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Sports medicine is a rather unique field that
encompasses many different disciplines in medicine and health
care. A sports
medicine practice is generally centered around a physician who
has special expertise in dealing with the unique problems of
physically active people. But
the sports medicine doctor is only one among many important
players on the sports medicine “team”.
Another very crucial player in the sports medicine
game is the physical therapist.
While working with the sports doctor the PT plays an
indispensable role in the identification, management and
rehabilitation of sports injuries.
The sports PT is a specialist in the rehabilitation
of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions.
They are trained to use a variety of physical modalities
and exercise techniques to facilitate healing.
The role of the PT on the sports team may be quite
varied. In many
cases they assess physical condition prior to athletic
competition and can offer suggestions to improve the
musculoskeletal system to prevent injuries from occurring in the
first place.
PTs can also be an invaluable resource for the
strength coach or fitness coordinator for an athletic team.
They can provide suggestions how to integrate strength,
cardiovascular and flexibility techniques into team training
that also function to reduce injury.
They may be involved in the primary management of
certain sports problems. An
example of this might be a condition known as patellofemoral
(PF) syndrome (discussed previously).
In a large percentage of cases, PF syndrome can be
managed and often cured by a physical therapist.
By using physical modalities and exercise techniques, PTs
can often move the knee cap into an alignment that improves or
cures the problem. Sports
doctors often prescribe a trial of physical therapy as a first
line of treatment for PF and other related sports medicine
problems.
Therapists can assist in the management of acute,
non-surgical sports injuries.
Injuries that often sideline an athlete for days, weeks
or months but do not require surgery are frequently
rehabilitated by PTs. They
have techniques that can help to calm the inflammation, increase
blood flow to the injured region, speed medicine to the affected
area using physical methods and strengthen the joint through
exercise.
PTs can help prepare a patient for an invasive
procedure. For
example, when a patient is going to have their anterior cruciate
ligament (ACL) reconstructed, a PT is commonly consulted to
assist the patient in strengthening the muscles around the knee
in preparation for the surgery.
This sort of preparation makes the rehabilitation after
surgery much more efficient.
Of course, PTs quarterback the rehabilitation process
following an orthopaedic surgery.
They use exercise, flexibility techniques and other
modalities to guide the athlete back to health.
The outcome of many surgeries is greatly improved by
religious physical therapy.
Physical therapists also deal with a variety of other
orthopaedic conditions that are not necessarily sports related.
They have a working knowledge of many injuries and
infirmities in occupational medicine, industrial medicine,
trauma and general orthopaedics.
For some problems, PTs may simply consult with a
patient and demonstrate how to perform certain rehab exercises
at home rather than supervise the patient in the clinic.
Even for patients completing the majority of their
rehabilitation in the PT clinic, home therapy is often utilized.
The therapist functions as a teacher and monitor to
ensure that the exercises are done properly and that the patient
is making satisfactory progress towards recovery.
Compliance is key to making physical therapy
successful. More so
than just taking a pill or elixir, physical therapy is very time
and labor intensive by its very nature.
For this reason some people do not comply with the
therapy prescribed for them by their doctor.
It is likely that these people will be much less
satisfied with their recovery than the person who is religious
about their therapy. So
if your doctor believes that PT is important enough for your
recovery to prescribe it for you, it is imperative that you make
every attempt to comply.
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