4 Sports Medicine Therapies That Treat Injuries
Posted on: 24 April 2023
The human body is a wonderful organism capable of running, jumping, reaching, and lifting. Many people use their bodies to engage in vigorous forms of work and play. Unfortunately, sometimes injuries can result from physical activity. If you find yourself in pain or unable to do your regular activities due to an acute or chronic injury, a sports medicine doctor can help through the following therapies:
1. Physical Therapy
The body's bones, muscles, and joints work together to provide pain-free motion. Unfortunately, weakness in a certain area can lead to pain or injury in another area. If a muscular imbalance is the cause of your pain or injury, your doctor may prescribe physical therapy to help you regain your strength and stabilize your joints.
2. Steroid Injections
Inflammation is the body's natural response to injury. Unfortunately, inflammation can sometimes get out of control, delaying the healing process. When inflammation cannot be controlled using ice and rest, sports medicine doctors may prescribe steroid injections to provide targeted inflammation control. During this procedure, a corticosteroid is injected directly into the affected joint, along with a numbing agent. The numbing agent will provide immediate pain relief, while the steroid will work to relieve pain and swelling over the next week or two. Steroid injections can provide temporary relief for conditions such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and spinal pain.
3. Tendon And Ligament Repairs
Your tendons and ligaments are connective tissues that help your body move. Ligaments extend from bones to other bones, while tendons begin at the bone and attach to muscles. Sports and accidents can sometimes cause tendons and ligaments to tear. Small tears can repair themselves with adequate rest and immobilization. However, larger tears may require surgery in order to reattach properly. A sports medicine doctor can perform diagnostic image testing to determine the severity of connective tissue tears. If necessary, an orthopedist can also perform surgery to repair these tears.
4. Joint Replacement Surgery
When conservative treatments fail to provide adequate relief, surgical solutions may be appropriate. Joint replacement surgery can help people who suffer from severe arthritis, a degenerative disease that can erode the cartilage between joints over time. Osteoarthritis most commonly affects the large joints of the body, such as the knees and hips. Orthopedists can perform total knee and hip replacement surgeries to relieve the pain of bone-on-bone friction. Joint replacement surgeries are invasive procedures that can require a significant amount of downtime. However, when indicated, joint replacement surgeries can also give patients back their quality of life.
For more information about sports medicine, contact a doctor.
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