Sports Medicine
Sports Medicine in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Sports injuries can happen to the best of us, whether you are a professional athlete, weekend warrior, or simply a regular exerciser. Some injuries result from accidents. Others may be due to inadequate training, conditioning, or warm-ups; improper equipment; or insufficient stretching.
Although virtually any part of your body can be injured during sports or exercise, typically the muscles, bones, ligaments, and other connective tissue are involved. Fortunately, most sports injuries can be treated effectively, and patients can return to a personally satisfying level of physical activity after they heal. Even better, many sports injuries can be prevented in the first place, with proper precautions.
How to Prevent Sports Injuries
Playing sports, going to the gym, and routine exercising is fun, but getting hurt is not. There are many ways to prevent injuries so you can stay active in your hobbies; some of these include:
- Wear protective gear. Protective gear is anything you wear during your sport or activity that can help prevent injuries; the gear you wear depends on the activity you participate in. One of the most common equipment items is a helmet; a proper-fitted and activity-related helmet is essential to avoiding head injuries.
- Warm-up and cool down. It is not good for your muscles and joints to start play or exercise without some warm-up. You should always warm up your muscles with a light jog and some warm-up exercises before play; do some cool-down exercises and stretches after play and exercise.
- Know the rules of the game. If your activity of choice is a sport, knowing the rules of the game is important to help you avoid injuries. When all players know the rules of the game, they know what to expect from each other.
- Watch out for others. Some rules are just about protecting others and being courteous. One way to watch out for others is through communication on a field of play, a court, or even when you are out for a bike ride or run.
Don’t play when you’re injured. If you love sports and physical activity, it is tempting to get right back at it after an injury. It is very important not to do this until you are 100% ready to get back into it physically.
Trust the experienced orthopedic doctors and medical professionals at South Florida Orthopedic Group (formerly Meli Orthopedic Centers of Excellence) to provide comprehensive surgical and nonsurgical care for your sports injury. Since 1990, our compassionate staff has helped thousands of people recover from sports injuries and get back in the game. Whether you are a competitive athlete or just someone who likes to be active, we can expertly diagnose and treat the injury preventing you from enjoying the activities you love.
The sports medicine specialists at South Florida Orthopedic Group in Fort Lauderdale focus on sports-related injuries, injury management, and rehabilitation. We treat a variety of common sports injuries, such as:
Common Sports Injuries
- Concussions
- Meniscus (knee cartilage) tears
- ACL, MCL, and PCL tears and repairs (knee tendons)
- Shoulder impingement syndrome
- Rotator cuff tears and repairs using arthroscopy
- Clavicle fractures
- Shoulder Instability
- Strains and sprains
- Tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, and pitcher’s elbow
- Fractures
- Hamstring injuries
- Shin splints
- Achilles tendonitis and Achilles tendon tears
- Joint dislocations
Treatment for Sports Injuries
Treatment for sports injuries will depend on factors such as how severe the injury is and what part of the body is injured. There are many ways to treat sports injuries, below are some of the many common treatments for a variety of different injuries:
- RICE. Rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
- Pain relief
- Immobilization of the affected area
- Corticosteroid injections
- Surgery and other similar procedures
Treatment of your sports injury will depend on your needs, health, and personal preferences. Depending on your diagnosis, many nonsurgical treatment options may be your best option for pain relief, including:
- Cortisone injections
- Ultrasound-guided musculoskeletal injections
- Trigger point injections
- Cartilage replacement procedures
- Cooled radiofrequency ablation (COOLIEF) for chronic joint pain
Our goal is to help you get back to your activities, at your competitive best, as quickly as possible. In addition to treating sports injuries, our sports medicine team can offer ways to help you improve your performance and prevent future injuries.
Sports Medicine Physicians in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
For expert sports medicine care with a personal touch, contact South Florida Orthopedic Group, formerly known as Meli Orthopedic Centers of Excellence. You can reach South Florida Orthopedic Group in Ft. Lauderdale at (954) 771-8177 . We are always happy to answer any questions you may have.
You can also request your appointment now.