Advantages Of Consulting A Sports Medicine Physician

MedTech Outlook | Thursday, April 22, 2021

A sports medicine physician can educate professional athletes on adequate preparation for the activity or a specific sport, thereby lowering their chance of injury.

FREMONT, CA: Whether a professional athlete, a fitness enthusiast, or a weekend warrior, consulting a sports medicine specialist is one of the best investments they can make in terms of their health and fitness/performance goals. A sports medicine physician is an orthopedic physician who has received additional training and knowledge in diagnosing, treating, and preventing injuries that can occur during any form of physical activity, including exercise and sports.

Let's look at the advantages of consulting a sports medicine physician—the specific reasons professional athletes should consider seeking care from one.

Adequate Injury Management

Injury management is regarded as a critical part of sports medicine. With the assistance of a sports medicine professional, professional athletes can avoid the risks associated with untreated injuries and the need for surgery entirely. With their clinical acumen and knowledge, a sports medicine specialist can successfully manage significant damage and help ensure a fair chance of recovery.

To treat an injury, a sports medicine practitioner will often exhaust all nonsurgical treatment options, including R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression, and elevation), pharmaceuticals, regenerative medicine techniques (e.g., platelet-rich plasma and stem cell surgery), and physical therapy. If none of these options provide adequate relief, a sports medicine physician will do a complete evaluation to determine the surgical eligibility.

Preventing Injuries and Reinjuries Effectively

A sports medicine physician's in-depth understanding of how people use their bodies during exercise or play enables them to educate professional athletes about optimal body mechanics and techniques and preventive strategies to help professional athletes decrease their risk of (re)injury.

Additionally, sports medicine professionals perform pre-participation physical examinations to assist players in maintaining their health and safety. A sports medicine physician will assess if professional athletes are fit to participate in or return to their sport based on the results of their evaluation.

Enhancement of Athletic Performance

If professional athletes are an athlete looking to improve their performance, a sports medicine physician can design a training program just for them. A sports medicine physician may fully assess anatomical strengths, pinpoint areas for improvement, and propose appropriate exercise.