Many sports involve the heavy use of the upper extremities, which are the hands, arms, and shoulders. From basketball to tennis to golf, injuries are possible in virtually all sports and are not always preventable, no matter how many precautions you take. The goal is to heal fast, so you can return to playing your sport. Professional athlete or not, physical activities that place demands on the body can certainly be fulfilling and make you feel good and healthy.
In this article, we will discuss upper extremity sports-related injuries and how to find the right doctor to trust with your treatment.
Understanding the Types of Sports-Related Injuries That Can Occur
The most common upper extremity injuries in sports include rotator cuff tears, shoulder dislocations, shoulder impingement syndrome, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, wrist sprains, and fractures, as well as hand and finger injuries. These can occur due to repetitive motions, direct trauma, falls, or collisions during sports activities, and often result in pain, swelling, limited range of motion, and functional impairment.
The Value of Seeking Early Intervention for Better Results
If you develop a sports injury such as a finger injury or wrist injury, it is in your best interest to seek early intervention. Early treatment minimizes damage to tissues, lessens the impact of the injury, and prevents long-term complications that can arise from delayed treatment. As an athlete, you want to preserve the health of your tissues, optimize their healing, and revert to normal function as early as possible. Never is this more important than to an injured athlete who has to keep active and in peak physical condition.
How to Find a Qualified and Experienced Doctor for Your Injury
To get the best possible treatment from a highly qualified specialist, you should search only for orthopedic surgeons with fellowship training in sports medicine. These doctors go beyond the education and training of medical school and residency. A fellowship-trained sports medicine doctor undergoes additional years of training in the treatment of the full range of shoulder, arm, elbow, wrist, hand, and finger injuries and conditions sustained through sports and physical activities.
To find the right doctor for your sports injury, ask your primary care doctor for a referral or ask for recommendations from family, friends, coaches, trainers, or fellow athletes. When deciding on a doctor for your injury, check the physician’s training and experience to ensure to get the most qualified sports medicine doctor available.
Sports Medicine Doctors in Lutherville, Maryland
Our orthopedic surgeons at Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder have fellowship trained in hand surgery and sports medicine, which makes us most qualified to treat patients with finger, wrist, elbow, and shoulder injuries. Should you require surgery, our doctors are highly skilled in minimally invasive techniques and perform procedures in an ambulatory surgical center located just across the hall from our main office in Lutherville. We truly care about your comfort and convenience, and our staff works hard to exceed your expectations.
Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder is proud to serve the orthopedic needs of the community in our 7 locations in Maryland. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors, call our office today at (410) 296-6232 or use our convenient online request form.
