Category: Sports Medicine

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Difference between Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy

Difference between Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy

Sports medicine and physical therapy are two important areas of medicine- especially for athletes and others who are physically active. If you’ve ever experienced an injury, had major surgery, or considered improving your physical performance, you’ve probably heard of these. At first glance, they share many similarities. However, at a deeper level, they have their own unique focus and benefits.

What is Sports Medicine?

Sports medicine is a field that focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries related to physical activity. Basically, the focus is on keeping people active, whether you are a competitive athlete or just want to stay physically fit.

Sports medicine covers the following:

Prevention of Injuries

Sports medicine professionals work with patients to help avoid injuries when participating in physical activities. They can help you build personalized workout plans, explain the proper techniques, and advise you on the best equipment to use.

Treating Injuries

If you are injured, a sports medicine professional can help. They have the training to diagnose your injury and offer treatments ranging from medication to physical therapy, and if necessary, surgery.

Rehabilitation

The primary goal of sports medicine is to get you back to your previous level of performance quickly and safely. They will work with you throughout your recovery process so that you can get back to what you love.

Boosting Performance

There is more to sports medicine than diagnosing and treating injuries- it’s also about improving your performance ability. Sports medicine can help you reach your peak through a combination of nutrition, training advice, and mental strategies.

What is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy is a broad field focused on improving movement, function, and overall quality of life. A physical therapist is trained to help patients recover from injuries or surgeries, as well as manage chronic conditions.

While there is some overlap between the two fields, physical therapy extends to a broader range of conditions, not just those related to sports. Physical therapy covers the following:

Recovery Following Injury/Surgery

Physical therapy is the key to regaining strength and mobility following an injury or surgery. A physical therapist will use exercises, hands-on therapy, and other techniques to help you with recovery.

Managing Chronic Pain

If you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic condition, physical therapy can help. A physical therapist will work with you to develop strategies that reduce pain and improve your overall quality of life.

Improving Movement

Physical therapy can also be helpful when dealing with conditions such as arthritis or recovering from a stroke. It can help you move better and maintain your independence.

Prevention of Future Issues

Just like sports medicine, a physical therapist focuses on the prevention of injuries. They will work with you to assess your risks and create a plan to keep you safe, whether you are an athlete or you just want to stay active as you age.

How Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy Work Together

Often, the two areas go hand-in-hand. For example, a sports medicine doctor may diagnose your injury and then refer you to a physical therapist for rehabilitation. On the other hand, a physical therapist may consult with a sports medicine specialist to ensure that you are getting the care that you need.

Schedule Your Consultation with Flying Horse Medical Center Today

Choosing between the two depends on your personal needs. If you’ve suffered an injury, want to prevent future injuries, or are an athlete interested in improving your performance, sports medicine may be your best option. However, if you are recovering from surgery, dealing with chronic pain, or want to improve your mobility, physical therapy may be the best option.

Flying Horse Medical Center strives to ensure patients receive the care that they need, which is why we offer both sports medicine and physical therapy services. We are here to help you recover, stay healthy, and reach your fitness goals. Schedule your consultation today to learn how we can support you on your journey to better health.

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Treatment Options for Sports Injuries

Flying Horse Medical Center | Colorado Springs & Monument | Concierge Medicine, Plastic Surgery, Aesthetics

Treatment Options for Sports Injuries

Flying Horse Medical Center | Colorado Springs & Monument | Concierge Medicine, Plastic Surgery, Aesthetics

Sports injuries can be relatively minor, or they could involve broken bones or worse, if an athlete is involved in a contact sport. Because the intensity of competition strains muscles and ligaments to the utmost, it’s very common for such injuries to occur. In most cases, the minor injuries can be treated right at home, by applying heat or cold, compression, taking pain medications, and getting plenty of rest to recover. However, sometimes injuries can be much more serious, and that calls for other measures to be taken. If you happen to live anywhere near Colorado Springs & Monument, you can avail yourself of the care options made available by the Flying Horse Medical Center. The center is not only the best mental health provider in Colorado Springs, but treatments are available for all ages, families, women, and men.

Most common sports injuries

Some of the most commonly occurring sports injuries include the following:

  • sprains – sprains occur when ligaments get stretched too much or tear. They occur mostly in the area of the ankles, knees, and wrists, and they can be either severe or relatively mild.
  • strains – these occur when muscles get over-extended, so that they stretch or tear. Strains happen most often in the area of the back, the hamstrings, and the abdomen.
  • torn cartilage – the knees and shoulders are the most frequent sites for torn cartilage, which is the sponge-like buffer between bones and joints.
  • broken bones – these occur when a powerful force or impact gets suddenly applied to bones, often resulting in a very painful situation, and a long recovery time
  • dislocations – sometimes, bones will be popped out of their sockets due to a force that gets applied unexpectedly. This often happens in the shoulder area, and once the shoulder gets popped back into place, some healing time will be necessary.
  • tendinitis – when the tissue connecting muscles to bones becomes inflamed, tendinitis occurs. This generally happens as a result of a motion that gets repeated frequently, for instance in the area around the knees.
  • concussions – these are injuries to the brain, caused by some kind of blow to the head. Even with the best protective headgear, sometimes the violence of a concussion can cause serious brain damage.

Treatments for sports injuries

Depending on the specific type of sports injury, treatments can vary widely, and can be of either short or long duration. In many cases, at-home treatments like those mentioned above are all that’s needed to overcome the injury. When the injury is more serious, here are some of the most common approaches to treatment:

  • anti-inflammatory medications – these are generally medications prescribed by your family doctor to reduce swelling and discomfort
  • injections – sometimes it becomes necessary to inject a pain-killer at the site of the injury
  • surgeries – it may be necessary to perform an operation to repair bone breaks or fractures, or to repair torn cartilage or tendons
  • physical therapy – when physical therapy is conducted by a licensed professional, it can do wonders to heal and repair body parts that have been injured
  • immobilization – to help heal broken bones, it is often necessary to immobilize them in splints, casts, or walking boots.

Flying Horse Medical Center is a medical provider that specializes in providing the best care for all patients and their various needs.