As a general rule, sports medicine physicians assist athletes of all ages who suffer injuries while participating in physical activities. It is their goal to get the patient back to action as soon as possible while keeping him or her safe. Depending on their experience, they may work in a clinical setting, out on their own, or for sports teams as team or league physicians.
 
Having a background in musculoskeletal medicine, sports medicine physicians can help any patient suffering from certain conditions, regardless of whether they are serious athletes. For those just beginning an exercise or training program, they’re also excellent resources.
 
Acute injuries occur suddenly, often while exercising or playing sports. Stress fractures or ankle sprains are two examples. The development of chronic injuries usually occurs over time, as a result of overtraining. For example, a torn rotator cuff is a chronic injury.
 
A sports medicine doctor will not only treat an injury, but will also explain how to properly care for it while remaining active. It is the responsibility of sports medicine doctors to identify if an injury or condition requires surgery quickly and to refer the patient to the appropriate surgeon as needed.

As a result of exercising or playing, we use so many muscles and tendons that strains are by far the most common of all sports-related injuries. As moving parts, they are susceptible to being stretched farther than they should, or moving in ways they shouldn’t, causing them to be torn, damaged, and inflamed.
 
Sprains operate similarly to strains; however, they impact the ligaments rather than the muscles. A ligament is a tissue that connects one bone to another. They can be pulled or torn when they turn in the wrong direction. The most common type of sprain among athletes is the ankle sprain, followed closely by knee sprains, wrist sprains, and elbow sprains.
 
Strains and sprains are the most common sports injuries however, there are others that sports medicine specialists see with regularity. These include fractures, knee injuries, tennis elbow, back injuries, concussions, and more.
 
Injuries shouldn’t deter you from playing sports, but you can take steps to prevent some of the most common sports injuries or at least reduce your chances of getting hurt by learning about them. And knowing that if an injury does occur a sports medicine specialist will help you get back to full health as efficiently as possible.

An orthopedic (musculoskeletal) doctor who specializes in sports medicine diagnoses and treats injuries sustained while playing sports, as well as other types of orthopedic injuries.
 
Seeing a sports medicine doctor can be beneficial if you’ve been injured while playing sports, exercising, tripping over your kid’s toys, or engaging in any physical activity. There are more than just athletes who need sports doctors, despite the name.
 
The specialty of sports medicine encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of injuries sustained by physical activity, such as osteoarthritis and tendonitis, as well as sports injuries.

The goal of these specialists is to promote healing through nonsurgical treatment options in a minimally-invasive manner. Occasionally, however, surgery is necessary as a result of physical trauma.
 
There are some sports medicine doctors who are also orthopedic surgeons, so you can get a wide range of treatments from one doctor. Sports medicine doctors often work alongside other orthopedic surgeons if they do not have surgical training.
 
Sports medicine doctors specialize in treating injuries related to sports: acute injury, chronic pain, and overuse injury. Doctors who specialize in sports medicine not only treat injuries and pain but also help patients improve their performance and prevent future injuries.
 
Sports medicine specialists are available at the Orthopedic Group. We serve patients from Leesburg VA, Lansdowne VA, Stone Springs VA, Dulles, VA, Ashburn VA, Sterling VA, Aldie VA, South Riding VA, Herndon VA, Winchester VA, Reston VA, Chantilly VA and nearby areas!