Sports Medicine Is Not Just For Competitive Athletes

The name can be misleading. “Sports” medicine must be for the baseball, soccer and track athletes. You could add the active jogger and golfer to the list. If this is what you think of for sports medicine, it is time to think again.

Sports medicine is no longer only for the competitive, high-level athlete. It is for the parent trying to keep up with their child’s sports practice, a grandparent who wants to pick up their toddler grandson and the ‘weekend warrior’ who participates in a recreational basketball game.

Sports medicine should be renamed to “life” medicine for all of the routine tasks we tackle every day: shoveling snow, gardening, playing with kids or grandkids, cleaning the house, walking the dog, carrying groceries…the list goes on. Simple chores can cause stress and wear and tear on joints and ligaments.

The fastest growing population seeking sport medicine is not the professional athlete, but the active baby boomer. This generation is the first fitness-driven group. They have grown up being active and want to maintain a level of physical fitness.

Boys Town Orthopaedics specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system—your bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves that allow you to move, work and be active.

We see pediatric and adult patients with a wide range of overuse injuries such as tendonitis, stress fractures and ACL, meniscal, cartilage and rotator cuff tears—to more complex bone issues such as arthritis and osteoporosis.

Patients receive a comprehensive evaluation, including x-rays, bone scans, MRI’s and other tests as needed. Non-operative techniques of treating patients include physical and occupational therapy, ultrasound, injections, casting and bracing. Surgery procedures may be employed for chronic or severe conditions.

All treatment plans include rehabilitation with an exercise, strength and flexibility program to help restore range of motion. For individuals who cannot take time off of an athletic regimen, your orthopaedist will help to create a cross-training program to keep you active as your body heals.

Our goal in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine or “life medicine,” is to get you back to your active, everyday routine as quickly and pain-free as possible.

Click here for more information about Boys Town Orthopaedics.