Sports Medicine Specialist

What is sports medicine?

Sports medicine is a multidisciplinary field that prevents and treats common sports injuries, as well as improving performance. Sports medicine specialists may address issues with any of the following:

• Nutrition
• Fitness level
• Stance and form
• Balance
• Strength

When you see Dr. Sibel or Dr. Samant for a sports injury, they may use a variety of treatment methods, including things like immobilization, physical therapy, and, in some cases, surgery.

What are common sports injuries?

Sports injuries include any bodily harm that occurred during a sport or physical activity. It includes things like concussions and sprained ankles. Most sports injuries fall into two categories: acute injuries or overuse injuries.

Acute injuries

Acute injuries result from a sudden trauma. You may fall, move wrong, or collide with another person or object. Broken bones, cuts, sprains, and strains are all common acute injuries.

Overuse injuries

Overuse injuries result after years of repeated movements and include things like tendonitis and shin splints.

Sometimes these sports injuries are caused by normal wear and tear, while other times they develop due to poor alignment or form. Athletes often ignore the minor pain that accompanies overuse injuries when they first occur, which leads to further, more severe damage.

How are sports injuries treated?

In cases of minor sports injuries, Our Doctors suggest starting with RICE: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Within a few days, most sports injuries begin to feel better.

If your sports injury causes immediate and severe pain and swelling, Dr. Sibel, Dr. Samant and Dr. Savage recommend an evaluation. Severe conditions, such as bone fractures, can mimic the symptoms of minor injuries, and a professional medical evaluation ensures proper diagnosis and treatment.

Depending on the type and severity of your sports injury, Dr. Savage, Dr. Sibel or Dr. Samant may suggest bracing, physical therapy, or, in extreme cases, surgery. The most common sports injury surgeries at Orthopedic Foot & Ankle include:

• Ligament reconstruction
• Tendon repair
• Fractures
• Advanced cartilage replacement

How can you prevent sports injuries?

Dr. Sibel, Dr. Savage and Dr. Samant help prevent further injuries. They recommend that all athletes warm up and cool down each time they engage in an activity. That prepares the body and muscles for movement, eases them back into rest, and makes sports injuries less likely.

During your visit, they also recommend a regular, well-rounded exercise routine that includes strength training, cardio, stretching, and listening to your body.

If you’re in need of a sports medicine specialist, call our office today or go online to book your initial consultation.