Non-Operative Sports Medicine
Non-Operative Sports Medicine refers to care provided by a primary care physician for musculoskeletal issues. Family medicine physicians, internists, emergency medicine, and pediatricians may do a fellowship in sports medicine, providing additional expertise for sports-related injuries.
While these physicians don’t perform surgery, there are many non-surgical options to help patients get back to their active lives after an injury to a bone, joint, tendon or ligament. Many injuries and conditions are best resolved through non-operative treatments such as medication, physical therapy, lifestyle modifications, injections, bracing and splinting or referrals to specialists.
They are also experts in helping guide medical issues related to sports and athletics along with coordinating exercise plans with other specialists or primary care teams.
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Injuries We Treat
Most injuries fall into one of two categories: sudden injuries and overuse injuries.
Sudden Injuries
- Muscle strains
- Ligament sprains
- Broken bones
- Concussions, or traumatic brain injuries
- Dislocations, such as a dislocated shoulder
- Stingers and burners, or nerve injuries in the neck and shoulders
- Torn cartilage, including meniscus tears and labral tears
Overuse Injuries
- Tendon disorders, such as jumper’s knee, tennis elbow and Achilles tendonitis
- Flares of arthritis in joints
- Bursitis, or inflammation of the joints such as the hip or shoulder
- Plantar fasciitis, or heel pain
Nonsurgical Treatment
Your physician may recommend starting with conservative options that fit easily into your daily routine. Ask us about:
- Rehabilitation – Provides physical therapy and occupational therapy to reduce pain and improve your strength, flexibility and ability to do certain tasks
- Sports performance and nutrition counseling – Gives you personalized advice about how to stay healthy and compete at your best
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections – Deliver a high dose of platelets from your body to the site of an injury to help it heal
- Percutaneous tenotomy – Uses a needle to break up scar tissue in a damaged tendon and stimulate healing
Sports Medicine Video Series
Review the following videos from George Morris, MD, as he discusses some of the main questions he gets about sports medicine.
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