Sports Medicine Specialist

What is sports medicine?

Sports medicine is a medical specialty that deals with physical fitness as well as the treatment and prevention of activity-related injuries. Anyone can benefit from sports medicine, but it’s particularly helpful for people who are weekend warriors or participate in organized athletics.

Aside from treating and preventing injuries, sports medicine provides education. The team at Texas Heart and Vein Multispecialty Group can provide tips and recommendations on warming up, cooling down, and proper recovery.

What conditions can benefit from sports medicine?

At Texas Heart and Vein Multispecialty Group, the team uses sports medicine to diagnose and treat various activity-related injuries, including:

• Ligament tears and ruptures
• Tendinitis
• Sprains
• Strains
• Knee injuries
• Swollen muscles
• Dislocations

You might also benefit from sports medicine if you experience a fracture due to a crush injury or fall.

What happens during a sports medicine appointment?

At Texas Heart and Vein Multispecialty Group, the team tailors sports medicine appointments to individual needs. 

Before making any recommendations, your provider reviews your medical history and asks about your symptoms, including their severity and if there are any times of the day when they’re worse, like at night or in the morning after first waking up.

Next, your provider conducts a physical exam, gently pressing on the areas of your body that hurt to pinpoint areas of warmth, tenderness, or swelling. They might also have you walk around the exam room or perform a series of easy strength and range of motion exercises.

If a survey and exam aren’t enough to make a diagnosis, your provider might order additional tests, like X-rays, an MRI, or blood work.  

How are sports injuries treated?

Treatment of sports injuries depends on the severity of your symptoms and their effect on your life. Often, conservative measures of care like ice, rest, and elevation are enough to reduce swelling and encourage recovery. More serious injuries may benefit from corticosteroid injections or custom orthotics.

If you experience a fracture or more serious injury, surgical intervention might be necessary, but only after all other treatment options are exhausted.

How can I prevent a sports injury?

The easiest way to prevent a sports injury is to warm up and stretch before exercising. In addition, the team at Texas Heart and Vein Multispecialty Group recommends wearing the proper equipment, listening to your body, and drinking plenty of fluids.

To learn more about the benefits of sports medicine, make an appointment at Texas Heart and Vein Multispecialty Group by calling the nearest office today or scheduling online.