When you hear the term “sports medicine,” the first thing to probably comes to mind is that it’s for athletes only. However, this is not the case. Sports medicine is for many more groups of people than just athletes.
What Is Sports Medicine?
Sports medicine is a subspecialty of orthopedic medicine concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of musculoskeletal injuries that are usually related to sports or exercise.
Despite being commonly connected to athletes, there are a lot more patients that benefit from care from a sports medicine doctor. People who exercise regularly, live an active lifestyle, play sports amateurly, or experience symptoms due to exercise or physical activity can all benefit from sports medicine.
Sports medicine includes a variety of treatment methods, including medications to relieve symptoms, physical therapy, lifestyle changes that support healing and enhance performance, sports guidance (for safe playing/exercising and nutrition), surgery, and post-injury and post-surgery rehabilitation and recovery. Sports medicine also employs a variety of non-invasive and minimally invasive treatments designed to enhance healing and support optimal performance.
The following are injuries that, while most commonly associated with sports, can happen to just about anyone. Patients with these conditions can benefit greatly from seeing a sports medicine doctor.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear
The anterior cruciate ligament, also known as ACL, is one of two fibrous bands found in the knee joint. It is responsible for holding the bones together for stable movement.
A tear in the ACL is usually caused by sudden, extreme twisting of the knee. It is most commonly related to football and basketball. However, it can occur during any activity involving twisting of the knee, collision with others, or falling from any height while in motion.
Posterior Cruciate Ligament Tear
The posterior cruciate ligament, also known as PCL, is the other fibrous band found in the knee joint. Along with the ACL, it connects the thighbone to the shinbone for stabilization with movement.
A PCL tear is caused by a sudden fall on a bent knee or due to a hard blow to the knee below the kneecap. Much like ACL tears, PCL injuries are common in soccer and football, but they can also occur in vehicular and workplace accidents.
Rotator Cuff Injuries
Rotator cuff is a term used to describe a group of tendons and muscles surrounding the shoulder joint. It provides stabilization in motions that require lifting and rotating of the shoulder.
Rotator cuff injuries are most commonly reported in people who are required to do repetitive overhead movements, for example, tennis players, baseball players, carpenters, and painters.
Achilles Tendon Tear
The Achilles tendon is located in the back of the foot between the heel bone and calf muscle.
Injury of the Achilles tendon occurs during sports, such as football, tennis, or basketball, as well as due to overuse injuries or tendonitis (inflammation of a tendon).
These are just a few examples of the many injuries and conditions treated by sports medicine doctors. If you are experiencing pain in any part of your body when you exercise, play a sport, do chores around the house, or while fulfilling your workplace duties, a sports medicine doctor can help.
Sports Medicine Specialists in San Antonio, Texas
If you have any concerns about your joint health or have difficulty performing home, work, leisure, or athletic activities due to an orthopedic condition, talk to the experts at the Center for Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine in San Antonio, TX. Whether you are a professional athlete or just someone who wants full function of your musculoskeletal system, sports medicine can help. We provide high-quality assessments, care, and treatments for a wide array of injuries and conditions.
Call us at (210) 692-7400 or request an appointment online. We look forward to serving you soon!
