Is Sports Medicine Strictly for Athletes?

Merriam-Webster defines the word “athlete” this way: 

“A person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina.” 

If you play pickleball in a recreational league, you may not consider yourself an athlete. If you attend a Zumba class on Thursday nights, you might not think you’re skilled in exercises or sports. But you might need a physician skilled in sports medicine if you get hurt. 

At the Orthocenter locations in Red Bank, Morganville, Holmdel, and Eatontown, you’ll find practitioners of sports medicine who treat athletes, recreational sports players, hobbyists such as running or skating, and people who generally lead active lives. Whether you’re an athlete or not, if you’re active, you have a risk of injury and a potential need for the services of an expert trained in sports medicine. 

Exercise has risks

The more you move, the more likely it is that you’ll endure an injury at some point. It could be a sprained ankle, a pulled muscle, an inflamed tendon, or something more serious like an ACL tear or a case of tendinitis. All of those are common injuries that benefit from sports medicine services.  

Your risk of injury rises with your age because your soft tissues become less flexible over time and because warming up and cooling down becomes increasingly important—but many people don’t realize it.

Even though you do have a risk of injury when you exercise or play sports, the benefits far outweigh the risks for most people. At Orthocenter, we encourage everyone to exercise at an appropriate level. Here are a few of the benefits: 

• Improved mood
• Better sleep
• Cardiovascular health
• Improved strength for day-to-day activities 
• Better bone health 
• Stress relief
• Lower risk of developing chronic health issues such as diabetes
• Maintaining a healthy body weight

Depending on the activity you choose to pursue, exercise may also provide an opportunity to be social and develop friendships. Your risk of injury while doing normal daily activities is also lower when you exercise regularly, so while you may have a greater risk of a sports or exercise-related injury, you’re less likely to get hurt carrying in your groceries or sweeping your kitchen. 

Sports medicine for future health

If you sprain your ankle while doing a non-exercise activity, you may still want to seek the services of a person with specialized training. A sprained ankle can lead to chronic ankle instability without proper care and full healing.

Many injuries that seem minor can lead to chronic problems without the right treatment. If you take a daily walk for your health, you probably don’t think of yourself as an athlete. Yet, if you have a sore knee that seems better some days and worse other days, you could benefit from a sports medicine provider. 

Sometimes, a visit with a sports medicine practitioner can solve long-standing issues that have prevented you from participating in activities you enjoy. Understanding why you have pain and learning what you can do to alleviate it is often part of what happens during sports medicine appointments. 

Get personalized care

Sports medicine is for people who move, not only for athletes. If you’re active and have an injury or would like to learn how to avoid an injury, schedule an appointment at the most convenient Orthocenter location. We are happy to answer your questions in the context of your individual health and activity level.