Athletes place a lot of physical stress on their bodies through intense training, competition, and repetitive motions associated with their specific sport. This can lead to a range of orthopedic needs that are different from those of the general population.
Athletes, from very young to full-grown adults, can benefit from orthopedic sports medicine for the treatment of overuse injuries, to address muscle imbalance issues, to enhance athletic performance, and to prevent future injuries. Learn more below.
Quick Treatment of Overuse Injuries
Most athletes frequently engage in repetitive motions and high-impact activities that can result in overuse injuries such as strains, stress fractures, tendinitis, and bursitis. Orthopedic doctors trained in sports medicine are highly experienced in the treatment of overuse injuries, even using treatments that boost the body’s ability to heal. In any sports injury treatment program, there is a goal of speeding up the healing of the injury and an early return to the sport. The longer an athlete remains out of the game, the higher the chances of loss of athletic fitness and skill.
Address Muscle Imbalances
Certain sports require specific muscle groups to be stronger and more developed than others, which can lead to muscle imbalances and an increased risk of injury. A sports medicine doctor can create a conditioning program that also includes corrective exercises that strengthen other muscles, so they are not prone to weakness and injury. All in all, this helps reduce the incidence of sports injuries and keeps the athlete on the field or court.
Optimize Athletic Performance
Sports medicine doctors are trained to help athletes optimize their performance by evaluating their physical abilities and identifying areas for improvement. They are experts in analyzing sports performances – many sports medicine doctors actually travel with sports teams – and provide sports-specific feedback to improve athletes’ performance.
Create an Individualized Rehabilitation Plan
If an athlete sustains an injury, they may require specialized rehabilitation to safely return to their sport. This may involve working with a physical therapist, athletic trainer, or other healthcare professional to help achieve the athlete’s goals, which may include regaining strength, mobility, and function. As the athlete progresses through the stages of the rehabilitation program, the sports medicine doctor will make adjustments to the treatment plan, eventually leading to the last step before returning to the game, which is the return-to-sport program involving reaching specific milestones in activities specific to their sport.
Orthopedic Doctors for Sports Medicine Treatment in New England
The board-certified orthopedic doctors at Advanced Orthopedics New England have advanced training in the treatment of injured athletes of all ages. We like to emphasize sports injury prevention and help our patients through education, guidance, and monitoring.
You will be treated by one of our sports medicine specialists who hold Medical Directorship positions for the Connecticut Sports Medicine Institute and the Spine Institute of Connecticut. Our physicians are among the finest in sports medicine, and the whole team values the patient experience and strives to provide friendly orthopedic care.
To schedule an appointment with one of our sports medicine doctors, call our office today at (860) 728-6740.
