What Sports Medicine Can Do For Active Individuals

By Neil P. Hines


The medical field is divided into numerous subspecialties allowing individuals to focus their work on specific areas that suit their personal interests. One of those areas is sports medicine, which involves studying the effects of physical activity on the human body. A physician who specializes in this field concentrates on the diagnosis of injuries, their treatment, and prevention.

Not all people in this field are licensed physicians. Personal trainers, for example, may or may not be medical doctors. The United States does not currently recognize this discipline as a training specialty for residency. Individuals must select another specialty and complete their residency if they want to pursue a career as a physician. After completion of residency, they can earn certifications and qualifications by participating in additional training.

Athletes rely on these professionals to help them recover quickly from injuries. At the same time, they learn about ways to prevent future injuries. These professionals can create effective workout programs to increase strength and endurance. Some specialize in nutrition and help their clients learn about what foods and drinks to consume to get the most out of their physical training programs.

This specialty often overlaps with physical therapy. A physical therapist relies on numerous techniques to manipulate muscle groups and joints. These hands-on manipulations loosen up tight muscles, provide relief from pain, and help the client achieve a greater range of motion.

Joint mobilization is one technique used by a physical therapist to stretch ligaments and help them move freely. Massage, trigger point release, and myofascial release manipulations relieve muscle spasms and help loosen up the muscles. A passive stretching exercise routine offers improved flexibility and better range of motion.

Various treatment options are available for patients with muscle, ligament, and tendon damage. The water movement in a whirlpool improves flexibility and helps wounds heal faster. Electrical stimulation of specific nerves can offer relief from muscle spasms and eliminate swelling. Cold packs reduce pain by constricting the blood vessels. Hot compresses relax muscles and allow blood to flow more freely to the injured area.

Individuals seeking help from professionals in this field can speed up the recovery time for strains, sprains, back pain, fractures, neck pain, and more. They will receive reliable information about nutrition and its effect on physical performance. One of the most important benefits is learning how to train in a way that prevents future injuries.




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