Sports Medicine Facts

Professional sports physicians initiated the specialty that has gained popularity as interest in physical fitness programs and amateur sports increased, according to Encyclopedia.com. The prevention and treatment of sports-related disorders and injuries fall into the sports medicine category.

  1. Exercise

    • Improper gear, accidents and poor training practices while exercising can lead to sports injuries, according to Medline Plus. Sports medicine trainers can offer advice as to the proper training exercises for a specific sport. Injuries can be prevented just by following a plan that includes warming up and stretches, making sure that you are healthy enough for the particular sport, using the correct equipment and gear, and drinking lots of water.

    Injuries

    • Treatment of stiffness and pain in joints, "tennis elbow," injury to the shoulder, leg, knee or back, and dehydration are conditions common to sports medicine, according to Encyclopedia.com. Physical therapy may include flexibility, endurance and strength exercise programs. A sports medicine trainer can be consulted in regard to fluid and nutrition replacement, fitness tests and the use of protective equipment.

    Sprains

    • The most common sports injuries are wrist and ankle sprains, according to the National Institutes of Health. Bones are connected at the joints with tissues called ligaments which are torn or stretched when a sprain occurs. Swelling, bruising, pain and being unable to move your joint are indications of a sprain. A sports medicine trainer can address these injuries with devices that compress the area, icing the area, applying a flexible type bandage and medication. Rest is also a very important part of recovery from a sprain.

    Knee Injuries

    • The knee joint moves by the use of tendons and muscles, according to the National Institutes of Health. Ligaments, fluid, bone and cartilage make up the knee joint. Knee injuries can vary in severity and cause pain and difficulty walking that may lead to surgery of some type. Sports medicine physicians may need to be consulted in more severe injuries such as to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) by a twisting motion.

    Fractures

    • Sports injuries can also involve fractures which are breaks in the bone, according to the National Institutes of Health. Limited mobility, swelling, bruising or bleeding, numbness and tingling, misshapen or out-of-place joints or limbs, and intense pain are all symptoms of a fracture. For a fracture, immediate medical care is needed. A sports medicine physician or surgeon may splint or cast the injury or perform surgery to insert pins or screws or even a plate to stabilize the bone, depending on the severity of the break.