Athletes and other people with sport-related careers treat their bodies as the most important asset they have. This is because they depend on their bodies as their primary source of income and living. This makes their bodies prone to injuries that may require special attention. Sports medicine has evolved to specifically deal with athletes’ injuries and their road to recovery. This is especially vital in preventing the recurrence of the injury that may cause permanent damage. Marque A. Allen DPM, FACFAS is a renowned physician specializing in sports medicine.
What is Sports Medicine?
This branch of medicine focuses on care for athletes of all ages when they get an injury doing any physical activity. This aims to get the patient to full fitness as quickly and safely as possible. This practice may be done independently, in a hospital, or through a team of physician specialists working for a professional sports team.
Sports medicine physicians have training in musculoskeletal medicine and thus can help any athlete with specific problems regardless of whether their career is serious. They are beneficial to people starting a new training or exercise program. Musculoskeletal injuries are pretty standard, affecting most people; thus, sports medicine doctors can treat these problems for anyone.
Most of the procedures in sports medicine do not involve operations, i.e., extensive open surgeries. They, however, involve the use of advanced technology for micro-invasive surgical procedures that previously required open surgery. These specialists work with physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons, nutritionists, and athletic trainers.
Becoming a sports medicine physician may follow several different paths. The most commonly involves getting your bachelor’s degree in medicine from an accredited university. You will then attend residency focusing on family medicine, emergency medicine, physical medicine, and rehabilitation. This is followed by completing a fellowship related to sports medicine and then licensing and board certification from your state.
What does a Sports Medicine Physician do?
The duties of a sports medicine physician differ day to day depending on the patients’ condition or the work environment. Even though the roles of the physicians vary depending on the facility, some typical duties include:
- Ordering diagnostic imaging procedures or lab tests and analyzing results
- Diagnosing and treating conditions of the musculoskeletal system
- Doing physical exams and recording medical histories of athletes
- Supervision of injured athletes’ rehabilitation
- Medicine prescription for treating the injuries
- Examination of injured athletes to advise treatment plans to the time when they may be back
- Coordinating with other personnel that are responsible for the athlete’s health care like athletic trainers and coaches
- Educating coaches and athletes concerning hydration, nutrition, injury prevention, and exercise regimens
- Performing procedures like diagnostic ultrasounds and injections
There are several types of injuries the physicians treat with the common ones including:
- Fractures
- Ankle sprains
- Shoulder and knee injuries
- Exercise-induced asthma
- Muscle, ligament, and tendon injuries
- Heat illnesses
- Cartilage injuries
- Concussions and other head injuries
Athletics in recent times is becoming more and more of a career path. This has led to athletes becoming even more committed to their sports, thus encouraging sports medicine. Check us out via our website or visit our offices in San Antonio, TX, to get more information.
