Understanding Orthopedic Sports Medicine
Orthopedics sound somewhat intimidating, primarily when it is associated with medical treatments. In reality, it simply is the treatment of bones and muscles. This branch of medicine is focused on diseases, injuries, and different conditions of the musculoskeletal system, including joints, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. This type of treatment helps manage symptoms of orthopedic conditions, especially when these symptoms are long-term and change over time.
Orthopedic medicine ties in with sports medicine because it is vital to understand injuries of the musculoskeletal system when dealing with athletes. It is important to know how to prevent injuries and ensure past injuries don't flare up. Specialists can help with symptoms and can recognize when a patient needs to go to surgery or physical therapy.
Frequent Conditions & Injuries Treated
A wide variety of conditions and injuries can be treated with orthopedic sports medicine. We have listed a few specific conditions and how we treat them at our various locations at Arnot Health. Visit our website to get a complete list of the different conditions we treat.
Knee Arthritis
Arthritis in the knees occurs when the cartilage in the joints wears down, causing the knees to become stiff and painful. Arthritis happens with general age-related use, trauma, and autoimmune conditions. Once arthritis has settled in, the effects are irreversible. There are different treatments and routines that can be used to reduce the symptoms. Low-impact exercises like biking and swimming are great ways to stay in shape while taking it easy on your knees. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is also essential since even the slightest weight change can dramatically affect pain from arthritis. One last treatment would be injections in the knees which can help lubricate the area and reduce the effect of symptoms.
Shoulder Instability
This type of injury typically starts when the shoulder has been dislocated and relocated. The lining of the shoulder joint becomes stretched, torn, or detached, allowing the ball of the shoulder to move around. This movement can either move entirely or partially out of the socket. To treat this condition, you can either participate in physical therapy where they work on different machines or stretches to build that area back up. It is also essential to modify your daily activities so you aren't causing strain to the site. If these techniques don't seem to work effectively, surgical management might need to occur.
Foot and Ankle Care
There are many different reasons why people have issues with their feet and ankles. A few possible reasons might be an injury, ill-fitting shoes, arthritis, or diabetes. Whatever the case, having sore feet and ankles can take you out for the rest of the day. Our specialists use various assessments to give you a proper diagnosis. After determining the issue, we can develop a unique treatment plan for you.
Orthopedic medicine can help you live a more normal life without the pains and aches of your injuries. With most conditions, it isn't possible to completely erase the symptoms, but it is possible to lessen the pain and continue living your life to the fullest. These conditions can severely affect an athlete's performance, so taking the necessary precautions beforehand is vital to avoid injury. Maintaining the treatments after the damage will reduce the symptoms and allow the athlete to continue participating in their daily activities.
Why You Should Pick Arnot Health for Your Treatment
We have a variety of orthopedic sports medicine specialists at our different locations. We care about our patients and want to do everything we can to improve their symptoms. Arnot Ogden Medical Center is the only hospital in the region to achieve the Healthgrades Joint Replacement Excellence Award (TM) for three consecutive years.. We are also continuously recognized for our standard care and receive high marks from Healthgrades ®, Excellus Blue Cross, and Aetna.
No matter the stage you are at with your condition, Arnot Health is dedicated to helping you.
