sports medicine doctor near me

WHAT IS A SPORTS MEDICINE PHYSICIAN?

August 5, 2019Jeff Pierce, DO Sports Fitness Sports Injuries

A sports medicine physician has significant specialized training in both the treatment and prevention of illness and injury. They are ideally suited to provide comprehensive medical care for athletes, sports teams or active individuals who are simply looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Sports medicine physicians specialize solely in non-surgical sports medicine and serve as team physicians at the youth level, NCAA, NFL, MLB, NBA, WNBA, MLS and NHL, as well as with Olympic teams.

A Sports Medicine Physician’s Training:

Board Certified in Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics or Physical Medicine/Rehabilitation.
Has obtained one to two years of additional fellowship training in Sports Medicine.
Has passed a national Sports Medicine certification examination allowing them to hold a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine.
Participates in continuing medical education activities and recertification via re-examination every 10 years. This rigorous process was instituted to distinguish certified Sports Medicine Physicians from other physicians without specialized training.
Is a leader of the Sports Medicine team, which also may include specialty physicians and surgeons, athletic trainers, physical therapists, coaches, other personnel and the athlete.

Sports Medicine is a recognized subspecialty by the American Board of Medical Subspecialties and by Medicare.

What is the difference between a Sports Medicine Physician and an Orthopedic Surgeon?

Both are well trained in musculoskeletal medicine. Sports Medicine Physicians specialize in the non-operative treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. Orthopedic surgeons are also trained in the operative treatment of these conditions. However, approximately 90% of all sports injuries are non-surgical. The Sports Medicine Physician can maximize non-operative treatment, guide appropriate referrals to physical and occupational therapies, and if necessary, expedite referral to an orthopedic/sports surgeon.

Common examples of musculoskeletal problems include:

Acute injuries (such as ankle sprains, muscle strains, knee & shoulder injuries, and fractures)
Overuse injuries (such as rotator cuff and other forms of tendonitis, stress fractures)Medical and injection therapies for osteoarthritis

Sports Medicine Physicians have received additional training in the non-musculoskeletal aspects of sports medicine. Common examples of these include:

Concussion (mild traumatic brain injury) and other head injuries
Athletes with chronic or acute illness (such as infectious mononucleosis, asthma or diabetes)
Nutrition, supplements, ergogenic aids, and performance issues
Exercise prescription for patients who want to increase their fitness
Injury prevention
“Return to play” decisions in the sick or injured athlete
Recommendations on safe strength training and conditioning exercises
Healthy lifestyle promotion

Do Sports Medicine Physicians only treat competitive athletes?

No, Sports Medicine Physicians are ideally suited to provide comprehensive medical care for the non-athlete as well, and are excellent resources for the individual who wishes to become active or begin an exercise program. For the “weekend warrior” or “industrial athlete” who experiences an injury, the same expertise used for the competitive athlete can be applied to return the individual as quickly as possible to full function.

Most Common Athletic Injuries Treated by Sports Medicine Doctors

July 5, 2019Jeff Pierce, DO Injury Prevention Sports Injuries

Most sports require a high level of physical exertion – meaning the chances of experiencing an athletic injury go up. While sports medicine doctors and team physicians play a role in helping to prevent those injuries from happening, they’re also there to diagnose and treat the athletic injuries if they do occur.

We know that sports medicine doctors can range from non-surgical, primary care doctors to orthopedic surgeons. This can impact the common athletic injuries they treat. Generally speaking, the most common athletic injuries treated by sports medicine doctors are:

Knee Injuries

The knees contain numerous ligaments and tendons. Sports can be hard on the knees, so it’s not unusual for one of those ligaments or tendons to become strained or torn. That’s where sports medicine doctors come in.

These professionals are trained to diagnose and treat serious knee injuries requiring ACL reconstruction (one of the most common athletic injuries), knee arthroscopy, hyperextended knee, posterior cruciate ligament injury and a torn meniscus. Knee injuries can range from mild, which often requires avoiding pressure on the knee, to severe, which may require surgery.

Sprains and Strains

Ligaments, which are tissues that connect bones to a joint, can be sprained while playing sports. The most common athletic injuries involving sprains happen in the ankles and wrists. Strains, on the other hand, involve a stretched or torn muscle or tendon. It’s not uncommon for a strain to happen suddenly while participating in athletics.

