Sports Medicine
Whether you are a professional athlete, an amateur in training or like to maintain an active lifestyle, an injury can set you off your game and significantly impact your ability to enjoy your favorite activities.
Some of these injuries are acute, occurring as a result of a collision on the field or an overextension of a joint. Others come on gradually and are caused by repetitive motion or excessive wear and tear on joints like knees and shoulders.
No matter what injury or condition is affecting your quality of life and your activity level, the sports medicine physicians at the Orthopaedic Institute of Ohio are trained to address your concerns and get you back in action as quickly as possible.
What is Sports Medicine?
Sports medicine is a specialized field of orthopedic medicine designed for professional and amateur athletes, as well as those pursuing an active lifestyle. The goal of this specialty is to both prevent and treat sports injuries while optimizing the patient’s health and performance.
Sports medicine is not a medical specialty in itself. Most sports medicine providers are certified in a related specialty, such as orthopedics, and then pursue additional training in sports medicine. Some also have surgical training, usually as orthopedic surgeons.
While some sports medicine physicians work exclusively with professional athletes, others work with anyone who requires treatment after an activity-related injury, including adults who exercise for personal fitness and children and teenagers involved in sports. Sports medicine physicians may also treat people who have physically demanding jobs.
Our sports medicine specialists offer services that range from medication and physical therapy to surgical treatments when necessary. We will work with the other professionals on your team, including trainers, coaches, physical therapists, sports psychologists and nutritionists, to create an optimal program for your needs and support you as you work your way back to peak performance after an injury.
Benefits of Sports Medicine
Our highly trained team offers a variety of services to help you get back to the activities that matter most to you. With a comprehensive approach that encompasses performance, prevention and recovery, we can:
- Increase flexibility and strength
- Prevent injury
- Optimize performance
- Decrease pain
- Restore function
- Accelerate return to activity
- Improve quality of life
We are dedicated to remaining current on the latest sports medicine research and developments, ensuring we provide the most up-to-date care. Your team will create an individualized treatment plan focused on helping you recover faster and perform better.
Injuries Treated Through Sports Medicine
Numerous injuries can be treated by a sports medicine physician:
- Spine injuries and conditions, such as herniated discs
- Knee injuries, including ACL or PCL tears and patellar dislocations
- Ankle and foot injuries, including fractures and plantar fasciitis
- Shoulder injuries, particularly rotator cuff issues and bursitis
- Hip injuries, such as labral tears
- Elbow injuries, including tennis elbow
- Hand and wrist injuries, including dislocations and carpal tunnel syndrome
- Cartilage injuries and arthritis
- Other fractures, sprains, dislocations and strains
Whether your injury came on quickly or over time, our team of sports doctors at the Orthopaedic Institute of Ohio is qualified to provide you with the most accurate diagnosis and a list of your treatment options.
Diagnostic Services
We have a variety of tools at our disposal for diagnosing sports injuries:
- Arthroscopy
- Computed Tomography (CT Scan)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Radiology
- Bone Densitometry
- Electromyography (EMG)
- Nerve Conduction Velocity (NVC)
These minimally-invasive and noninvasive technologies allow us to assess the entire musculoskeletal system (the bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and spine) with high accuracy and little-to-no discomfort for the patient.
Treatment Options
While surgery is one way to address a sports injury, not everyone that comes to us for treatment will require a surgical solution. Our sports medicine specialists use innovative procedures and therapies to help our patients get back to the activities they love. Depending on the type and severity of the issue, your options may include:
- Pain relievers and other medications
- Resting the injured area to allow for healing
- Immobilizing the area with a brace, sling or cast
- Pain management with epidural blocks or neurostimulation
- Dry needling to reduce pain, inflammation and tissue tension
- Physical therapy to restore mobility and reduce pain
- Massage therapy, including sports massage
If these remedies do not produce the desired effect, surgery may be recommended as the next course of action. Surgery may also be advised right away in the event a bone needs to be reset or tissue has been torn.
Our sports medicine orthopedic surgeons will diagnose your injury with precision and inform you of the best treatment approach. Keep in mind that surgery is never our first option unless that is the only way to bring full restoration to the area.
Additional Services
At the Orthopaedic Institute of Ohio, we serve athletes and athletic individuals of all levels. In addition to the treatment services above, we proudly offer the following:
Athletic Physicals
The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) requires children to undergo an athletic physical before participating in school sports. These physicals are repeated annually to ensure the health and safety of your child while engaging in sports activities.
Sports Medicine Walk-in Clinic
Injured athletes can be seen immediately by a board-certified orthopedic physician at our Sports Medicine Walk-In Clinic. This allows treatment and recovery to begin as quickly as possible, minimizing time away from activity. No appointment is required.
BetterU
BetterU is a sports performance and wellness program for athletes and active individuals of all ages. Through a customized combination of 1-on-1 coaching, injury prevention education, health and wellness strategies, and/or recovery techniques, BetterU can help you reach your personal, aesthetic or fitness goals.
Get Back to What You Love With Help From Our All-Star Team
No matter what your injury might be or how it occurred, you can rest assured you will be in good hands at our sports injury clinic at the Orthopaedic Institute of Ohio. Our sports physicians will support you throughout the process, from diagnosing and treating you, to guiding you through the rehabilitation process and advising you on how to avoid injuries in the future.
To learn more, contact the Orthopaedic Institute of Ohio at 419-222-6622. We look forward to helping you enhance your performance and get back to the things that are important to you.