Injuries are just a fact of life for an athlete. No matter how much your organization works to reduce injury risk, or what kind of amazing protective gear you wear, injuries will happen eventually.
Sports injuries most often impact your bones, muscles, and joints. Any fall, repetitive overuse, or improper posture can cause musculoskeletal injury and pain.
So, how do you know whether your injury just needs some rest, or whether it warrants medical attention by a sports doctor? Let’s talk about when it’s essential to address your sports injury right away, and where you can go in Pembroke Pines and Lauderdale Lakes for outstanding orthopedic care.
When Is a Sports Injury Serious?
Having sore muscles is normal for an athlete, but some signs indicate serious injury. These signs include:
- Constant or worsening pain
- Pain during physical activity
- Lack of strength or inability to bear weight
- Inability to contract or flex a joint
- Limited range of motion
- Unusual bruising
- Swelling
- Redness
- Pus or discharge
- Fever
- Bleeding
Why Treat a Sports Injury Quickly
Here is why you should not delay addressing a sports injury:
Prevent Further Damage and Complications
Rapid treatment is critical in order to prevent the injury from becoming worse. For example, if one of your knee ligaments is stretched or torn, it puts additional pressure on the other tissues and structures in the knee to compensate. Your orthopedic doctor can give you appropriate treatment so you can heal as quickly as possible – and get back in the game.
Faster Recovery
When you seek treatment for your sports injury soon after it occurs, your chances of a quick recovery is much better. Your sports medicine specialist will advise you of various tricks and methods to help you heal effectively and thoroughly, depending on your specific injury.
Not seeking immediate medical care is likely to increase future complications. A minor fracture or small tear could become a larger injury, which would extend the length of time away from your sport.
Sports Medicine Doctor in Pembroke Pines and Lauderdale Lakes
If you suffer a sports injury or orthopedic pain, visit the specialists here at Total Orthopaedic Care. Our board-certified doctors are highly experienced in sports medicine, and we will deliver comprehensive care that works specifically for you. We’ll help you get back to the sports and activities you love.
Our orthopedic physicians treat everything from arthritis to workers’ compensation injuries, and our practice offers in-house physical therapy to keep everything as simple as possible for our patients. We will recommend and administer the least-invasive treatment possible that will work to help your pain or injury heal quickly and completely.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment at our Pembroke Pines or Lauderdale Lakes office, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (954) 735-3535 or by filling out our online appointment request form now. We look forward to working with you and helping you heal!
