Sports medicine doctors are medical professionals who specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of injuries related to sports and exercise. While some sports medicine doctors may perform surgical procedures, not all of them are trained to do so.
Sports medicine doctors who perform surgery are usually orthopedic surgeons with additional training in sports medicine. They are often involved in treating injuries that require surgical intervention, such as torn ligaments, severe fractures, and dislocations. Not all sports medicine doctors resort to surgery to treat injuries.
Let’s talk about different non-surgical treatments that sports medicine doctors can use to treat athletes who have been injured.
Non-Surgical Treatments Used By Sports Medicine Doctors
Not all sports injuries require surgery. In fact, many can be effectively treated through non-surgical means, such as physical therapy, medication, and rehabilitation. Sports medicine doctors who do not perform surgeries may still play a crucial role in the treatment of athletes and other individuals with sports-related injuries.
Popular non-surgical treatments and techniques used by some of the best sports medicine doctors are:
- Active release technique
- Chiropractic medicine
- Custom orthotics
- Dry needling
- Physical therapy
- High-intensity laser therapy
- Myofascial release
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
- Shockwave therapy
- Prolozone therapy
Why Avoid Surgery?
It is generally better to avoid surgery for a sports-related injury whenever possible because surgery is a serious medical intervention that carries risks such as infection, bleeding, and complications related to anesthesia. The risk of complications increases according to the complexity of the procedure.
In addition, surgery involves a period of recovery that can be lengthy. The more complex the surgery, the longer time it takes to heal and recover from it. Any athlete would be concerned about spending a significant amount of time away from the court or field. This also goes for individuals who have a physically active lifestyle, which is why many athletes and weekend warriors prefer conservative or non-surgical approaches to treat injuries.
For many reasons, sports medicine doctors typically try to treat sports-related injuries using a conservative approach with a range of non-surgical methods, such as physical therapy, rest, ice, compression, and elevation (the RICE protocol), or medication, before considering surgery. Non-surgical treatments are effective at treating many types of sports-related injuries, such as strains, sprains, and minor fractures.
Sports Medicine Doctors in Dallas, TX
At Reagan Integrated Sports Medicine, our highly qualified sports medicine specialists focus on the rehabilitation of injured athletes. Unlike traditional sports medicine facilities, we offer a range of non-surgical treatment options for sports-related injuries, from chiropractic medicine to shockwave therapy and Prolozone therapy.
We regularly treat athletes in our sports and rehabilitation center in Dallas, and ensure each patient – whether professional or amateur – gets a customized sports injury treatment and rehabilitation program created specifically for them.
If you would like an appointment with one of our sports medicine specialists, call our office today at (972) 503-7272 or use our convenient online request form. Our friendly staff looks forward to serving you!
