About 3.5 million people sustain injuries from sports activities each year in the US. While many athletes end up under the knife, most recover using non-operative measures. Sports medicine physicians help them in the healing process using non-surgical methods. With a growing acceptance of alternative and holistic medicine, many prefer visiting a natural medicine center in popular locations like Trinity (Florida) for discussing the holistic approaches to healing. A 2014 American Massage Therapy Association report mentions an increasing popularity of massage among professionals and patients for managing pain, treating stiffness, soreness, and spasms, and injury recovery.
What Does A Sports Medicine Physician Do?
Ever seen a baseball match where a player got injured? You might have noticed men in blue running into the field and huddling around the player. They are sports medicine physicians who are trying to assess the extent of damage and check whether the player is fit to continue. They ably guide the athletes on ways to participate in sports while recuperating from their injuries. Some of these doctors have been athletes themselves, and they know how it feels to be out of the game. Thus, they can effectively counsel recovering patients and even work with sports physical therapists to rehabilitate them. Sports medicine physicians can tend to everybody who’s ever suffered a sports injury, be it man, a woman, or a child.
But all this sounds suspiciously close to orthopedics? What’s the difference?
Yes, similarities exist since both experts receive extensive training in musculoskeletal medicine. But the similarity ends there. While sports medicine physicians attempt to heal musculoskeletal conditions through non-operative treatment, orthopedic surgeons can perform operative treatments. The thing is, almost 90 percent of all sports-related injuries are non-surgical in nature, which is why sports medicine physicians are more popular. However, if a person comes in with a serious musculoskeletal condition, they can refer the patient to an orthopedic surgeon.
What Sort of Training Do These Doctors Receive?
Not everybody can become a sports medicine physician on a whim. A medical degree is, of course, a must. The candidate needs to graduate with a bachelor’s degree or a four-year premedical degree at the college level. Normally, such doctors have majored in fields like Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Exercise Science. They need to pass the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) next and apply for admission into a four-year medical school. Once they graduate, the doctors serve an internship program that can last from two to four years.
Since sports medicine is not a recognized residency training specialty within the United States, the majority of sports doctors finish up their residency in emergency or family medicine. The aspiring sports medicine specialists must then join a sports medicine fellowship for the duration of one to two years. Beyond this, the doctors need to get their certification from the Board after fulfilling the requirements. Thus, a total of ten to fourteen years is spent honing their skills and fulfilling their educational needs.
Scope of Treatment
- Acute Sports Injuries: Such types of injuries include muscle and ankle strains, fractures, and shoulder and knee injuries.
- Overuse Injuries: These include stress fractures and different forms of tendonitis.
- Head injuries like concussions.
- Patients suffering from osteoarthritis.
- Performance-related issues.
- Healthy lifestyle.
- Injury prevention.
- Injury management and assessment.
- Psychological issues related to sports, including substance abuse.
Sports medicine specialists at popular natural medicine centers in Trinity and other places do not just treat competitive athletes. They treat non-athletes equally effectively and are suitable for individuals who want to start or resume an active lifestyle. These doctors not only heal injuries but also open up the doors to a whole new, healthier lifestyle.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.