What Is Sports Medicine?

Sports medicine, as the name suggests, refers to medicine that focuses on treating injuries incurred during playing sports. Sports medicine is not a medical specialty and encompasses a variety of areas of expertise such as internal medicine and emergency medicine.

Read on as we uncover important facets about sports medicine, specialists, and specialties included in the practice of sports medicine.

What Does ‘Sports Medicine’ Refer To?

Sports medicine is a branch of medicine that focuses on injuries incurred during playing sports. It encompasses physical therapy, physical fitness, orthopedics, sports nutrition, and sports psychology. Sports medicine is not only focused on treating athletes involved in elite sports, but can also help if you suffer from acute and chronic injuries incurred during recreational sports.

Sports medicine specialists can also help you if you need assistance enhancing your physical performance during sports and exercise. 

Generally, sports medicine has been found to refer to orthopedic medicine. However, in practice, several medical specialties treat sports injuries. These include cardiology, gynecology, and even psychiatry and ophthalmology.

Another essential thing to note about sports medicine is that it doesn’t only include physical ailments like fractures and sprains but also covers injuries from overuse of a muscle, degenerative disease, and tendonitis.

Sports nutrition and biomechanics are other sports medicine areas that medical and non-medical specialists treat like physical therapists and personal trainers. Physical therapists help with injury recovery; nutritionists provide weight management assistance to complement physical training; certified athletic trainers are involved in rehabilitative programs. 

Who Are Sports Medicine Specialists?

Sports medicine doctors or specialists are medical professionals trained in the treatment of sports and exercise-related injuries. They are usually certified to practice family medicine, emergency medicine, or orthopedics, before doing a fellowship in sports medicine.

Sports medicine specialists usually possess a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports medicine and are involved in continuing medical education and recertification programs. The American Board of Medical Subspecialties recognizes Sports Medicine as a subspecialty.

Sports medicine physicians are involved in either surgical or non-surgical interventions, like non-operative musculoskeletal conditions or orthopedic surgeries. Aside from the apparent muscle and bone injuries, sports medicine physicians treat head injuries and acute illnesses that restrict athletes from playing sports, such as asthma and diabetes. Physicians also work on injury prevention plans, nutrition assistance, and stem cell therapies.

Sports Medicine specialists treat a variety of ailments and guide a variety of areas, such as:

●     Nutrition-related performance issues

●     Exercise plan for performance enhancement

●     Concussion and other head injuries incurred during playing sports

●     Preventive plan for sports injuries

●     Rehabilitation plan for athletes returning to sports

●     Lifestyle advise for longevity in performance

Who are Sports Psychologists?

A lesser known yet critical area of sports medicine is sports psychology. Sports psychologists work with athletes to treat stress and other mental ailments that impede physical performance on the field. Their treatments may involve psychotherapy, stress management, and more.

What Does Sports Science Refer To?

Sports science is a component of sports medicine and involves the study of anatomy, physiology, and even psychology. Sports or exercise science is centered on clinical research and trials to test the effectiveness of exercise techniques, the impact of drugs and supplements, and more.

What Is the Difference between a Sports Medicine Physician and an Orthopedic Surgeon?

A sports medicine physician is distinguished from an orthopedic surgeon by the nature of their treatment. Physicians who practice sports medicine deal in the non-operative treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, while orthopedic surgeons provide surgery as a treatment option. However, remember that around 90% of sports injuries do not require surgical intervention.

However, approximately 90% of all sports injuries are non-surgical. In case surgery is needed, a sports medicine physician can recommend a sports surgeon.

Some common musculoskeletal problems that both sports medicine physicians and surgeons can treat include:

●     Ankle sprains, knee injuries, and fractures

●     Overuse injuries-for instance stress fractures, tendonitis, etc. 

How Can I Prevent a Sports Injury?

As with any other kind of medical condition, prevention is better than cure. And in the long-term, it's best to follow some standard safety and precautionary measures before getting on the field.

1.    Warm-up is Key: This goes without saying. Stretching and light movements are essential to prepare your muscles for sports or exercise. It prevents muscle cramps and re-injury for people with existing injuries.

2.    Maintain Your Body Between Games: Preparation and consistency are key to ensuring optimum performance for athletes and active people. For example, jumping into high-intensity sports or exercise is a recipe for disaster if you have been leading a sedentary lifestyle up until that point. Maintaining training and conditioning between games and exercise events is the best way to ensure your body is in peak physical performance mode and doesn't suffer from injuries. Another great tip is to exercise different muscle groups alternatively.

