Sports medicine has, for the longest time, been a misunderstood field. While some people think it is an elite branch of medicine dealing with exceptional athletes, others associate sports medicine with treating injuries such as sprains and strains during sports or in the locker room. Genesis regenerative sports and aesthetic medicine has little to do with athletes. This field of medicine restores function to injured active individuals, helping them move again as soon as they should. Besides professional athletes, sports medicine experts also treat young children and teens actively involved in sports.
What surprising factors should you know about sports medicine?
Sports medicine addresses musculoskeletal conditions that are affecting your tendons, connection tissues, ligaments, tendons and muscles. Participating in sports and maintaining an active lifestyle exposes you to musculoskeletal issues that your healthcare provider will help resolve or prevent. To help you learn more about sports medicine, you should know something about the practice. For instance:
- Sports medicine is not always about rehabilitation
You will most likely think of sports medicine when someone you know has or is recovering from a sports-related injury. However, the medical field is not always about addressing injuries. Several other components make up sports medicine, like nutrition and preventive care. While rehabilitation entails helping the affected part of your body bounce back from optimal functionality to how it was before the injury, preventive care teaches you about safety and the precautions to observe when exercising, helping you minimize your risk of injuries.
- Preventive medicine is equally important
Preventive care in sports medicine is very vital. The care prevents an injury from occurring, keeping your body healthy, and allowing you to participate in your favorite sport as long as you would want. Though your doctor will help treat or manage the musculoskeletal concerns, other sports-related conditions may last for as long as a lifetime. Therefore, learning to prevent an injury helps save you energy and time, and enables you to get back to the activities you love.
- You do not have to be a professional athlete to seek a sports medicine specialist
While most people associate sports medicine with high-paying athletes, sports medicine is more than the individuals. Anyone can seek the services of a sports medicine expert, including individuals participating in sports like swimming.
What issues do sports medicine physicians deal with?
Though sports specialists work mainly with athletes, this specialty can be of benefit for your overall health. While some specialists deal with non-operative issues, others might focus on the surgical options of addressing musculoskeletal conditions. Besides issues like joint and muscle injuries, the other injuries the medical professional is likely to deal with include:
- Acute or chronic diseases like diabetes and asthma
- Head injuries like concussions
- Injury prevention
The ability to bounce back from an injury and engage the affected body part to eventually fully function is the primary goal of sports medicine. Sports medicine specialists deal with various physical conditions such as dislocations, fractures, and sprains. Call your doctor to learn more about sports medicine.