Sports medicine doctors treat sprains and strains by first advising the patient to rest the area, ice it to reduce swelling, and potentially wear a bandage or device that compresses the injury. They may prescribe pain-relieving medication, as well. As time passes, the sports medicine doctor may recommend exercise or physical therapy to ease the patient into exertion.

Rotator Cuff Injuries

The shoulder has many muscles and tendons that make up the rotator cuff. In some sports, the rotator cuff is utilized more than other areas of the body, such as baseball. Frequent use can lead to tendinitis, bursitis and even tears.

Sports medicine doctors may recommend rest, heat or cold to the affected area, pain-relieving medications, electrical stimulation of the muscles and nerves, a cortisone injection, or in extreme cases, surgery.

Fractures

A fracture is a broken bone. While fractures may occur as a result of other activities like car accidents or falls, they are one of the most common athletic injuries. A broken bone is often associated with intense, sudden pain, swelling, bruising, tenderness, numbness, tingling, and difficulty moving the affected area.

Sports medicine doctors are trained to diagnose and treat fractures, but since these athletic injuries are severe, they are often treated with a cast, splint, or even surgery to place pins, plates or screws into the bone.

Dislocations

When playing a sport causes a joint injury, it’s often a dislocation. This can happen in the ankles, knees, shoulders, hips, fingers, toes, elbows and even the jaw. Dislocations are associated with severe pain, swelling, and deformity.

Treatment for dislocations can vary depending on which joint is affected. Oftentimes a sports medicine doctor will treat the dislocation by repositioning the bones to set them back into place, prescribing pain-relieving medication, providing a splint or sling to avoid movement, and rehabilitation.

When to Seek a Sports Medicine Doctor

Sports medicine doctors treat some of the most common athletic injuries every day. If you have an acute or chronic injury that is bothering your and impacting your performance, it’s time to see a sports medicine physician. Call our office today!

National Men’s Health Month: Aging Male Joint Pain

June 27, 2019Jeff Pierce, DO Injury Prevention Pain Management

June is National Men’s Health Month, which makes it a perfect time to talk about joint pain in men. We all know of at least one man who has a ‘bum knee’ or old sports injury that keeps them from enjoying life to the fullest. Men need to take their health serious, especially as age takes it’s toll. Aging male joint pain is a major problem, and something you don’t have to suffer from!

If you are like most golfers, you would like more distance, better control and more endurance in your game. In addition, if you want to keep playing for a long time, you want to prevent the common repetitive motion injuries from swinging the club. How many times have you completed your round only to feel like you’ve been beaten up? The good news is that research has shown that you can improve your game and prevent fatigue and injuries by balancing the foundation of your body.

Most acute and chronic injuries are traced to a breakdown in the kinetic chain. All your body parts are interconnected, with one part affecting another. Your body’s kinetic chain is never more important than in the golf swing where repeatability and consistency dictate your success or failure. During the golf swing, your entire body goes through a sequential movement cycle that consists of five distinct phases that are essential for consistent impact with the golf ball

Tid Bits of Info on “Low Impact” Golf

A golfer can walk more than 10,000 steps and burn 2000 calories by simply “walking” a round of golf and “carry” the clubs.
Club speed during a swing of an amateur averages between 70-80 mph and a professional 90-100 mph.
Injuries rate can be as high as 40% for amateurs and 90% for professionals.
Amateur golfers achieve approximately 90 percent of their peak muscular activity when driving a golf ball.
Seek the advice of a Physical Therapist if you experience an injury during golf season or need tips on how to prepare for it.

Injuries in golf are very common and it does not matter if you are a professional or amateur. Some studies indicate that as many as 40% of all amateurs and 90% of professionals will experience some kind of injury during the upcoming season. The most common injuries occur to the lumbar spine in both amateurs and professionals. Amateurs tend to injure their upper extremity in all joints where the professional is more apt to hurt their wrists and hands. The lead side of the body, i.e. left side of a right handed golfer, is at least 5x more susceptible to suffering an injury when compared to the trail side.

Sports Medicine Treatments for Joint Pain

Physical therapy and conventional injections are often recommended for joint pain due to sports injury. At Michigan Sports & Spine Center, we have a cutting edge treatment that can actually help HEAL the injury. PRP & Stem Cell injections are the latest in an arsenal of technique that are used to promote faster, natural healing of the body.

If you are a golfer with joint pain, we have solutions for you! Don’t let an old injury slow you down or ruin your competitive edge. Call us today!