Sports injuries are common and may end a professional’s career. Our very own legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar’s career was at stake when he suffered from a series of injuries including injuries of his elbow, toe, and chronic back pain throughout his 20-year-long career. He suffered a huge blow to his playing career due to his tennis elbow injury (inflammation of the elbow tendons). The pain was extremely unbearable, and he could not even hold the bat. His patience and round-the-clock care from a team of sports medicine specialists helped him to recover completely and revive his illustrious career.
Sports medicine professionals are health care professionals who are specialized in sports medicine. Here are 5 pointers to help you understand what sports medicine is:
-
Sports medicine is a branch of medicine that helps both professional and amateur athletes to optimize their performance.
-
Sports medicine specialists are specially trained to restore injured sportspersons to their pre-injury level of sports participation.
-
Sports medicine specialists guide individuals of all ages who exercise to keep fit.
-
Sports medicine specialists assess and treat not just adults but also children and adolescents who are inclined towards sports.
-
Sports medicine also focuses on ‘preventive care’ to promote health, fitness, and wellness at all stages of life.
Types of Sports Injuries
Some of the most common acute sports injuries include more minor conditions such as muscle strains, pulled muscles, and ligament sprains. More major sports injuries will include ligament tears affecting major joints, fractures, and dislocations.
Besides acute injuries, repetitive strains during sports activity can cause overuse injuries in various locations in the limbs or spine.
What Does a Sports Medicine team consist of?
Sports medicine includes a team of highly qualified and trained specialists:
- Orthopedic surgeons who provide non-operative and surgical treatment including for musculoskeletal injuries using minimally invasive techniques to facilitate return to sport.
- Musculoskeletal radiologists are trained in musculoskeletal ultrasound and MRI and image-guided procedures.
- Sports physical therapists are involved in the implementation of rehabilitation and performance improvement programs.
- Sports medicine primary care physicians are involved in the complete pre-participation evaluation and periodic reassessment of general health conditions and fitness to participate in sports and exercise.
- Physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists are involved in the development of injury rehabilitation plans, performance enhancement programs, and injury prevention strategies.
