When you hear the term “sports medicine doctor,” it suggests a medical specialty that is reserved strictly for athletes. However, anyone at any age can sustain an injury to their musculoskeletal system (bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, joints, and other connective tissue) that is not linked to athletic activity.
Ankle sprains and knee injuries, for example, can happen at home or on the job – not just on the athletic field or court. That is why you should consider visiting a sports medicine specialist if you or a loved one experience an orthopedic injury.
Why Would You See a Sports Medicine Doctor?
A sports medicine physician is specially trained to treat the most common musculoskeletal injuries, including:
- Acute injuries that are caused by a sudden impact – for example, an ankle sprain, a muscle strain, knee or shoulder injuries, and bone fractures.
- Overuse injuries that result from repetitive motion. These develop over time and cause stress on bones or tissues and result in gradual damage. Common examples of overuse injuries include stress fractures and tendonitis.
In addition to treating your injury to reduce pain and improve function, a sports medicine doctor can advise you on the most conservative non-surgical treatment options that are available. Theywill work with you to create a personalized treatment plan and facilitate your recovery, offering a wide range of physical medicine and rehabilitative treatments.
A sports medicine doctor is also trained in injury prevention, strength training and condition, and healthy lifestyle support, all of which can be beneficial when it comes to helping you avoid future injuries and maintaining a strong body or maximum athletic performance.
Sports medicine doctors are also highly skilled surgeons. If conservative treatment measures are unsuccessful and surgery is necessary, your sports medicine doctor has the expertise to recommend and perform the type of procedure that offers the best outcome for your specific problem. They will also educate you about the risks and benefits associated with the proposed surgery, so you can make an informed decision.
Sports Medicine in the Kansas City Area
At Midwest Orthopaedics, our board-certified providers specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of sports injuries but are also specially trained in all aspects of general orthopedics.
Our formidable team of sports medicine doctors regularly treat common sports injuries that include:
- Knee ligament tears (ACL, MCL, PCL, LCL)
- Meniscal tears (knee cartilage)
- Sprains and strains
- Tendonitis and bursitis
- Achilles tendon rupture
- Shoulder instability
- Bicep tendon tear
- Rotator cuff tear (shoulder muscles and tendons)
- Labral tears (shoulder joint)
- Shoulder impingement
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer’s elbow
- Shin splints
- Stress fractures
- Tendon ruptures
- Iliotibial band syndrome (type of knee pain)
- Patellar (knee) and quadriceps (thigh) tendonitis
- Patellar (knee) instability and malalignment
- Arthritis
Several of our doctors and physician assistants work with local sports teams, providing on-site medical care for their athletes.In particular, we excel in the treatment of knee injuries, one of the most common sports medicine and general orthopedic conditions, offering a wide range of surgical and non-surgical approaches, including:
· Minimally invasive arthroscopy
· Ligament reconstruction (ACL, PCL, LCL, MCL)
- Total knee replacement
- Minimally invasive knee replacement
- Partial knee replacement
- All-inside double bundle ACL
- Viscosupplementation (injection of lubricating fluid into the knee joint)
- Cortisone injections (anti-inflammatory steroids to reduce swelling)
- Chondrocyte implantation (Carticel®), involving surgical removal of damaged tissue and replacement with healthy cartilage tissue grown from your own healthy cells
Sports Medicine in the Kansas City Area
To benefit from the highest quality sports medicine and general orthopedic care in the Kansas City metropolitan area, call Midwest Orthopaedics today at (913) 362-8317 or use our convenient online request an appointment form.
