Sports Medicine Q & A What is sports medicine?

You don’t have to be a professional athlete to benefit from quality sports medicine. Even if you just play recreationally on the weekends, you’re still susceptible to suffering from a debilitating sports injury. Bart Rask, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon fellowship-trained in sports medicine and provides excellent care at Hillsboro Orthopedic Group. in Hillsboro, Oregon. For all your sports medicine needs, schedule a visit today by calling the office.

Sports medicine focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries sustained during physical activity. Whether you’ve sustained a fracture from a boxing match or simply hurt yourself while stretching before a run, sports medicine specialists can provide the proper treatment to make sure your body heals quickly and effectively. 

It’s a common misconception that sports medicine is reserved only for professional athletes. While sports medicine specialists do frequently work with professional athletes, their medical care is beneficial to anybody who is physically active, from people who have physically demanding jobs to people who simply like to take a long walk on the weekend.

Another common misconception is that you only need to see a sports medicine specialist after you’ve sustained an injury. Sports medicine is as preventive as it is reactive, and sports medicine specialists like Dr. Rask can help you prevent injuries as much as they help treat them.

People most frequently seek out sports medicine care for strains and sprains.

Strains are injuries that damage your muscles or tendons. Your tendons are thick cords of tissue that join your muscles and bones together. Sprains, on the other hand, are injuries that damage your ligaments, which are the bands of tissue that keep the bones in your joints connected.

Strains and sprains occur when your tendons, ligaments, or muscles tear after stretching beyond their normal capacity.

Some other reasons that people need sports medicine treatments include:

• Rotator cuff injuries
• Swollen muscles
• Achilles tendon rupture
• Fractures or broken bones
• Knee injuries
• Dislocations

You might also benefit from sports medicine if you’re particularly susceptible to certain damage and are looking for ways to minimize your risk of injury.

You’re more likely to suffer a sports injury if you don’t warm-up properly before exercising, play contact sports, or are overweight.

Intermittent sports participation also leaves you at a higher risk of suffering a sports injury, though anybody who engages in a fitness-related activity is susceptible to an injury. 

Dr. Rask is highly skilled in sports medicine and adept in a wide range of treatments. Your particular treatment depends on your particular injury. Dr. Rask works with you to develop a treatment plan that best addresses your unique needs and preferences, whether that be surgical or nonsurgical. 

Get on the road to recovery today and call Hillsboro Orthopedic Group.