Skip to main content

Nigerian paramedics engaging on sport medicine


What is Sports Medicine?

If your child sustains an injury during exercise, sports participation, or any type of physical activity, you may be advised to see a sports medicine doctor for treatment.

About sports medicine specialists

Sports medicine doctors have special training to restore function to injured patients so they can get moving again as soon as possible. They are also knowledgeable about preventing illness and injury in active people. Although sports medicine doctors do work with professional athletes, they also treat children and teens involved in sports and adults who exercise for personal fitness, as well as people who have physically demanding jobs, like construction workers.


Sports medicine is not a medical specialty in itself. Most sports medicine doctors are certified in internal medicine, emergency medicine, family medicine, or another specialty and then receive additional training. Others specialize in treating injuries in children and teens, whose growing bodies can be quite different from those of adults. They are generally board-certified in pediatrics, or family medicine, with additional training in sports medicine. Some, but not all, sports medicine doctors have surgical training, too, usually as orthopedic surgeons.

Other professionals who are not doctors may work in conjunction with a sports medicine doctor to provide care:

  • Physical therapists. They help people rehabilitate and recover from injuries.

  • Certified athletic trainers. These trainers provide rehabilitative exercise routines to help patients regain strength and develop conditioning programs to prevent future injury

  • Nutritionists. They may assist with needed weight loss or weight gain and who can provide dietary advice to help people improve their physical functioning 

Reasons to see a sports medicine specialist

Here are examples of injuries treated by sports medicine doctors:

  • Ankle sprains

  • Fractures

  • Knee and shoulder injuries

  • Tendonitis

  • Exercise-induced asthma

  • Heat illness

  • Concussions

  • Eating disorders

  • Cartilage injuries

In addition, sports medicine doctors can provide advice on nutrition, supplements, exercise, and injury prevention.

When to call a sports medicine doctor

If your child sustains a significant injury during exercise or sports, it's probably best to seek immediate treatment at an emergency room, rather than wait to see a sports medicine specialist. Signs of a significant injury include severe pain, swelling, numbness, and an inability to put any weight on the injured area. If none of these symptoms is present, have your child rest at home and call your child's health care provider for guidance and a possible referral to a sports medicine specialist.

Most sports injuries do not require surgery. Treatment for a sports injury can include the use of pain relievers and keeping the injured area immobilized with a cast or sling. In some cases, a surgical procedure may be required to repair torn tissue or realign bones. 



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

State of emergency medical services in Nigeria

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (LASEMS AND LASAMBUS) EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (LASEMS AND LASAMBUS) Increasing urbanization and industrialization of Lagos State has led to an appreciable increase in the number of road traffic, industrial and marine accidents and medical emergencies, hence the strengthening of the inherited base hospital care i.e. Lagos State Emergency Medical Service (LASEMS) and establishment of the pre-hospital care service i.e. Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) in March 2001. Both services run on a 24/7 basis and have led to significant improvement in the response time and quality of care with attendant improvement in morbidity and mortality rates occasioned by medical emergencies. These services cover: • Awareness campaign on the preventive aspect of medical emergencies including home/road traffic/industrial accidents; and how to access services. • Training of personnel in pre-hospital and hospital-based management of trauma and medical emergencies, and effec...

Algorithms for Advanced Cardiac Life Support 2017

Algorithms for Advanced Cardiac Life Support 2017 https://www.acls.net/aclsalg.htm Oct 6, 2017 Version control:  This document is current with respect to 2015 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and ECC. These guidelines are current until they are replaced on October 2020. If you are reading this page after October 2020, please contact ACLS Training Center at support@acls.net for an updated document. One of the crucial components of effective ACLS training is a familiarity with the major algorithms for different patient and/or provider scenarios. As a free resource for our visitors, this page contains links to sample algorithms for the main AHA Advanced Cardiac Life Support cases.  See our website terms . Compatible part number: 90-1013, 90-1010.     New!  We now sell laminated 8.5"x11"  crash cart algorithm cards  ( $60  $40 set of 8) and  24"x36" wall posters  ($80 set of 9). Cardiac Arrest Algorithm This c...

ACLS TACHYCARDIA ALGORITHMS

ACLS Tachycardia Algorithm for Managing Stable Tachycardia Oct 6, 2017 Version control:  This document is current with respect to 2015 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and ECC. These guidelines are current until they are replaced on October 2020. If you are reading this page after October 2020, please contact ACLS Training Center at support@acls.net for an updated document. PDF Version  Print PDF Order the full set of printed crash cart cards  Order now  $40 Using the ACLS Tachycardia Algorithm for Managing Stable Tachycardia The key to managing a patient with any tachycardia is to check if pulses are present, decide if the patient is stable or unstable, and then treat the patient based on the patient's condition and rhythm. If the patient does not have a pulse, follow the ACLS Pulseless Arrest Algorithm. If the patient has a pulse, manage the patient using the ACLS Tachycardia Algorithm. Definition of Stable Tachycardia For...