If you are an athlete or a person with an active lifestyle, and you have been having issues with chronic sports injuries and other matters that affect your athletic performance, you could do well by seeing a sports medicine doctor. These highly trained medical professionals are often seen on professional sports teams, advising athletes on treatment plans, injury prevention, and helping boost their performance.
If you are thinking about when would be the best time to make an appointment with one – we’ve got you covered. Below are some of the signs that indicate it’s time to see a sports medicine doctor.
When you experience persistent pain or discomfort during exercise.
If your body aches every time you work out, it could be indicative of an underlying issue that needs medical attention. Whether it’s muscle weakness in a certain area of the body or poor form or technique, a sports medicine doctor can perform a thorough assessment and see where the problem lies. These may seem like little things, but as an athlete or someone who wants to remain physically active, it is a very big deal.
When you suffer from frequent injuries.
Whether it’s sprains, strains, fractures, dislocations, or another type of injury – if an injury keeps occurring no matter how much rest and recovery time is taken between workouts, it needs to be investigated. Injuries, no matter how minor, prevent you from playing at your best. A sports medicine physician can help minimize the risk of injury by investigating the underlying cause and can even help improve your performance.
When you have difficulty recovering after a workout.
While soreness after exercise is normal, especially if new exercises are being performed, if the soreness persists beyond 48 hours, you could be experiencing fatigue from overtraining, which needs to be addressed by a qualified sports medicine specialist. Some changes need to be made to get you back to proper training and workout programs.
When your performance has plateaued.
Are your usual workouts not providing you with the same results as before? As an athlete, you need to be at optimal performance levels, so issues like inadequate training techniques, lack of strength, and any stiffness should be addressed immediately. A sports medicine physician is trained to look for causes of training plateaus and help you improve your performance without risking injury.
When you need advice on nutrition.
Athletes need good nutrition for strength, energy, endurance, stamina, muscle-building, and body repair. Nutrition plays an important role in athletic performance, so having access to nutritional advice tailored specifically toward the athlete’s unique needs can help with producing optimal outcomes during training.
Sports Medicine Doctor in San Antonio, TX
Dr. Geoffrey M. Millican is our sports medicine doctor at the Center for Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. As a sports medicine specialist, Dr. Millican can treat injured athletes and weekend warriors with a range of non-surgical treatments, as well as the most advanced arthroscopic surgical techniques that enable our patients to return to their sport quickly.
Sports medicine services can make a big difference in an athlete’s life. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Millican, call our office today at (210) 692-7400, or use our convenient online form.
