Orthopedic Sports Medicine
We may overexert our muscles or make awkward movements while exercising or engaging in daily activities now and then. These actions can result in varying degrees of injuries to our muscles, ligaments, bones, and joints. Without the right first aid or proper medical attention, the injuries can aggravate, becoming recurrent, chronic, and incurable. As a result, they may bar the patients from playing the sport for the rest of their lives.
Therefore, any activity that causes bone, muscle, or joint injuries, regardless of the severity, requires proper diagnoses and treatments by a sports medicine specialist. Not only will this ensure that the patient receives the correct treatment and can return to their normal daily activities, but it will also allow them to resume training and playing sports effectively, which is of paramount meaning to professional athletes.
The Orthopedic Center at Med Park Hospital is ready to care for individuals sustaining injuries from sports, exercise, and other accidents affecting their mobility. Managed by sports medicine specialists, the center excels in the surgical treatment of bone, tendon, muscle, and joint injuries, utilizing techniques ranging from open surgery to minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures and medication and injection therapy. Continuum of care extends to holistic post-operative rehabilitation, in collaboration with the Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy Center, to help patients return to exercise and resume a high-quality life.
What is sports medicine?
Sports medicine is one of the branches of orthopedic surgery, applying scientific medical knowledge and kinesiology to prevent, diagnose, and treat injuries to bones, muscles, tendons, and joints that occur during sports activities, professional athlete training, general physical exercise, or minor accidents in everyday life. It aims to restore the function of these body parts to normal functioning levels.
What is the difference between sports medicine surgeons and other orthopedic surgeons?
Sports medicine surgeons are adept in treating injuries of bones, ligaments, muscles, and joints of moving body parts during a workout or daily activities, such as shoulders, elbows, knees, Achilles tendons, and hips.
In the case of severe injuries to other organs such as wrists, ankles, feet, or the spine, sports medicine physicians collaborate with orthopedic surgeons specializing in related fields such as microsurgery, foot and ankle surgery, or spine surgery. Together, they diagnose and plan treatment tailored to the patient's needs, ensuring appropriate care that promotes swift recovery, enabling patients to return to their daily lives and resume sports activities effectively.
The advantages of undergoing sports medicine procedures at MedPark Hospital
- Diagnosis and treating injuries by experienced sports medicine surgeons, who specialize in treating injuries resulting from professional sports, exercise, and everyday accidents, enabling patients to return to training, exercise, and daily life efficiently.
- The hospital is staffed with orthopedic surgeons of every subspecialty. These mean that injuries of the hands, feet, or spines can also be diagnosed and treated under an effective collaborative treatment plan. These help patients regain a good quality of life, lower the risk of recurrence, and efficiently prevent chronic injuries.
- The hospital is equipped with medical devices and technologies that enhance the diagnostic efficiency of the injuries. These enable doctors to formulate a more detailed treatment plan, increasing the chances of a cure and allowing the return to training and playing the sport at peak performance.
- The patient rooms are specially designed with a health focus, allowing patients to recover effectively. They feature natural light during the daytime, surrounded by views of the Benjakiti Park and the meandering bends of the Chao Phraya River. Additionally, the air quality is controlled with a Positive Pressure system, ensuring patients receive clean air throughout their stay at Med Park Hospital.
- Postoperative recovery plans are devised by sports medicine surgeons in collaboration with physiatrists and physical therapists from the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Center. This collaboration brings about rehabilitation programs encompassing various equipment or techniques. Patients will be cared for, advised, and empowered empathetically. Every medical staff is determined to help patients regain the functions of their injured organs efficiently and rapidly.
Diseases and disorders related to sports medicine
- Compartment syndrome
- Shoulder dislocation
- Recurrent shoulder dislocation
- Rotator cuff degeneration
- Rotator cuff tear
- Septic arthritis of the hip joint
- Frozen shoulder
- Sport-related shoulder subluxation
- Post-traumatic arthritis
- Elbow dislocation
- Elbow pain
- Golfer's elbow
- Ankle sprains
- Shoulder impingement syndrome
- Foot and ankle fractures
- Stress fracture
- Osteoporosis
- Ankle cartilage injury
- Meniscus tears
- Biceps tendinitis
- Achilles tendonitis
- Achilles rupture
- Achilles tendon tightness
- Anterior cruciate ligament rupture
- Posterior cruciate ligament rupture
- Medical collateral ligament injury
- Brachial plexus injury
- Hip labral tear
- Hip impingement
- Pincer lesion hip or Cam lesion hip
- Athletic hip injury
- Snapping hip.
- Abductor/gluteus minimus/medius tear
- Piriformis syndrome
- Adductor tendinopathy/tear
- Proximal hamstring tear
Who is at risk of developing these conditions?
Individuals prone to these conditions include professional athletes, exercise enthusiasts, and individuals of any age and gender who may make an awkward movement, leading to injuries to bones, muscles, ligaments, and joints.
If injuries are evident, proper first aid is necessary. Immediately ask for assistance from emergency medical staff and request hospitalization for correct treatment from a sports medicine doctor that facilitates a return to sports, exercise, or daily routines.
Sports medicine services
After a thorough diagnosis, a sports medicine surgeon will consider appropriate treatment modalities based on the specific injuries of each patient. The treatments may include medications, surgical procedures, and endoscopic surgery.
- PRP Injection as a nonsurgical treatment for injuries and inflammation
- Endoscopic Achilles repair
- Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair
- Arthroscopic Bankart repair
- Anterior/posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
- Arthroscopic meniscus repair
Medical equipment and surgery related to sports medicine
- MRI
- CT scan
- Ultrasound
- Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS)
Limitation of sports medicine treatment and diagnosis
- Infection around joints and tissues
- Severe damage to joint sockets, tissues, ligaments, and muscles
Potential risks and complications in sports medicine treatment
- Infections
- Repetitive strain injuries
FAQ
- How long does it take for torn ligaments to heal?
In the case of successful surgery, recovery from torn ligaments takes about 3-6 months. Patients can resume training and playing sports within 6-9 months depending on their physical conditions and how disciplined they are during recovery and the physical therapy period.
