Sports medicine has come into the national spotlight over the past few decades. Athletes–both professional and amateur– have begun to understand the need for comprehensive musculoskeletal care as they train their bodies for maximum health and peak performance. Even if you are simply someone who is passionate about staying fit, you should explore what sports medicine offers. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about the world of sports medicine and how it can help you perform at your best.
Sports Medicine Treats a Variety of Injuries and Musculoskeletal Conditions
There is no doubt: that sports of all kinds, no matter the level of proficiency, can lead to injuries. Sports medicine physicians are specifically trained and experienced in diagnosing and treating those injuries along with conditions resulting from falls, collisions, repetitive motion, and more.
Sports medicine physicians can be board-certified in specialties such as internal medicine, family medicine, or orthopedics. After becoming board-certified, they may complete additional training in sports medicine, such as a fellowship or subspecialty. This gives them the expertise to deal with:
- Sprains
- Strains
- Fractures
- Tears (as in the rotator cuff or knee meniscus)
- Concussions
- Inflammatory conditions (such as Achilles tendonitis or golfer’s/tennis elbow)
- Degenerative conditions, such as arthritis
Some are qualified to perform arthroscopic repairs and joint replacement surgeries, and all focus on detailed programs of rehabilitation to normalize strength, endurance, balance, and coordination after a surgery or serious injury. Sports medicine physicians lead teams comprised of physical and occupational therapists, nutritionists, and athletic trainers who work with patients to create highly individualized care plans to address their specific health needs and training outcomes.
Sports Medicine Can Promote Your Best Possible Physical Condition
Just as the old adage says, “Where there is a will, there’s a way,” there are both mental and emotional aspects to any level of athletic pursuit. However, no sports-minded person can ignore the need for optimal health and physical condition.
This is where sports medicine can help. Being in your best physical condition does involve muscle strength and agility. However, sports medicine specialists also look at how a person’s bones, metabolism, and even diet impact how well they perform. A sports medicine specialist will use this information to devise ways to support deficits and increase the longevity of your athletic performance.
Sports Medicine Specialists Can Show You the Best Ways to Train to Avoid Injury
Sports medicine is all about basics, too: how to train, improve, and stay safe to help avoid any injury or pain. When you visit a sports medicine clinic because you have a specific physical problem or you need a participation physical, you can learn:
- Proper techniques appropriate to your sport or activity
- Balance training
- Bracing, splinting, and taping
- How and when to rest and cool down
- Appropriate stretching techniques
- When not to work out (as when you are sick or overextended)
- Exercising specific muscle groups on alternating training sessions
- How to be well-nourished and hydrated
- When to seek treatment for a condition or an injury
Sports Medicine Doctor in Walnut Creek, California
Dr. Laura Timmerman offers her patients a wide range of orthopedic services, focusing on injuries and conditions affecting the shoulder, knee, and elbow. She has more than 30 years of dedicated practice experience and works tirelessly to add to sports medicine standards and skills for people of all ages. Dr. Timmerman also offers innovative Regenokine injection therapy to reduce inflammation and pain and improve tissue regeneration and healing for select patients.
To learn more about what sports medicine can do for your fitness and performance, call us for a consultation with Dr. Laura Timmerman at (925) 952-4080 or request an appointment online.
