subject: Sports Injury And Medical Technology Advances [print this page] Remarkable breakthroughs in medical science and technology have been helping athletes and sportspersons regain fitness faster. Sportspersons have been getting back to their trade earlier than they would have done even a decade ago. The significant advances in sports injury treatment, however, have not pushed older medical technology into oblivion. On the contrary, sports injury experts and doctors are, on a case-by-case basis, using both technologies to treat sports injuries.
The example of Payne Whitney gymnasium
Payne Whitney gymnasium in Yale, United States is an appropriate example of how sports injuries are managed with modern and older medical technology. The gymnasium is equipped with doctors and physical trainers who are specialized in sports medicine. From a mild sprain to multiple fractures, the gymnasium, which has a rehabilitation center, is capable of treating just about every type of injury a player sustains. According to Chris Pecora, the director of Payne Whitney gymnasium, they see, on an average, 250 patients every day. According to Pecora, sporting career of a professional athlete is short and one tries to make the most of it by being competitive. However, injuries may be sustained in the bargain. According to Pecora, Theres a lot of frustration on the part of the athletes because their seasons are short and their careers are short. Theyre eager to get back into the game and sports medicine helps athletes ease back so that they can safely return to play as soon as possible.
So, how does a sports injury clinic manage injuries?
To start with, the rehabilitation process for each athlete is different. Richard Kaplan, a sports injury specialist, opines that You have to respect your body never underestimate an injury because your body is telling you something, even with technology, you cant rush your body healing, because theres the risk of causing other problems.
A significant advance in sports injury management has been the introduction of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the improvement in arthroscopic surgery. MRI helps doctors to understand, in addition to bone injuries, injuries to soft tissues. Arthroscopic surgery, at the same time, makes a hole outside joints and uses a camera to review the surgery visually. According to Patrick Ruwe, an experienced orthopaedic consultant with Yale Health Plan, such surgeries create smaller incisions and hence, sportspersons experience lesser pain after the surgery is completed. This is a significant contribution to the rehabilitation speed of the athlete as the athlete is now able to attain recovery much faster than before.
Rehabilitation efforts also have significantly improved and have kept pace with medical advances. Physical trainers now work with sportspersons to help them perform the right exercises so that they are able to get back to their trade quickly.
With medical advances, sports now is becoming more lucrative than ever as players are able to manage injuries much better than before. Significantly, they are able to play with a relaxed mind and without the fear of injury. That has been a significant contribution.