3.    Drink Up: Your body automatically needs more water and nutrients when it's exerting itself. Ensure you stay hydrated, whether playing sports outside or exercising indoors. Health issues can get exacerbated if you end up suffering from dehydration or heat exhaustion 

4.    Rest and Recovery: People who love training and sports, whether they are athletes or not, often end up overtraining, which includes longer and more intensive training. Both these issues can increase the risk of injury. Whether you are an athlete or just an active player, it is essential to incorporate rest days in your training plan and stop if you are tired or in pain. It will prevent fatigue and overuse injuries. Make sure to include a cooldown step post-workout, and last but not least, if you get injured, make sure you take your time with recovery before resuming physical activities.

5.    Follow the proper technique for your sport or exerciser: If you are a regularly active person or athlete, the importance of correct sports gear cannot be underscored enough. Learn the requirements of your sports—from correct form and technique to protective gear—to stave off injuries. Examples of workout and sports gear include athletic shoes, mouth guards, helmets, and pads. 

The Role & Importance of Sports Medicine Specialists

There has been an increase in sports-related injuries amongst elite athletes in recent years. Sports injuries have also risen significantly since the onset of Covid-19. According to a study, the National Football League (NFL) had significantly high injury rates in the first month of the 2020 season.

Injury rates were also found to have doubled in Major League Baseball. Even the young athletes don’t seem to have been spared! Considering all this, the role of the importance of sports medicine cannot be underscored enough. Let's explore the reasons why sports medicine specialists are integral.

●     Focused Care: Sports medicine doctors are specialists in the field and have experience explicitly caring for athletes and active people. They are well versed in the impact of sports and exercise-common sports injuries like concussions and motion injuries and can provide a well-rounded plan for best results. Their interdisciplinary expertise ensures that patients do not suffer a re-occurrence of injuries and can have a prolonged athletic career or active life as non-athletes. They work with surgeons and non-medical professionals like physical therapists for a tailored approach to treatment and recovery.

●     Re-injury Prevention: Reinjury prevention is a critical component of an athlete's life. Sports medicine specialists can identify how the body is used and abused during play and advise on reducing re-injury risks. They are qualified to conduct pre-game exams to ensure their patients are ready to go back to playing without any risks.

●     High-tech Care: Being specialists in the field, sports medicine doctors can offer the best and latest treatment options, such as reconstructive techniques and stem cell therapy. As they are specifically involved in sports injuries, their treatment plans are likely to yield more effective results than general medical practitioners.

●     Better Performance: Sports medicine practitioners work with their patients to develop a special plan catered to their patients and their particular sport. This provides them with an edge when it comes to results. 

When to See a Sports Medicine Doctor?

Sports injuries can feel minor for elite athletes accustomed to bruises and burns. However, a mild injury can quickly turn into major pain. Look out for the following red flags and take immediate physician assistance:

Broken Bones

If you heard a crack that is accompanied by pain, it is quickly possible you have a hairline fracture or torn tendon. A broken or cracked bone cannot be treated without a doctor’s intervention. Contact your physician for diagnosis and a specific treatment plan. A torn ligament or tendon may also require the intervention of a surgeon.

Difficulty Walking

If an injury is so painful that it hurts to put weight on it, you will likely need a doctor's intervention. Remember that a twisted ankle can heal independently with time and application pressure. However, if the pain persists and doesn't heal even after rest, there may be real damage, and you'll need to check in with a sports medicine doctor.

Chronic Sports Injury

If you suffer from chronic surgery from extensive and intensive training, you'll need to consult a sports medicine doctor sooner or later. Examples of this injury include shoulder injury to the rotator cuff and stress fractures. Suppose you experience swelling while exercising or playing a sport that persists and worsens as time goes on. In that case, the area becomes numb, there is a loss of function of a limb or muscle, or you experience noticeable bruising that keeps growing, and you need to see a physician. Persistent pain, even during rest, is another significant red flag.

Summing It Up

Sports medicine doctors are specialists in their field, and if you compete professionally in sports, consulting a sports medicine doctor should be part of your game plan. A sports medicine specialist is critical if you have chronic injuries and are struggling with your athletic performance.

At Rocky Vista Health Center, our experts work with patients to improve their performance, recover from injuries healthily and prevent future injuries. Our holistic approach to health ensures the longevity of treatment and better results. Our experienced physicians offer various medical services like general medicine, orthopedics, rehabilitation, exercise physiology, and nutrition. Get in touch or schedule an appointment today to start your treatment plan.