Sports Injuries:
According to the CDC (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention), there are millions of causes related to sports injuries in the U.S every year. Sports injuries require special consultation from an exceptional specialist. Sports injury specialists can be categorized as sports medicine physicians or physical therapists. It is essential to identify the most suitable specialists to consult based on the nature of your injury. Dr. Kevin McElroy is one of the most competent and reliable sports medicine physicians in Ramsey, NJ.
Who is a sports injury specialist?
A sports injury specialist is a qualified and certified health physician who focuses on sports injuries rehabilitation as well as treatment. Sports injury specialists handle a variety of people ranging from professional athletes, active people, and amateur athletes who strive to lead an active and healthy lifestyle. Sports injury specialists can be classified as either sports medicine physicians or physical therapists. It is very important for you to realize that the two are not one and the same. The confusion or mistake of treating them as one is not far off since the two are aimed at the treatment of muscles and bones after the occurrence of an injury.
Difference between sports medicine and physical therapy?
Physical therapy is the process through which individuals who have a known medical condition that restricts their normal functionality or performance undergo rehabilitative treatment procedures in an attempt to restore or regain the original functionality or performance in their day to day tasks. For you to operate as a physical therapist, you need to complete the required learned years, undergo training, and become certified by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
Sports medicine, on the other hand, involves the provision of medical care to active individuals or athletes. The sports medicine physicians are responsible for providing active individuals, sports teams, or athletes with a comprehensive range of medical care. The treatment techniques used are mainly non-surgical, for you to start practicing as a sports medicine physician, you will need to undergo the relevant education, training and finally become licensed by the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM). Sports medicine specialists also undergo proper training to accurately health issues associated with sports psychology, diet, and abuse of controlled substances.
Roles and treatments used:
The main purpose of sports medicine doctors is conducting diagnoses on the hurt or injured areas, evaluating the disorder, performing various treatment procedures, requesting for additional tests, making referrals to physical therapists for injuries that require personalized therapy, and prescribing medication pills or injections for multiple conditions. There are a variety of treatment procedures that can be performed by sports medicine specialists such as the reconstruction of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), ankle-knee-elbow and shoulder arthroscopy, restoration of the articular cartilage, casting, repair of fractures, labral repair, rotator cuff repair, Meniscus repair, shoulder instability surgery and repair of tendons. These and other treatment procedures are used to treat diverse sports injuries such as lower back pains, shoulder pains, neck pains, herniated discs, etc.
Roles and treatments used by therapists:
Physical therapists do not only cater for sports-related injury but also other individuals who require treatment therapies to heal bones and muscles without surgery. The treatment recommended and the time taken to yield results will depend on your injury assessment and the patient’s willpower. There are various types of therapies that can be used, such as concussion management, fibromyalgia therapy, dry needling, manual therapy, injury screening, spine rehabilitation, vestibular therapy, and total joint rehabilitation.