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Athletic injuries aren’t reserved for professional athletes. They can impact children participating in little league to seniors playing pickleball. No matter the case, it’s important to ensure an injury receives the specialized care it needs to heal properly.

Dr. Jason Shin, Sports Medicine Specialist and Orthopedic Surgeon at Riverside Healthcare, offers insights into what sports medicine entails and who may benefit from seeing a sports medicine physician.

Dr. Jason Shin

What Is Sports Medicine?

Sports medicine is a branch of healthcare specializing in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries related to sports and exercise. It involves a multidisciplinary approach, often including physicians, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and other healthcare professionals. The goal of sports medicine is not only to help athletes recover from injuries but also to improve their performance and prevent future injuries.

Addressing the Risk of Overuse Injuries

Dr. Shin notes that one of the most common injuries he encounters, both as a specialist and within medicine in general, is an overuse injury. Meaning, patients have been performing a certain type of sport for an extended period of time, without taking the appropriate amount of rest. This can occur in shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, and more.

In order to prevent overuse injuries, Dr. Shin encourages athletes to participate in multiple sports. That way, the strain placed on the body isn’t always focused on one area. For example, playing soccer part of the year and baseball during another season. Of course, taking the multi-sport approach can be challenging from an athlete’s perspective—particularly if they excel in one sport. It’s imperative for parents and coaches to put their athletes’ health first.

“I think it's important to work with mentors and coaches who have a good understanding and who have the best interest of the young athlete’s future,” notes Dr. Shin. “For example, perhaps working with a throwing coach who is able to give them the appropriate training so when they need to hit their peak and their stride, they can perform at a maximum level.”

When to See a Sports Medicine Specialist

It’s not always clear if an athlete really needs to see a sports medicine specialist. Dr. Shin recommends getting in for an appointment if at any time their performance starts to suffer. Also, if icing, resting, activity modification, and anti-inflammatories aren’t working to ease the injury, it’s a good idea for an athlete to get evaluated.

“If they see a significant change or drop in their performance, especially if they're not able to perform at the level they were once able to or if they're unable to complete the game, I think it's worthwhile seeking help and getting assessed by either a primary care physician or within our clinic.” From there, physicians can advise next steps. 

Click here for more information about Sports Medicine at Riverside. 

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