Sports medicine is often associated with injury treatment, but its benefits for athletes go beyond that. Sports medicine doctors play a pivotal role in the maintenance of athletes, and they often serve on sports teams, from the high school level to the professional level.
A specialized sports doctor is board-certified in orthopedics and has a vast knowledge of musculoskeletal conditions commonly occurring in athletes or individuals with an active lifestyle.
Let’s discuss some of the other ways athletes can benefit from specialized care provided by sports medicine doctors.
Performance Enhancement
Different aspects affect an athlete’s performance, and a sports doctor can help ensure the athlete receives everything that is critical to their physical health and optimal performance. They frequently recommend physical therapy to patients to improve their mobility, range of motion, and strength – all of which help with athletic performance. A sports medicine doctor can detect when physical therapy is necessary or if a less closely guided approach to exercise is beneficial.
Another way sports medicine doctors and physical therapists help is through a biomechanical analysis, where they assess the athlete’s movements down to the smallest details and provide highly specific recommendations to fine-tune their technique and performance.
Whether it’s optimizing your running form or improving your golf swing or basketball shooting technique, you can trust a sports medicine physician’s highly qualified expertise.
Prehabilitation
You may think of sports medicine as centered around rehabilitation after injuries. However, professional athletes know the value of “prehabilitation.”
Prehabilitation involves targeted exercises and training regimens that proactively address potential weaknesses and imbalances in the body before they can lead to injuries.
Sports medicine doctors are experts at designing personalized prehabilitation plans that strengthen weaker areas of the body, reducing wear and tear as much as possible, and making the athlete less prone to injury.
As an athlete, this helps you have longevity in your career. Your sports physician can help you stay in the game longer.
Active Recovery Strategies
Recovery for an athlete does not mean passive rest alone. Sports medicine introduces athletes to a dynamic concept – active recovery.
Sports medicine experts guide athletes in adopting active recovery techniques such as yoga, stretching routines, and low-intensity cross-training. These strategies not only enhance blood flow and nutrient delivery to muscles but also facilitate the removal of metabolic waste, promoting faster recovery after intense training sessions.
By incorporating active recovery into your routine, you can minimize downtime, reduce muscle soreness, and ensure that your body is primed for optimal performance.
Sports Medicine Services in Catonsville, Columbia, Eldersburg, & Fulton, MD
Our orthopedic surgeons at Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland have advanced training in sports medicine. We are committed to providing all the needs of professional, amateur, and recreational athletes, as well as weekend warriors, from sports injury treatment to conditioning and rehabilitation and performance enhancement. Our goals are to ensure you move correctly, feel your best during physical activity, and boost your overall health.
We offer after-hours care for acute sports injuries. For any questions about after-hours care or to schedule an appointment with a sports medicine doctor, use our online form or call (410) 644-1880 for any questions.
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