Professional sports give a lot to people. They bring excitement, hope, fear, anger, inspiration, a career either as a sportsman or an athlete, a coach, a commentator, a trainer or a sports medicine professional. Professional sports has given us sports medicine. Anyone who has an active lifestyle, a non professional athlete or just an average joe who wants to be fit owe their health to professional sports and sports medicine.
What is Sports Medicine?
By definition, sports medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with the treatment and prevention of injuries that are related to sports and exercise. It also focuses on the physical fitness of an athlete or an individual. The role of this specialized field continues to gain popularity and prominence because more and more people are engaged in sports. Practicing individuals in this field are trained professionals which have undergone degrees and specialized training before going out in the field.
This medical field is not on focused or restricted to medicine and surgery of athletes. The specialized practice has expanded and now includes health and wellness professionals such as physiotherapist, nutritionists, psychologists, personal health managers, coaches and physicians that are trained in treating and rehabilitating sports injuries.
The sports medicine team responsibilities include:
- Clinical assessment of injury.
- Immediate field emergency injury assessment and management.
- Making the appropriate and the best decisions regarding the athletes returning to full participation to the activity after injury assessment.
- Deep and thorough assessment and check of sport emergencies such as, but not limited, to concussions, head related injuries, heat-related emergencies, cardiac arrest, fractures, wounds and spinal issues.
- Designing and implementing rehabilitation rules and protocols.
- Sports equipment fitting and maintenance.
- Purchasing of supplies and inventory duties
- Giving protective and supportive techniques and tips that allow an athlete to regain the physically active lifestyle.
- Keeping, completing and managing medical and accidental records of patients.
Sports injuries are bound to happen in time even if the athlete or individual is careful in doing a sports activity. If you suffer an injury and you belong to an HMO or PPO, you may need to go to the primary physician of the healthcare accredited company for your injury. The family or general practitioner may be a sports medicine specialist but may have the expertise needed to treat the injury. Minor discomforts and minor musculoskeletal injuries like sprains and swelling can be attended by a general practitioner and will respond to standard treatments. For serious conditions or complicated cases, a specialist should take care of the patient.
Other sports medicine specialists are:
- Podiatrist. These specialists usually treat issues around and below the knees. They typically treat runners and other athletes that are prone to to ankle and foot injuries. They also assess a person’s gait and make braces or orthotics if required.
- Physical Therapists or physiotherapists. They treat injuries and issues based on the physician’s findings and diagnosis. Physiotherapist integrates rehabilitation and training principles in patient recovery.
- The orthopedists are specialized doctors focusing on joint and bone problems. Most of these specialists are experts in joint replacement, bone fracture treatment, back surgery and joint replacement.
- Certified athletic trainers and coaches. They are the professionals who work directly and exclusively with athletes. Most can be seen with sports clubs and teams in high school and college levels but most are working on health clinics and health clubs.
- Holistic health practitioners. They use non evasive non pharmaceutical techniques in treating sports injuries. Acupuncture, herbal medicine and homeopathy are used in their treatment.
These therapies and cure to sports injuries are proven to be effective, you just have to choose the right sports doctor and the right sports medicine facility.