However much you prepare your student-athlete for the game, injuries can still occur. That’s why a sports medicine doctor can be a great option to keep your young athlete injury-free and performing at their best.
Participating in sports provides a range of benefits to student-athletes, from keeping fit and making new friends to building social skills and confidence, as well as improving self-esteem. However, there are always risks associated with playing sports, even when all the necessary precautions are taken, such as wearing protective clothing and equipment and receiving the right training. In most cases, your student-athlete will bounce back quickly from an injury, but at other times, without the right care and attention, an injury can lead to lasting problems.
What Is a Sports Doctor?
Sports medicine is a branch of healthcare that focuses on physical fitness and diagnosing, treating, and preventing injuries related to sports and exercise. Sports doctors specialize in this field of medicine and in treating problems associated with the musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and connective tissues. They are highly skilled and knowledgeable in how sports and exercise can affect the body and how to effectively diagnose, treat, and manage injuries and underlying health conditions that can influence physical performance. They provide customized treatment to ensure a patient’s unique needs are met and can help to prevent injuries in the future.
A sports doctor isn’t only useful to professional athletes. They can provide expert care to anyone involved in an active lifestyle, regardless of age or athletic ability.
There are many reasons why your student-athlete needs a sports doctor, including the following:
Diagnosis and Treatment for a Range of Injuries
Injuries in sports are inevitable, and ensuring they are managed and treated effectively is key to a successful recovery and to preventing problems in the future. In young athletes, this is even more important, because injuries that are not treated properly, or returning to sports too soon, can lead to lasting effects and problems later on in adulthood.
It is estimated that as much as 90% of all sports-related injuries do not require surgical treatment, but ensuring an injury is treated quickly and correctly can prevent it from getting worse and from other long-term implications. A sports medicine doctor can treat a wide range of common and less common injuries, which can include, but are not limited to:
- Sprains and strains
- Back and neck pain
- Shoulder and rotator cuff injuries
- Tendonitis
- TMJ dysfunction disorders
- Knee pain
- Elbow, hand, or wrist pain
- Soft tissue injuries
- Ankle instability
Unlike orthopedic surgeons who perform surgeries, sports doctors specialize in effective, nonsurgical treatments for sports injuries. They are fully up to date with the most advanced therapies and techniques to treat a patient’s unique needs, such as shockwave therapy, stem cell therapy, dry needling, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, chiropractic care, physical therapy, IV nutrient therapy, and custom orthotics.
Prevention of Injuries
Alongside managing and treating sports injuries, preventing injuries is also a key element of a sports doctor’s role. They do this by helping young athletes train correctly and properly condition their bodies for their sport. They can also work with your student-athlete to learn the correct ways to warm up and cool down before and after activity, use the right technique in sports to reduce the chance of injury, learn what type of equipment and safety wear to use, and ensure they get the right nutrients in their diet to keep them strong and healthy, and to optimize their performance.
Sports doctors are trained to spot the signs of overuse and can help young athletes learn to better listen to their bodies and recognize when they should seek medical help or take time off to recover. They can also offer guidance on when it is safe for your student-athlete to return to play following an injury.
Education and Guidance
Sports doctors are on hand to promote a healthy lifestyle. They can provide education and guidance in a range of areas and can help make improvements in different aspects, such as nutrition, strength building, maximizing performance, sports participation, safer ways to exercise, and sports safety.
A sports doctor can help your student athlete recover from their injury and maintain or enhance their fitness level and performance, allowing them to reach their maximum capabilities in the safest way possible.
Sports Doctor in Dallas, TX
If your student-athlete has been sidelined by injury, contact the experienced team of highly trained sports doctors at Reagan Integrated Sports Medicine. We specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of sports-related injuries and conditions, so athletes can get back to their sport as soon as it is safe to do so. We offer a wide range of treatments and therapeutic services, including chiropractic care, orthotics, physical therapy, stem cell therapy, PRP therapy, and nutrient therapy.
To learn more about our services or to schedule a consultation with one of our specialists, call us at (972) 503-7272 or schedule a consultation using our convenient online Scheduling App.
