subject: Sports Medicine Doctors See Several Common Injuries In Athletes [print this page] There are plenty of ways to hurt yourself when you are involved in a sport. This is why there are sports medicine doctors. Get an idea of just some of the most common injuries that deserve the attention of this kind of specialist.
One of the most common issues that athletes encounter is broken bones. You can break a bone doing nearly any athletic activity, especially when you have to regularly deal with heights or a lot of impact. For example, pole vault, gymnastics, and football are some activities that frequently cause broken bones. Of course, sometimes it is hard to tell if the bone is broken or if you just have a sprain, especially if you have never broken a bone before. Other times, the answer is obvious since the bone may be sticking out of the skin. Either way, you should talk to a sports medicine specialist to get a diagnosis and treatment, such as a cast.
Injuries to the joints are also common. For example, you might twist an ankle while dancing or running, or you could injure your knee during gymnastics or any other sport. You need to be looked at by a doctor right away in these cases since continuing to use the joint without treatment could make the issue worse. In many cases, some rest, ice, and pain medication can help. Other times, you will need surgery and physical therapy. Clearly, this type of injury ranges from mild to serious, which is why you should avoid diagnosing yourself, and see a professional instead.
Concussions are also quite frequently seen, especially in high impact activities, such as football. Some people lose consciousness after a concussion, but this is actually rare, which is why this issue could go untreated. Symptoms of a concussion include a dazed, dizzy feeling, as well as confusion, memory loss, and behavioral changes. While getting one concussion does not tend to cause long-term damage, several of them over time can. This is why you need to pay close attention to the behavior of anyone who gets hit in the head. Of course, if you feel these symptoms yourself after a head injury, you need to request help.
These are just a few of the issues a sports medicine doctor can treat. This is why many teams have this kind of doctor nearby, ready to help. If you cannot immediately see a specialist, you should at least see your regular physician or go straight to a hospital. You can always get a referral to a specialist once you get an immediate treatment you need.
