Holistic Approach Taken By Asheboro, Nc Orthopedic Surgeons And Sports Medicine Doctors

Sports medicine is the specialty field of medical study which concentrates on preventive care, diagnosis, and treatment of injuries or conditions that arise from training for, and participating in, athletic events and casual sports. Sports medicine might seem new on the medical specialty horizon, but it may just be one of the oldest of all medical specialties.

Ancient Greek physician, Hippocrates, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine doctor who is widely accepted as the Father of Medicine, wrote extensively about joint dislocations and fractures, common injuries of Greek athletes.

Herodicus, a former athletic coach turned orthopedic surgeon, may have tutored Hippocrates in his own belief that illness is caused by an imbalance in nutrition and physical activity. Herodicus regularly prescribed a healthy diet and exercise in both treatment of illnesses and in rehabilitation of an injury, ultimately earning him the title, Father of Sports Medicine.

From the outset of sports medicine, sports medicine doctors have been holistic in their approach, focusing not only on treating injuries and resulting chronic illnesses, but also in preventing them. The use of movement and exercise in treatment and rehabilitation of injuries has proven vital to an athlete's ability to regain an active lifestyle after injury.

Today the practice of modern sports medicine is multidisciplinary, encompassing clinical medicine, orthopedics, athletic training and exercise physiology, biomechanics, chiropractic, kinesiology, physical therapy, massage therapy, sports nutrition, and sports psychology.

Diagnosis and treatment of injuries is an important aspect of sports medicine, as it is with orthopedic surgeons, but perhaps even more important to sports medicine doctors is its focus on prevention and rehabilitation. Sports medicine doctors examine overall physical conditioning, training methods, workout regimens, nutrition, and other preventative measures to help active people stay active and avoid being sidelined by injury.

Sports medicine for non-athletes
Modern sports medicine doctors treat injuries and chronic conditions of non-athletes, as well. Common non-athletic injuries sports medicine doctors or orthopedic doctors treat often involve repetitive motion injuries from activities like lifting, reaching, carrying, climbing, pulling, pushing, hammering, painting, chopping, to name a few.

Unfortunately, dozens of activities we routinely perform every day, if done carelessly or incorrectly, can cause painful injury. If you are not sure whether a sports medicine or orthopedic doctor should evaluate your injury, consider the following sports injury warning signs.

Sports injury warning signs
Numbness and tingling may signal a compressed or damaged nerve. Seek medical care from a sports medicine doctor or orthopedic doctor.

Swelling usually causes pain, stiffness, and the area around the injury to feel hot and look red. If R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compress, and Elevate) does not help substantially within 48 hours, seek medical care.

Reduced range of motion means you can't move a muscle as well, or rotate a joint as easily or as far as you normally can, without pain. Swelling may or may not be present.

Joint pain particularly in the knee, hip, ankle, elbow or wrist, and especially if it lasts more than 48 hours after R.I.C.E. has been administered, should be evaluated by a sports medicine doctor or orthopedic doctor.

Tenderness at a specific point, that is, if pressing your finger into a specific point on a bone, muscle or joint causes pain, you may have a serious injury. Seek medical care if R.I.C.E. does not help.

Comparative weakness on one side of your body that is not matched on the other side may signal an injury. Again, seek medical care if R.I.C.E. does not help.

R.I.C.E.
A common acronym for emergency first aid protocol to treat injury or pain is R.I.C.E., which stands for Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate.

If you suffer soft tissue injury, prompt first aid treatment can prevent complications and help you heal faster. These first aid measures can help to relieve pain, limit swelling and protect the injured soft tissue.

R.I.C.E protocol: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. First, whatever activity is causing the pain, stop doing it. Applying an ice pack will help manage swelling and decrease pain. Compress the injured area with a wrapped elastic bandage to immobilize the injured area and to reduce swelling. Elevate the injured area to a level above the heart. Be sure to place pillows under the entire limb as support.

Acute injuries (sprains, fractures, tears) or chronic injuries (stress fractures, tendonitis) that last for more than 48 hours after applying R.I.C.E. need additional medical care.

You can be sure that orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine doctors in Asheboro, NC, have your overall healthcare and best interests in mind as they ensure proper treatment is prescribed and adequate follow-up is undertaken for your injury.