Tuesday, May 27, 2014

How Active Individuals Benefit From Sports Medicine

By Neil P. Hines


People working in the healthcare industry have the option of specializing in a specific area. Those who concentrate on the effects of physical activity on health can earn a living in sports medicine. Licensed physicians working in this area have training that allows them to diagnose physical injuries, offer effective treatments, and provide patients with training techniques that minimize the risk of suffering future injuries.

Some people working in this field are not physicians. So far, regulatory boards in the US have not approved this field as an official training specialty for individuals in residency. Those who want to practice as doctors or surgeons must complete a residency in some other specialty first. Additional training is necessary to earn specific certifications.

Professional and amateur athletes depend on these professionals when they want to recover from an injury quickly. Experts in the field can devise custom workout programs designed to increase strength and improve endurance. Some people focus on nutrition and help their clients create healthy diets that enhance their workout problems.

This specialty often overlaps with physical therapy. A physical therapist relies on numerous techniques to manipulate muscle groups and joints. These hands-on manipulations loosen up tight muscles, provide relief from pain, and help the client achieve a greater range of motion.

Joint mobilization is a technique that involves gently stretching the ligaments to allow the joint to move freely. Trigger point release, myofascial release, and massage are techniques used to eliminate muscle spasms and loosen up muscles. Passive stretching increases flexibility to improve the individual's range of motion.

Individuals with injuries to tendons, muscles, and ligaments may undergo a variety of different treatments or combination of treatments. The swirling water created by a whirlpool speeds up the healing of wounds and increases flexibility. Electrical stimulation utilizes a small current to eliminate muscle spasms as well as reduce inflammation. This type of therapy can also strengthen muscles. Hot packs are useful for relaxing tense muscle fibers and increasing circulation to the affected area. Cold compresses constrict blood vessels to reduce pain.

Professionals in this field help patients heal faster from fractures, neck pain, strains, sprains, and back pain. Patients can seek out assistance with developing training sessions that reduce the risk of future injuries. Those professionals with training in nutrition can help clients create a healthy diet plan that enhances workouts and boosts physical performance.




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