One day, your shoulder feels sore. Over time, the pain gets worse. Where do you turn?
If you have shoulder, knee, elbow or ankle pain, a sports medicine physician may be a good start. “Ninety percent of bone and joint injuries don’t require surgery,” says board-certified sports medicine physician Dale Bautista, MD, with Upper Bucks Orthopaedics at Grand View Health in Lansdale.
What it is
Sports medicine involves restoring your mobility, whether or not you’re an athlete. Physicians like Dr. Bautista are specially trained to provide non-surgical treatment and prevention of musculoskeletal conditions, including acute injuries (ankle sprains, muscle strains or fractures) and overuse injuries (rotator cuff tears or stress fractures). Treatments may include rest, casting, crutches, medication, joint injections, referrals to physical or occupational therapists, or a referral to a surgeon if needed.
Who they treat
You may benefit from a visit to a sports medicine specialist if:
- You experience new joint pain while doing your favorite activities.
- You do lots of manual labor and struggle with chronic pain.
- You’ve been inactive but want to start an exercise program.
- You exercise regularly but hit a plateau.
- You’re a runner who wants to train for a half-marathon.
- You recently suffered a joint injury and don’t want to make it worse.
- You or your child suffered a concussion.
Sports medicine physicians help everyone from school-age children to adults regain an active lifestyle. “Activity improves your overall health,” says Dr. Bautista, an avid mountain biker. “When I see patients regain their mobility, it’s inspiring.”