Advanced Bone & Joint

What Do Sports Medicine Physicians Work On?

If you have been injured during sports play, you may want to consider a sports medicine physician to provide you with the expert care you need to get back in the game. The role of a sports medicine physician is to treat and prevent a wide range of sports and physical activity-related injuries and conditions, so you can maintain your healthy lifestyle.

Sports medicine is a field of medicine that takes a nonsurgical approach (whenever possible) to treating and preventing injuries and conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system. This includes your bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles, and connective tissues, which frequently get injured during sports play.It is reported that approximately 90% of all sports injuries do not require surgery; a sports medicine physician is able to maximize nonsurgical treatments to allow patients to recover successfully, without the need for invasive surgeries.

What Services Do Sports Medicine Physicians Provide?

Sports medicine physicians have extensive knowledge and training and understand the physical attributes required to participate in different sports and activities. They are able to diagnose, treat, and manage injuries and underlying conditions that can affect physical performance, and they specialize in a range of nonsurgical treatments to effectively treat pain and other symptoms.Sports medicine physicians regularly treat both acute injuries, such as sprains, strains, and fractures and overuse injuries, which include tendonitis, shin splints, and plantar fasciitis.

Sports medicine is not just about treatment and rehabilitation, it can also help prevent future problems and promote a healthy lifestyle. Sports medicine physicians provide additional services to support overall health and wellbeing, including:

  • Education and advice around diet and nutrition.
  • Injury prevention.
  • Recommendations on safe ways to exercise and improve athletic performance.
  • Prescribing/recommending safe strength training and conditioning exercises.
  • Advise on when it is safe to return to play following an injury.

What Conditions and Injuries Can Be Treated?

Sports injuries can result from acute trauma, such from a fall, collision, or direct impact or from overusing a particular part of the body, such as an injury to the elbow from using repetitive throwing motions.

Sports medicine physicians work on a wide range of musculoskeletal sports injuries, which can include:

Upper Arm Conditions –

  • Golfer’s elbow
  • Pitcher’s elbow
  • Rotator cuff injuries and tears
  • Shoulder impingement
  • Shoulder instability
  • Shoulder tendonitis
  • Superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) injuries
  • Tennis elbow

Neck and Back Conditions –

Hip and Knee Conditions–

  • Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries
  • Cartilage injuries
  • Hamstring strains
  • Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS)
  • Meniscal tears
  • Patellar tendon tears
  • Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries

Foot & Ankle Conditions –

  • Achilles injuries
  • Ankle sprains
  • Ankle instability
  • Shin splints
  • Plantar fasciitis

What Treatments Are Used?

Sports medicine physicians utilize a variety of innovative and effective nonsurgical treatments, including regenerative medicine procedures, such as PRP therapy and stem cell therapy,which are highly effective treatments that promote the body’s own natural healing processes to repair damaged tissues and relieve pain.

In addition to maximizing nonsurgical treatments and regenerative medicine techniques, sports medicine physicians can also guide appropriate referrals to other services, such as physical and occupational therapy, and if absolutely necessary, an orthopedic surgeon for further evaluation and treatment.

Sports Medicine in St. Peters, Wentzville, and O’Fallon, MO

If you would like to find out more about how sports medicine could benefit you, contact the orthopedic and sports medicine specialists at Advanced Bone & Joint. We don’t just treat athletes, we provide comprehensive medical care and a range of treatments, including regenerative approaches like PRP therapy and stem cell therapy, to effectively treat injuries and conditions.

We work with patients of all ages and athletic abilities, including active individuals who are simply looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Our experienced providers will direct your individual path of care from evaluation and treatment to rehabilitation. We can also help prevent future problems and offer ways to improve your athletic performance.

To find out more about our sports medicine services or to schedule a consultation, contact us at (636) 229-4222 or request an appointment online.