need a professional to optimize your fitness after sustaining an injury, read on.
What kinds of conditions can sports medicine help treat?
There are several kinds of conditions that sports medicine PT specialists treat daily. Some of the most common of these conditions include:
- Sprains and strains — Sprains are injuries that occur to ligaments and joints in the body. Strains occur in the muscles and tendons. Both of these injuries can cause pain and swelling and limit mobility in the region in which they occur. Sports medicine can address the sprains and strains that occur during physical activity. These PT professionals want you to get back to doing the activities you love.
- Tears — Tears can occur in the muscles, ligaments and tendons. Some tears are partial, while others involve complete separation. Tears usually occur from a sports injury. Sports medicine specialists know how tears can impact your physical activity levels, so they address your tears at the source. A sports medicine physical therapist can guide athletes through treatment to heal and rehabilitate the area of the tear.
- Bone fractures — Bone fractures are another common sports injury that sports medicine physical therapists treat day to day. These are the result of traumatic injuries in most cases, but stress fractures can be the result of repetitive stress over time. No matter the kind of bone break, a physical therapist can work with athletes to improve their symptoms and regain functionality.
How can physical therapy and sports medicine be used together to help athletes?
Physical therapists specializing in sports medicine have a few primary specialties and goals when dealing with athletes. These specialties include preventing injuries, diagnosing injuries, treating injuries, and helping to rehabilitate patients who have been injured.
The first goal of a physical therapist providing sports medicine services is to help their patients prevent injuries from occurring in the first place. This is especially important for athletes hoping to protect themselves from becoming hurt and missing playtime during their season. Sports medicine physical therapists help athletes build muscle strength, mobilize joints and improve their range of motion so that their bodies can be better equipped to handle the physical stress their sports may place on them.
If an injury is a patient’s reason for receiving care from a sports medicine specialist, the specialist will work to diagnose the patient’s condition accurately. An accurate, informed diagnosis is key to providing effective treatment.
The next goal of sports medicine physical therapists is to treat injuries. Treatment can help athletes reduce pain and inflammation, improve flexibility, and build strength. Following through with a sports medicine treatment plan can increase an athlete’s chances of maximizing their playing time. It also may improve their sports performance after recovery.
Full rehabilitation from the athlete’s injuries is another key component of sports medicine. Rehabilitation can be achieved by completing a treatment plan from start to finish and following a preventive maintenance plan.
Our REPAIR SI sports medicine specialists can treat your injury
At REPAIR SI, our range of services includes physical therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture and fitness training. When you come to us for sports medicine care, you can achieve your best physical, mental and spiritual life. We value whole-body treatment. This means that when you come to us, we’ll treat more than just one area of your life. Every patient who walks into our clinic is important to us. That’s why we’ve partnered with our community to provide you with the treatment and sports medicine resources you need.
Our team members are committed to serving our community in a professional manner. We aim to ensure that our patients feel satisfied with their care. Are you struggling with a sports-related injury? You can feel confident you’re getting what you need from us.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.