When and what type of doctor should you see for your sports injury?
A multidisciplinary sports medicine team can help all types of athletes by offering a wide range of treatment options.
Sports medicine focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing sports-related injuries. Doctors in this field merge medical and exercise knowledge to help people of all ages and competitive backgrounds, whether treating an injury or helping them prevent injuries and meet fitness goals.
But how do you know if you should see a sports medicine specialist in the first place?
“If you have an acute injury—one with pain, obvious swelling, weakness, and a feeling of something being popped or torn—or if there is a chronic lingering issue that is not getting better and preventing you from being active, a sports medicine specialist can help,” says University of Iowa Health Care orthopedic surgeon Brian R. Wolf, MD, MS.
He cautions, however, that if you’re concerned about a fracture or dislocation, you should go to the emergency room first.
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Looking to get the same expert care as UI athletes?
Take the quiz below to learn more about our sports medicine team and the types of injuries and conditions they can treat.
1. True or false: Sports medicine is only for young, elite athletes.
False. Sports medicine benefits athletes of all ages and abilities. Anyone can see a sports medicine doctor for injuries related to physical activity.
2. Which of the following are sports medicine practitioners not usually interested in?
A. Diet
B. Joint pain
C. Hormonal health
D. Concussions
C. While hormones affect health in a variety of ways, they are not a primary focus in sports medicine. “Sports medicine covers a variety of conditions, such as dislocated bones, fractures, impingements, muscle tears and sprains, tendinitis, tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, and more,” Wolf says.
3. Which of these treatments might be useful for a runner with an injured Achilles tendon?
A. Physical therapy
B. Surgery
C. Training
D. Any of the above
D. Depending on the injury, a doctor may recommend surgery, but they may also work on recovery and prevention. Speaking with a sports medicine specialist can help determine the right course of action.
4. True or false: Some sports medicine practitioners are orthopedic surgeons.
True. At University of Iowa Health Care, our sports medicine team includes surgeons and non-surgical practitioners such as sports medicine physicians, pediatricians, physician assistants, physical therapists, and licensed mental health counselors. “Having a multidisciplinary team helps make sure you get the best result with all injuries, treatments, and surgeries,” Wolf says.
5. How does sports medicine benefit non-athletes?
A. Aiding in recovery from injury
B. Helping to prevent further injury
C. Improving strength and range of motion
D. Improving mental health
E. All the above
E. While athletes may need specific treatments to improve performance, sports medicine itself does not differentiate between athletes and non-athletes.