A sports medicine specialist focuses on restoring function to injured patients so they can regain mobility and range of motion. Although sports medicine specialists often work with both professional athletes and rising young sports stars, they may also treat children, teens, and adults who play casual sports, those who exercise for personal fitness, and people who have physically demanding jobs that require a high degree of fitness or athleticism.
Who can become a sports medicine specialist?
Many types of medical professionals may become sports medicine specialists. In most cases, a sports medicine specialist has a medical degree and a specialty in some form of internal medicine, pediatrics, or urgent care. They typically have specific experience in non-surgical interventions and minimally invasive treatments, to approach cases conservatively and restore full functionality rapidly.
Some, but not all, sports medicine specialists have surgical training; typically, as orthopaedic surgeons like Dr. Strasburger. As an orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, Dr. Strasburger can offer a complete range of care – from treatment plans and injected therapies to surgical interventions for the repair of serious injuries.
What kind of injuries are treated by sports medicine specialists?
Many conditions treated by a sports medicine specialist require physical therapy, injections, and other treatments that don’t involve surgery. More complex cases and injuries can mean the patient needs arthroscopic or open joint surgery to repair damage and restore full mobility. Typical cases seen by Dr. Strasburger include damage to joints, including:
- Ankle sprains and strains
- Injuries to the shoulder joint, including labrum tears
- Knee injuries, including those which require partial or total knee replacement
- Injuries to tendons or cartilage
A sports medicine specialist can also provide advice on exercise, injury prevention, nutrition, and supplements.
What treatments are available at Strasburger Orthopaedics?
Dr. Strasburger offers a full complement of therapies, treatments, and surgical interventions, and works closely with his patients to deliver care that is designed to restore movement and relieve pain. He provides:
- Non-surgical therapies like PRP (platelet rich plasma) injections to reduce pain and speed healing, and iovera° – a pre-surgical procedure that can “freeze away” pain for extra comfort during the weeks following surgery
- Arthroscopic surgery for joint pain, to clean out tiny spikes of bone or overgrown cartilage that cause pain and loss of mobility
- Shoulder and hip surgeries for injuries caused by trauma or wear and tear on the joints over time
- NAVIO – a robotics assisted surgical system for highly accurate partial or full knee replacements with excellent post-surgical results including maximized mobility and faster healing times
Do you believe a sports medicine specialist who is also an orthopaedic surgeon could be the right fit for your healthcare needs? Call our office for an appointment today.