What Is Sports Medicine?

Sports medicine is a branch of our podiatric care specializing in the prevention, care, and treatment of athletic injuries in the lower limb. This specialty aims to restore the normal function of your lower limb so you can get moving again in no time.

Sports medicine not only focuses on diagnosing and treating your sports injuries. It also encourages overall wellness by managing and taking care of the other aspects of your health, such as:

• Nutrition and fitness management
• Sports performance assessment
• Sports-specific rehabilitation
• Joint and lower limb preservation

Furthermore, this branch of medicine caters to professional, amateur, and recreational athletes in all sports and skill levels. But it also addresses the injuries and conditions sustained during any high-impact activities, such as fitness training and physically demanding occupation.

What Are the Common Sports Injuries and Conditions We Treat?

Almost all competing athletes heavily rely on their lower limbs to play their sport and bring home the bacon. This is also the reason why lower extremity injuries are highly prevalent in any type of contact sports. In fact, studies suggest that most sports-related injuries in the ER involve the lower extremity.

With 62 bones and numerous connecting muscles, the lower limb can suffer from different injuries with varying severity. Some of the most common sports-related injuries affecting the foot, ankle, and legs include:

• Ankle sprain

• Fracture

• Torn ligaments and tendons

• Achilles tendinitis

• Plantar fasciitis

• Turf toe

• Sever’s disease

These conditions may result from a sudden trauma or repeated stress and overuse. So, if you ever feel any pain and discomfort in the foot and ankle area, then it’s time to consult the best podiatrist in Florida.

Sports Injuries Medical Treatment and Prevention

Any type of injury is a cause for concern since it can threaten an athlete’s overall performance. So, when tragedy strikes, it’s crucial to see a specialist that can immediately address the condition and make a diagnosis.

At Florida Foot and Ankle Associates, we will promptly identify an injury using our latest diagnostic technology and procedures. Then, we’ll put aggressive treatments in place and devise an individualized treatment plan so you can come back stronger onto your next game.

Our doctors utilize different types of treatment options for various sports-related injuries. It can either be a conservative approach, surgical treatment, or a combination of both. Some examples include:

Non-Surgical Treatment

Not all injuries require surgical procedures. Most sports-related foot and ankle injuries may successfully be treated with the right injury care and management techniques. This includes:

• RICE therapy - resting, icing, compressing, and elevating the affected area should be the first immediate response to any physical injury.

• Medications - doctors can prescribe painkillers to manage the symptoms of your injury. It is usually combined with another form of conservative therapy.

• Platelet rich plasma or PRP - this is a minimally invasive treatment option to help hasten the healing process of your injury. PRP involves taking a few tubes of your blood to extract the platelets (contains growth factors) in it. The activated platelets will then be injected directly into the injury or the affected area. 

• Shockwave therapy - involves delivering a controlled amount of shock waves to the injured tissue of the foot or ankle to manage pain and enhance healing.

• Orthotic devices - podiatrists can recommend using orthotic devices to control mobility and support the injury while healing. It can also be used to prevent sports accidents or further damage to the foot and ankle. Some examples include ankle brace and heel cast.

Surgical Treatment

Most sports injuries may be treated through different non-surgical treatment options. But for severe injuries and those not responding to conservative approaches, surgery will be the next course of action.

Our podiatric surgeons perform foot and ankle surgery to advanced sports injuries, such as:

• Broken bones
• Complete tears in tendons and ligaments
• Damaged cartilages
• Severe overuse injuries and degenerative conditions

Our podiatric specialists use state-of-the-art technologies and devices to perform the latest surgical techniques to give our patients the best care they deserve.

When to See an Expert Sports Medicine Foot Doctor Near Me?

If you have been suffering from a sports-related injury or symptoms, then you should consult our podiatric experts now.

Our sports medicine podiatric experts at Florida Foot and Ankle Associates specialize in injury care, management, treatment, and prevention. We want to help athletes achieve their optimal performing selves and safely get back to their game as soon as possible.

Besides sports medicine, our experts and surgeons also specialize in other aspects of podiatric care, such as:

• Diabetic Foot Ulcer Care
• Foot and Ankle Surgery
• Heel Pain
• Routine Foot Care, Injury & Trauma
• Nail & Foot Fungus
• Children's Feet

Contact us now at 786-662-3893 to get in touch with the best sports medicine foot doctor near me. You can also visit our website to find one of our many offices closest to you!

The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.