What is Sports Medicine and Who Can Benefit From it?

• Sports medicine, sometimes referred to as sports science, is a branch of medicine geared towards preventing and treating injuries caused by sports or physical activity. Professional athletes as well as individuals who play sports or exercise recreationally can benefit from sports medicine for diagnostic, curative, rehabilitative, and preventative services.
• Individuals who may potentially benefit from sports medicine includes those wanting to participate in various activities such as going for a walk around the block, a swim, returning to soccer practice, or even attending a ballroom dancing class. You do not have to be a competitive athlete to benefit from sports medicine in helping you regain function and return to the physical activity of your choice.
• Doctors or Physical Therapy (DPT) are able to administer Sports Medicine Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation. Live to Move Physical Therapy in Pearland and Manvel area is equipped with the knowledge to not only heal you to normal function, but adequately prepare you for the activity you wish to return to. We also have DPTs on staff who are Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists if you desire to continue your health and fitness journey after your therapy with our strength and conditioning classes!

Importance of Sports Medicine​

• Approximately 8.6 million cases of sports-and-recreation-related injury occurred in the U.S. from 2011 through 2014, per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).(1) Participation in sports and physical activity is essential for general health and quality of life; cultural acknowledgement of this fact has created higher demand for sports medicine research and health care roles.
• Physical therapists and sports medicine physicians are the primary healthcare providers in the field of sports medicine. Physical therapy is the most crucial contributor to the rehabilitative and preventative aspects of sports medicine and specializes in non-surgical/conservative management of injuries and movement dysfunction. A physical therapist can determine whether you are ready to perform a specific sport or activity and when you are ready to return to your activity after rehabilitation from an injury.
• The rate of sports-related injuries in youth has increased with 3.5 million youth under the age of 14 injured each year due to increased participation and specialization at a younger age.(2) Children as well as individuals not appropriately trained for their activity are most commonly injured. Physical therapy can provide specialized guidance to reduce the number of these individuals sustaining injuries each year.

Where did Sports Medicine Originate?

• Sports medicine has been around for thousands of years, but only started getting popular in the medical field in the early 1900s. Several committees were launched in order to better the safety of athletes and those who participated in physical activity. Since then, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the Association International Medico-Sportive (AIMS), and the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) have been created to help with that mission as well as research in this area.

What Type of Injuries are Treated Through Sports Medicine?

• Sprains and strains
• Meniscal injuries
• Fractures
• Tendon conditions
• Concussions
• Back and Spine injuries
• Post-surgical rehab

• Sports medicine has gained the unfortunate stereotype that the patient must be an athlete in order to be treated. This is false. Sports medicine is for patients that have the desire to get back to a certain degree of physical activity. This could range from walking to running, hiking, returning to a sport, or weightlifting at the gym.
  • If you are experiencing any of the above noted conditions and do not want to live a sedentary life, sports medicine can help you get you back to the quality of life you want.
  • Live to Move Physical Therapy and Wellness in Pearland and Manvel area has Doctors of Physical Therapy on staff that have also earned their certification in Strength and Conditioning. We are more than equipped to get you back to what you love, whether that means you are a full time athlete or you are wanting to get back to playing in the backyard with your kids again.

References:

• Sheu, Y., Chen, L., & Hedegaard, H. (2016). Sport And Recreation Related Injury Episodes In The U.S. Population. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 48, 868. doi:10.1249/01.mss.0000487603.12911.c4
• Patel, D. R., Yamasaki, A., & Brown, K. (2017). Epidemiology of sports-related musculoskeletal injuries in young athletes in United States. Translational Pediatrics, 6(3), 160-166. doi:10.21037/tp.2017.04.08