If you’re a sports enthusiast, then you know that injuries are always a possibility. Almost everyone who participates in sports will experience an injury at some point. And if you’re not careful, those injuries can sideline you for weeks or even months. That’s why it’s important to know when to see a sports doctor. In this quiz, we will ask you a few questions about your sports habits and injuries. In the end, we will tell you if you need a sports doctor or not.\
You’ve started experiencing pain in your elbow, knee, or shoulder. It came on suddenly and you can’t pinpoint exactly when it happened. You also don’t know what to do about it is a sports doctor necessary? Should you just see your regular family physician instead of someone specializing in sports medicine? Or should you wait for the pain to go away on its own? If this sounds like something you might be going through right now, take the short quiz below to find out if seeing a sports doctor is right for you:
It’s a good idea to see a sports doctor. Even if your pain isn’t caused by an injury related to playing sports, seeing someone who specializes in muscle and joint injuries can be invaluable. Playing certain types of physical activities such as soccer or tennis puts stress on the knees and elbows which can result in chronic or acute injuries that may not show up right away but could cause problems later on down the road. A sports doctor will also have advice for conditioning exercises and at-home treatment plans that are geared specifically toward athletes so you know what to do about your problem quickly without having to wait for an appointment with another type of specialist.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s best to see a sports doctor as soon as possible. You may have an injury that requires treatment and could get worse if left untreated.
Certain activities can cause repetitive strain injuries in certain areas of the body. For example, people who play racquet sports often experience elbow pain because of all the swinging motion involved. If you know that a particular activity puts stress on a certain joint or muscle group, seeing a sports doctor can help you prevent future injuries from happening. They might give you exercises to do or stretches to help keep the area limber, and they can also advise you on the best types of equipment to use or not use when participating in your sport.
If you have a history of injuries, it’s important to see a sports doctor. They will be able to diagnose any problems you may be having and prescribe the best treatment plan for you. Oftentimes people with previous injuries don’t realize that their old injury is still causing them pain or affecting their performance. A sports medicine specialist will be able to look at all of your past injuries and figure out how they are impacting your current health.
If the pain you are experiencing has been going on for more than a few weeks, it might be time to see a sports doctor. Your body is made up of many different types of tissues that can get injured by overuse or injury and these injuries may not always heal on their own without proper medical care. A sports doctor will be able to diagnose the problem and get you on the road to recovery.
If you want to improve your performance in any sport or activity, you must see a sports doctor. They will be able to assess what areas of your body need the most attention and prescribe exercises or stretches that can help strengthen those muscles so they don’t get injured again during future games or events.
If you want to prevent injury, you must see a sports doctor. They can identify areas of weakness in your body and prescribe exercises or stretches that will help strengthen those muscles so they don’t get injured again during future games or events.
If you answered yes to any of these questions, a sports doctor may be able to help. Our team is here for you every step of the way and will do everything they can to get your body back up and running as quickly as possible so that you can enjoy life without pain. Give us a call today.
Dr. Chen sees patients at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital Center for Sports Medicine in Walnut Creek, California. He is a board-certified Pediatrician and Sports Medicine Doctor that specializes in the non-operative medical treatment of a wide variety of various musculoskeletal conditions, including back injuries. Dr. Chen graduated from St. George’s University School of Medicine and went on to complete Pediatric residency training at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey (Rutgers), then went on to fellowship training in Sports Medicine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, one of the perennially top-ranked children’s hospitals in the nation. There he provided sideline coverage for NCAA Division I athletics at the University of Cincinnati and Miami University (OH). Since graduating, Dr. Chen has continued his love of sports coverage by volunteering for the San Francisco Marathon, the San Francisco Giant Race, and as the team physician for Northgate High School in Walnut Creek. Being a part of The Center for Sports Medicine allows Dr. Chen quick access to a multidisciplinary team of orthopedic surgeons, podiatrists, physiatrists, and physical therapists to return you to your highest functional level quickly and safely. Click here to contact us for your next appointment!
925-934-3536
stephen.chen@eastbaysportsdoc.com