Sports medicine is a special branch in the medical field concerned with diagnosis and treatment of different sports-related injuries. Since these injuries are sustained differently than others and since athletes have unique bodies, abilities, and needs, it comes as no surprise that there is a whole subspecialty dealing with them.
But how exactly is sports medicine different from your regular doctor’s appointments and treatment plans? Read on to find out.
1. Sports medicine requires unique training
Physical therapists and sports medicine specialists are trained in a unique manner to ensure that they can deal with all types of sports injuries. These include all sprains, tears, muscle soreness, and any other injury sustained while playing a sport. Whether you have injured your back while doing yoga or sprained an ankle by landing on it the wrong way, an excellent sports medicine specialist will know how to handle it.
What’s more, they will know how to help you recover quickly and efficiently so that you can resume with your activities as soon as possible. If you’ve ever wondered how athletes are able to bounce back after an injury so quickly, the answer is right here. Their sports medicine team knows exactly what to do to ensure the injury leaves no consequences.
Conversely, a team of ordinary physicians will not be as well-equipped to handle a sports-related injury. That could result in the injury not being treated correctly and being unnecessarily prolonged.
2. The rehabilitation process is different
The rehabilitation process is one of the essential parts that come after any injury. However, it is extremely important and different in the case of sports injuries. An athlete’s future and career depend solely on how well this process is executed, putting a lot of pressure on their health team.
In most cases, the rehab that athletes require lasts shorter than that needed after an ordinary injury. Sports medicine always finds ways to speed up the process and ensure the athletes are back on their feet in no time. New treatment technologies, medication, and exercise plans are just some of the means doctors use to achieve that.
Though the main goal of the rehab process is eliminating the injury, therapists also put special emphasis on building endurance and keeping you in shape. Bone and muscle-building exercises are mostly used, but it always depends on the type of injury.
3. Prevention is just as important as treatment
When it comes to sports medicine, doctors are trained to help you recover after an injury as well as to ensure no further injuries occur. They will give you exercise plans and long-term options that will reprogram your body and biomechanics. By doing so, they will prepare you for the strain the sport of our choice has on your body. As a consequence, your body will be able to endure more and the chance of the injury reoccurring will be smaller.
Sports medicine specialists can also predict which parts of your body might lead to serious trouble in the future before any injury even occurs. They will be able to give you advice and start you on exercise plans pretty quickly, ensuring that you get to lead a healthy and injury-free life for a long time to come.
4. Special treatment options
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Sports medicine is brimming with special treatment options that other branches of medicine do not have access to. These options include surgical techniques, equipment, and specialists that help speed up the process of recovery.
Depending on your injury, you might just need regular treatment, such as staying in bed for a day or two and keeping as still as possible. However, in a lot of cases, caring for your injury at home is not enough. In such instances, a sports medicine specialist will know exactly what to do to make you feel better. They will also have a long list of treatment options to choose from, and their extensive knowledge and training will allow them to make the right choice for you.
Conclusion
As you have read, sports medicine differs significantly from other branches of medicine. It offers you different treatment options, requires unique training, and a differently organized recovery process.