How Sports Medicine Doctors Can Maximize Your Performance
Sometimes, a tenth of a second can make the difference between a gold and a silver medal. You see it regularly in competitive sports, particularly at the Olympics when the stakes are at an all-time high.
But what if you’re not an Olympian? What if all you want is to beat your personal best?
Or what if you’re a member of one of the stellar sports teams in the Triangle area? How can you maximize your performance?
Our sports medicine doctors in Raleigh are here to help.
“Many don’t realize that sports medicine doctors do much more than treat injuries,” said Dr. Franklin, our sports medicine specialist. “We are all about treating the whole patient. That means we help you prevent injuries as well as assist you in getting the most out of your performance. We encourage all athletes at every level to contact us to understand the wide scope of sports medicine treatment we offer.”
How Sports Medicine Doctors Can Maximize Your Performance
Let’s take a closer look at the role of sports medicine doctors and why they are key to improving your athletic performance as well as improving overall muscle/joint function. This service, in addition to providing pain relief, is also offered to our non-athlete patients.
How Do Sports Medicine Doctors Help Athletes?
There are many facets of sports medicine, but we’ll concentrate on these three:
- Treating injuries
- Preventing injuries
- Enhancing performance
Treating Injuries
You can’t perform your best if you’re injured, and failure to get timely treatment could make your injury more severe. That’s why we encourage you to work with our sports medicine doctor, even if you feel your injury is “only minor.”
Preventing Injuries
Proper techniques, stretches and flexibility all contribute to safety. We’ll take you through targeted exercises designed to keep you safe during practice and the big game.
What Is Performance Enhancement in Sports Medicine?
First, our sports medicine specialist in Raleigh will evaluate your current performance level, paying close attention to your endurance, strength and even your gait—some sports require specific techniques for peak performance and to avoid injuries.
We work with athletes (of all skill levels) on exercises that improve endurance, creating personalized training programs, and implementing elements such as:
- Strength training
- Athletic drills (appropriate to your sport)
- Flexibility
- Cardio workouts to promote endurance
What Are the Benefits of a Sports Medicine Physician?
We’ve already reviewed how sports medicine specialists in Raleigh can help maximize your athletic performance, but let’s go into greater depth on a few other aspects and benefits of these doctors.
We Treat Injuries
Perhaps the most obvious benefit is that we can treat you if you’re injured, whether it’s a sprain, dislocated shoulder, or ACL tear.
If you have a more serious injury that needs advanced orthopedic treatment, we can easily provide a referral for you.
We Provide Assistance During Local Sports Events
Maybe you have seen us standing on the sidelines of a football or basketball game. Sports medicine doctors are often present to provide medical care at athletic events of all levels, from high school to professional sports. We’re proud to serve NC State Athletics.
We realize that when an athlete is injured, immediate care is crucial to minimize any damage to joints, ligaments and tendons.
We Let You Know When It’s Safe to Return to Sports
If you return to the game before you are safely able to do so, it can compound the problem and make it worse. Therefore, we provide guidance to ensure you’re not on the field or court before you’re completely healed.
We Work With Athletes of All Levels
Maybe you don’t consider yourself an “athlete.” Maybe your idea of a workout is a slow jog around the block or an invigorating game of tennis with friends. It doesn’t matter: our sports medicine physician in Raleigh is ready to serve you.
Injuries can happen at any time for any level of activity. As we mentioned earlier, timely treatment is crucial to a complete recovery. It’s important to note that sports medicine physicians can also treat patients that have pain/injuries associated with regular lifestyle activities, as well as the normal aging process.
What Kind of Training Do Sports Medicine Physicians Have?
In addition to medical school, primary sports medicine physicians must have three to four years of residency training, followed by a two-year fellowship. After receiving this education, they then must pass a rigorous certification examination in sports medicine.
Sports Medicine at Raleigh Adult Medicine: Where Enhanced Performance Meets Medical Excellence
Dr. Franklin is board-certified in sports medicine and has helped hundreds of Triangle residents improve their athletic performance and avoid injuries. He sees patients for non-surgical evaluation of their injuries and joint issues.
Dr. Garett sees patients on a referral basis, so if you need his expertise, simply let your nurse, physician or even our front office staff know, and we’ll be happy to arrange an appointment for you. You can also contact us at 919-859-5955.
The information in this article and in the other articles on this website is only for educational purposes. It should not be considered medical advice. For any questions or concerns, please consult with your healthcare provider.