Sports Medicine

SPORT FORMS. Sports are sports-related physical activities and physical games. These fill the human need for competition and physical exertion. Basically, all sports are possible competitively.

Competition. All sports can be competitively played. This is usually the key distinction between recreational and, more typically, competitive sports. In recreational sports, the goal is less about winning and more about having fun.

Physical fitness. The ability to play sports is also critical to overall health. As with all physical activities, sports demand a certain degree of physical conditioning. It’s necessary to train both during and after physical contact to prevent injuries and to properly perform.

Equipment. Most sports require the use of equipment. The equipment varies with the sport: balls, shoes/earrings, jerseys, and so on. However, most sports can be played without any equipment.

Positions. All sports involve some sort of stand-up game (or practices) and/or blocking. Of course, all sports involve players.

Physical therapy. Finally, there is sports medicine. A sports medicine doctor treats injuries as they occur and designs the best physical therapy and rehabilitation plan for each patient. They are the most effective physicians for treating injured athletes and people that play sports but do not engage in contact sports. activity regularly to maintain proper conditioning.

Injury. The risk of getting an injury while playing any type of sport is real. Common injuries include strains, sprains, bruises, joint disorders, ligament tears, broken bones, etc. While some injuries are preventable, others are not. For example, football players run the risk of sustaining a traumatic brain injury during a helmet to helmet collision, tennis players run the risk of sustaining tennis elbow, and hockey players run the risk of sustaining a stroke if they fall into the ice during a game.

Treatment. Many sports medicine doctors and orthopedic surgeons specialize in treating athletes and other patients that suffer from sports-related injuries. These doctors often treat the injury as a symptom of a more serious condition, such as heart disease, diabetes, or osteoporosis. Orthopedic surgeons perform surgeries for spinal cord injuries, reconstructive foot or wrist surgery, and many other types of orthopedic surgery. Some doctors treat their patients as only patients: diagnosing and managing symptoms and providing treatments as needed.

Counseling. People who play sports or are related to sports, but not engage in sports themselves, may benefit from personal counseling. In particular, these people may benefit from discussing their love of sports with a trained professional. This professional can teach these individuals how to protect themselves while playing sports-and how to deal with potential injuries.