Orthopedic Sports Medicine for Athletes

As an athlete maintaining peak physical performance is essential to success in your chosen activity. However, injuries can happen when you’re pushing your body’s boundaries, and they can derail your progress on the field, court, or in the studio. Whether you’re the star of your school team, a professional athlete, or a weekend warrior getting in some game time outside of work hours, OrthoCarolina knows how important it is to stay healthy and provides the level of care needed to stay on track with your activity.

At OrthoCarolina, we specialize in sports medicine, and our practitioners and surgeons are top of the line when it comes to treating athletes of all different kinds.

OrthoCarolina’s Sports Medicine Center

The orthopedic surgeons at OrthoCarolina’s Sports Medicine Center are fellowship trained in sports medicine. Our renowned surgeons have proudly been chosen as the official team doctors for the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Knights, NASCAR, Davidson, UNC Charlotte’s athletics department, as well as many prestigious Charlotte-area public and private high schools.

Providers at Our Sports Medicine Center

The orthopedic sports medicine surgeons who lead care at OrthoCarolina’s Sports Medicine Center are extensively trained in treating sports-related injuries. The team at our Sports Medicine Center are extensively trained in orthopedic sports medicine. Their experience and training exceeds that of primary care physicians who practice sports medicine, and they have a specialized focus on treating orthopedic injuries common in athletes.

Additional providers who also manage orthopedic sports medicine injuries have a general knowledge of the musculoskeletal system, and are trained to identify, manage, and treat injuries related to sports and exercise. 

At OrthoCarolina’s sports medicine centers, our orthopedic surgeons and specialists work closely with all athletes as well as active children and adults, and they are licensed to provide treatment and refer you to other types of care in the sports medicine field. Read more orthopedic sports medicine stories, find interviews with our accomplished care team, and get tips for athletes, active adults, and parents of sports stars on our sports medicine media center.

Primary Care Sports Medicine vs Orthopedic Sports Medicine  

OrthoCarolina’s orthopedic sports medicine differs from the care provided by primary care sports medicine. Some of the other practitioners you’ll find working in sports medicine can include: 

• Orthopedic Surgeons
• Primary Care sports medicine physicians
• Physical therapists
• Occupational therapists
• Athletic trainers
• Strength and conditioning specialists 
• Kinesiologists 
• Personal trainers

Each of these professions can specialize in treating athletes and highly active people, and  they provide different kinds of care, treatment, and assistance for recovery. Sports medicine professionals have various degrees and backgrounds, but it’s important to start with the evaluation of your injury or condition with an orthopedic specialist, who has an advanced subspecialty degree in orthopedic sports medicine, and who can identify issues and refer you to other types of treatment. If you require surgery or medication, an orthopedic sports medicine specialist is the only person who can properly assess your situation and make the right call.

What We Treat at Our Sports Medicine Centers

Our sports medicine specialists treat a variety of sport-related conditions including, but not limited to:

• Sprains and strains
• Knee injuries
• ACL Injuries
• Swollen muscles
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Dislocations
• Fractures
• Injuries specific to different sports (e.g., football, baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, golf, lacrosse, etc)
• Orthobiologics, Regenerative Medicine, and Cell Therapy

While we do perform surgery at our Sports Medicine Center, most of the time we recommend non-surgical treatment plans and coordinate our patient’s recovery with the help of physical therapists (PTs), occupational therapists (OTs) and Certified Athletic Trainers (ATCs).

Injury Prevention in Orthopedic Sports Medicine

Our care team also focuses on working with athletes for injury prevention, recovery, and management of overuse-related injuries that commonly plague both children and adults. Orthopedic specialists can provide personalized recommendations for injury prevention, which may include:

• Strength training
• Stretching
• Exercises to improve overall physical function and reduce risk of injury

When to See an Orthopedic Sports Medicine Physician?

In professional sports, teams have orthopedic sports medicine specialists and other support for whole body wellness on call. But sports medicine and orthopedic care isn’t just for professional athletes. At any level of play or activity, orthopedic doctors specializing in sports medicine are an essential to injury prevention, health management, and recovery. 

If you feel like you might be injured, or have started feeling pain during or after playing sports or engaging in physical activity, it’s a good idea to make a visit to our sports medicine clinic. It is always better to be proactive with sports-related injuries rather than reactive!

If you experienced an acute injury, and can’t wait for an appointment, OrthoCarolina has a partnership with the HURT! App, which provides fast, free orthopedic advice when you need it. HURT! Will help you make the right next choice in response to injury by evaluating the level of emergency based on your injury - whether that means heading to an orthopedic urgent care clinic that allows walk-ins and convenient hours for non-emergency care, scheduling a visit with a specialist in office, or heading to the emergency room. 

Sports Medicine is for Everyone

While most of us know sports doctors from watching them work their magic on the sidelines of collegiate-level and professional fields, OrthoCarolina wants all of our patients to know that sports medicine isn’t just for professional athletes. Whether you’re a marathon runner, triathlete, yogi, or weeknight recreation league superstar, the care team at our orthopedic sports medicine centers are here to treat athletes of any and all levels.