Orthopedics specializing in Sports Medicine? Reasons to visit a Orthopedic SPECIALIST.

What is sports medicine?

Orthopedic Sports Medicine is a subspecialty of orthopedics that focuses on the sports related injuries. The sports medicine specialty was created out of a need to help people recover faster and return to play. It is part of the larger field called orthopedics, a medical specialty that focuses on the musculoskeletal injuries (bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons, nerves, etc.) for all age groups. This now includes more common problems like arthritis and chronic pain. It also encompasses the world of sports medicine.

Sports are a major pastime for people of all ages and performance levels. Young children to seniors participate in all manner of athletic contests both as individuals and as members of teams. The scale of competition can be casual or it can be high caliber, but in all cases, injuries can result.

Caring for these problems quickly and effectively makes it possible for these athletes to return to their sports in good shape. Sports medicine focuses on helping both amateur and professional athletes improve their performance, recover from injury, and prevent future injuries.

But it's more than just that. 

Sports Medicine Orthopedic Specialists are also good resources for people who need help with making all kinds of healthy lifestyle decisions for themselves and their families.

• These physicians can advise so-called "weekend warriors" on injury prevention as well as share their 

• Knowledge of nutrition and supplements.

• If that hitch in your back is interfering with your flycasting or golf game, a sports medicine specialist will be happy to help you work out those kinks.

• Many patients are people with disabilities seeking new ways to increase their mobility and strength.

• Stress fractures and problems with the overuse of joints, such as tendonitis, are all areas of expertise for the sports medicine specialist, regardless how these problems were acquired.

In the arena of sports, these specialists can treat more than just the occasional sprain or twisted knee at the sports medicine clinic. Athletes can also experience the aggravation of other health problems, associated with age and repetitive sports injuries as they age. Sports Medicine Orthopedic Specialist can offer services such as ACL reconstructions, tendonitis and pain from injuries. Sports Medicine Orthopedic Specialists are trained to focus on the full spectrum of health concerns for all athletes to ensure they are at their physical best when out on the field, in the pool, on the road, or anywhere else where they might be competing. 

In the case of team athletics, they also make the perfect experts to call on to review the status of previously injured athletes and sign a "clean bill of health" so they can return to the team.

Orthopedic physicians specializing in Sports Medicine

Sports Medicine is a recognized subspecialty of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical Subspecialties, and Medicare. As such, physicians specializing in sports medicine have robust schooling in both the treatment and prevention of injuries. They will have received additional training and board certification from an accredited Sports Medicine fellowship program.

They work to help patients regain lost function and minimize damage, as well as shorten their time away from their training, jobs, or school due to injuries. Suffice it to say... they can become an important part of the care and maintenance, not only of athletes, but of busy, active families as well.

Coastal Orthopedics is the premier location for orthopedic sports medicine in Corpus Christi. We can help connect you with the best physician for your needs, whether you need an evaluation, want advice for prevention or need to explore your treatment options. Need an assessment? Call us at our Corpus Christi location and make an appointment today! 

Article written by: Rob Williams, MD