What is a sports medicine specialist?
A sports medicine specialist is an orthopedist or another medical professional with training and experience in identifying, treating, and rehabilitating injuries that are common to professional and amateur athletes. Many sports injuries occur when you make faulty or inefficient movements, or because your muscles, tendons, and ligaments aren’t as strong or flexible as they could be.
Dr. Absi treats, repairs, and rehabilitates any current injuries you have. He also teaches you new ways to move and recommends physical therapy to reduce your risk for injuries in the future.
What kinds of injuries does sports medicine treat?
Some of the most common types of sports injuries affect your joints, which undergo extreme amounts of stress when you perform activities like swinging a racket, jumping, or running. If you’re an athlete, you’re especially liable to injuries in the soft tissues or bones in your:
- Shoulders
- Knees
- Elbows
- Hips
- Hands
- Wrists
- Neck
The most common types of injuries that a sports medicine specialist treats are:
- Sprains
- Strains
- Tendonitis
- Bursitis
- Cartilage tears
- Fractures
- Dislocations
Repeated injury and overuse can also cause osteoarthritis, which wears down the protective cartilage in your joints, making them stiff and painful.
How do doctors treat sports injuries?
As a sports medicine specialist and orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Absi offers noninvasive, minimally invasive, and surgical corrections for common sports injuries. After conducting a thorough examination, evaluating your range of motion, and taking a digital X-ray, he may recommend:
- Resting the injured body part
- Physical therapy to build strength and flexibility
- Joint injections to alleviate pain and swelling
- Anterior cruciate ligament (knee) reconstruction
- Meniscus tear (knee) reconstruction
- Rotator cuff (shoulder) reconstruction
Dr. Absi uses minimally invasive arthroscopy to repair shoulder and knee joints.
Can sports medicine improve my game?
Consulting a sports medicine specialist is a great way to find out if you’re moving and working out efficiently. Dr. Absi may recommend physical therapy or other exercises or modifications to improve your performance and reduce the risk of injury.
For a sports medicine consultation, contact the friendly Orthopaedics of Atlanta and Aesthetic Institute team today by calling the office or using the online form.
