What is Sports Medicine?

Ever heard of the term ‘sports medicine,’ but had no idea what it meant? Have no fear, Healthpointe is here to help you understand sports medicine and all that it has to offer!

The following is a summary of sports medicine, whom it’s for, and why it’s taking the sports industry by storm. For more information, or to answer any other questions you still may have, talk to a sports medicine specialist at Healthpointe today!

  1. It’s Provided by Experts.

In order to be a sports medicine specialist, one must complete medical school, a residency program, and then one to two years of specialized sports medicine training.  Then, one must pass an exam in order to receive the “Certificate of Added Qualifications” in Sports Medicine.

Physicians who undertake additional sports medicine training  need to be board-eligible and board-certified in Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, or Physical Medicine/Rehabilitation.

The point is, sports medicine specialists are the crème de la crème, with years of training and specialty under their belts. Let’s say you are injured one day – you’re running and trip over a rock – and are taken to see an urgent care doctor. If you happen to find out he’s also a sports medicine specialist, then you are in great hands!

  1. It’s Basically Orthopedics for Athletes.

So first: what is orthopedics?

Orthopedics is the study of the musculoskeletal system – a medical term for the bones, joints, muscles, and surrounding tissue in the human body. Orthopedists are doctors who have completed medical school and are specialized in treating orthopedic injuries – like a sprained ankle, tendon tear, slipped disc, broken bones, degenerative arthritis,  or carpal tunnel.

Orthopedists are more than capable of treating injuries for athletes. It’s pretty much what they’re trained to do, since the main injuries that athletes suffer are musculoskeletal. So, why is there a need for a separate field of sports medicine?

To put it simply, sports medicine goes even deeper! A sports medicine specialist is well acquainted with the body mechanics an athlete does on a regular basis, as well as the physical strain he or she has to endure. They  are experts in assessing sports-related injuries and designing a treatment plan accordingly. They are also familiar with the sport of the injured patient and can give game-changing (pun intended) advice specific to the sport and patient.

Basically, sports medicine specialists love to see athletes flourish and win.  They will do whatever it takes to make sure their game is strong and that they are back out there on the court (or rink, or field) in no time!

  1. It’s What You Need – Even if You’re Not Injured

One of the best things about the modern world of sports is that it now has a medical field to call its own. Seriously – imagine if Kobe Bryant played basketball in the 1920s! There’d probably be no doctor who specialized in sports injuries, waiting at his beck and call. And the first major injury of his career (a strained hip flexor) probably would’ve ended it.

Or what about Clayton Kershaw? Without the advanced, preventative care of sports medicine, there’s no telling if he’d even have the resources to recover from any of his injuries – thereby perhaps wiping his name from sports history forever!

Fortunately, that’s not the case, and sports medicine is alive and thriving.

One of the best things about sports medicine is that along with treating injuries from sports, it also focuses on preventing injuries.

With the advancements in orthopedics, doctors can find patterns in tissue growth and identify warning signs in a player’s orthopedic movements and habits. Of course, in a world where Kobe played in the 1920s, many fans probably would have interpreted such amazing predictions differently (like witchcraft?). But today, this is music to every athlete’s, coach’s, and fan’s ears.

About Healthpointe

Healthpointe is a leading multidisciplinary healthcare organization offering a full range of medical services in practice locations throughout Southern California (Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, and Riverside County). We are proud of our record of excellence over the last four decades with injured workers, personal injuries, athletes, and more. For more information, a complete list of services, and Healthpointe locations, visit Healthpointe.net.

Medically Reviewed By: Dr. Roman A. Shulze

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