Athletes and non-athletes alike can suffer from sports injuries. Injuries usually happen because of poor conditioning, improper technique, or bad luck (such as falling) and can range from mild to severe. Sports injuries include sprains and strains, broken bones, muscle tears or pulls, joint injuries, and even concussions. While sports injuries can be prevented with proper conditioning, warm-up and cool-down exercises, and proper use of protective gear, many times, they are inevitable, which is where sports medicine New York comes into the equation.
Athletes can benefit from sports medicine in many ways. It can help them improve their athletic performance and reduce the risk of injury by providing a combination of medical care, conditioning, and training. Besides, sports medicine can help athletes recover faster from injuries. Below is everything you need to know about sports injuries and sports medicine.
Types of Sports Injuries
Overuse injuries – caused by repetitive use of a specific muscle or joint; usually associated with overtraining or training on hard surfaces that do not absorb shock well; often occur in muscles and tendons near joints such as the knees and ankles
Contact injuries – caused by direct contact with another player or object; these include fractures, dislocations, contusions (bruises), and sprains
Non-contact injuries – caused by falls or collisions with objects such as the ground or goal posts; also includes ankle sprains.
How does sports medicine help?
Offers physical therapy
Sports medicine physicians help treat injuries by providing physical therapy services such as massages and stretching exercises for injured athletes. They also teach athletes how to perform these exercises independently after leaving the clinic to continue working on their recovery at home or during practice time away from their doctors’ offices.
Enhanced athletic performance
Sports medicine physicians can help you achieve peak performance by helping you prevent injuries before they happen and by treating them if they do happen. They also can help you recover faster from injuries so that you can return to play more quickly than if treated by another physician.
Lower risk of injury
Sports medicine physicians help athletes avoid injuries by evaluating their physical condition and helping them develop safe exercise programs suited to their needs. They also can recommend ways to reduce the risk of specific types of injuries, such as running stress fractures or knee ligament sprains caused by overuse.
Improved Health
Regular exercise improves overall health by reducing risk factors for heart disease and diabetes, improving mental health, and increasing self-esteem. Sports medicine helps people stay active throughout life so that they can continue to enjoy these benefits well into old age.
Cutting-edge treatment options
The latest advances in sports medicine can help treat injuries more effectively. For example, researchers are constantly developing new treatments for common sports injuries like sprained ankles or torn ligaments. Doctors may also use new technologies such as MRI scans or CT scans to diagnose injuries more accurately than possible.
If you have sustained sports injuries, reach out to Flex-Foot and Ankle professionals.