When to See a Sports Medicine Physician

Sporting an Injury? When to See a Sports Medicine Physician

Whether you’ve taken home a trophy on the tennis court, won the local 3-on-3 basketball tournament with your buddies or finally completed a 10K run – the thrill of victory never goes away.

As with any athletic activity though, the agony of the feet, hand or shoulder injury goes along with the territory. It doesn’t matter if you are a weekend warrior, active adult, or youth or professional athlete, bone and joint problems don’t discriminate.

You want to get back in the game, so to speak, but at what point do you take your injury to the next level and see a sports medicine doctor? Many people think sports medicine doctors only treat professional athletes. Not true. A sports medicine doctor is a doctor with extra training in conditions that often affect not just professional athletes, but anyone active in sports.

If you have a general medical issue or a small injury, you should see your primary doctor. The difference between a sports medicine doctor and a primary care doctor is that a sports medicine doctor looks at you as the whole athlete. He or she will give you a diagnosis and a treatment plan, and also look at what caused the injury, examine your nutrition and provide an exercise program that can often help you perform better in the future.

When to See a Sports Medicine Doctor

• If you have an injury that doesn’t improve in two weeks, even after you’ve seen your primary care doctor
• If you have a complicated injury related to overtraining or overuse, like shin splints
• If you have a chronic condition, like tendonitis in your shoulder, knee or hip
• If you have a sports injury that requires surgery
• If you have a sports injury that causes a concussion
• If you are an athlete with chronic or acute conditions, like asthma, diabetes or mononucleosis

Trust the Team the Pros Count On

As the medical services provider for the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers, DMC is dedicated to getting you off the sidelines and back to your sport as quickly and safely as possible.

Why the DMC Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Team?

Our team of experienced experts includes orthopedic surgeons, non-operative sports medicine physicians, physical therapists and certified athletic trainers—all dedicated to developing a treatment plan tailored to each patient's needs using advanced operative and non-operative surgical solutions and the latest treatments to evaluate and treat injuries.

The team specializes in treating all types of sports injuries including

• ACL Injuries
• Rotator Cuff Injuries
• Patellofemoral syndrome
• Strains, Sprains and Fractures
• Tennis Elbow
• Groin Pull
• Shin Splints
• Overuse Injuries

For immediate appointment scheduling, call the DMC Orthopedic and Sports Medicine hotline at 313-910-9328.

Go to DMC Sports to learn more.