A sports medicine doctor is an expert in diagnosing, treating, and preventing injuries. These include injuries from sports, exercise, and other physical activities. If you see a sports medicine doctor the next time you have an injury, you can expect nothing less than the best care from this specialist.
For foot and ankle injuries, a podiatrist with special training in sports medicine is your best chance at pain relief and restored function. Let’s talk about the benefits of seeing a sports medicine physician.
#1 An Individualized Program
Treatment programs put together by a sports medicine doctor are highly personalized according to your needs. Their additional training in sports medicine allows them to create a program that not only ensures that your injury heals correctly, but also rehabilitates it and prevents it from happening again.
For instance, frequent ankle sprains may indicate weak ankles, which can be addressed with a training and conditioning program that includes specific strengthening exercises. However, it could also be due to poor form and lax ligaments, which a sports medicine doctor will be able to discern and correct. All of these can help you improve your technique and sports performance.
#2 A Foot Assessment
A sports medicine physician can evaluate your foot and ankle, for instance, test the range of motion of the toes and the ankle’s dorsiflexion — or the motion of drawing your toes toward your shins. The doctor can also check your gait, especially if you have chronic symptoms that could be caused by faulty biomechanics.
#3 Footwear Analysis
The right footwear for you depends on several factors, such as your foot structure (high arches or flat feet) and your choice of sport. A good fit, extra support, and stability are important considerations when selecting footwear. For example, plantar fasciitis and tendonitis sufferers can benefit from athletic sneakers with motion control technology. Those with instability or those who overpronate may not benefit from cushioned, shock-absorbing soles. With so many choices in the market, it can be challenging to find the best athletic shoe for you. A sports medicine doctor can evaluate your athletic shoes and make recommendations for improvement.
#4 Preventive Care
Injury prevention ensures that you can continue to play your sport. For example, if you injure your ankle, there is a higher risk of reinjury, so special attention is also paid to stabilizing the joint. A sports medicine physician can educate you on nutrition and good sleep hygiene, and recommend a good conditioning and training program — tailored around your strengths and weaknesses — can altogether help reduce your risk of injury and reinjury.
A sports medicine doctor knows how important sport and exercise are to overall health and will keep you active for a longer time. We help athletes, non-athletes, aging athletes, and people with chronic diseases and disabilities keep active.
Sports Medicine Physician Near Me in Cincinnati, OH
Our podiatrists at The Podiatry Group of South Texas are sports medicine doctors and can provide highly specialized care for foot and ankle injuries from sports and exercise. Sports injuries treated early have better outcomes. Call our clinic nearest you to make an appointment with a sports medicine podiatrist or use our online request form.
