Sports are a great way to have fun, whether you’re a child or an adult. While they’re a good way to stay in shape, sports are also an avenue for injury. Some sports injuries aren’t severe and heal on their own. However, if your injury isn’t getting better, it may be time for you to see a sports medicine specialist.
Bay Oaks Orthopaedics in Houston, Texas, has an amazing team of caregivers, including our very own orthopaedic specialist, Dr. Anthony Melillo. Dr. Melillo assesses your injury and uses imaging studies to determine the best route of treatment to get you back on your feet.
Physical activity is an excellent way to stay healthy and keep your body in shape. Organized sports are just one type of activity that pushes your body to its limits. Even though sports are fun and physically challenging, they have the potential to cause injury if you aren’t prepared.
Injuries are an unfortunate part of exercise and sports, but you’re more likely to suffer from them if you don’t warm up or your body isn’t physically prepared. There are a lot of different injuries that you can sustain, with some of the most common including:
Some of these injuries are more common in certain sports, but if your body isn’t conditioned correctly, they could occur any time.
Some sports injuries are able to heal on their own with conservative treatment at home. However, if you’ve severely injured yourself, knowing the signs that you need a specialist’s care could prevent further injury and complications.
It’s a good idea to seek treatment any time you suffer an injury. It can be hard to tell just how severely you’ve hurt yourself without the expert care of Dr. Melillo. Some injuries may heal on their own with rest and ice.
However, there are times that an injury needs to be taken care of by a sports medicine specialist like Dr. Melillo right away. If your injury doesn’t seem to get better within a couple of days, you should seek treatment. Other signs that signal you need immediate care from Dr. Mellilo include:
If you’re experiencing weakness in the injured area, it’s also important that you get care right away. Fractures are an injury that can spiral downhill if they aren’t treated as soon as possible. Untreated fractures can lead to permanent deformity in the bone and a decrease in functionality.
The above symptoms need expert care by someone who specializes in orthopaedics and sports medicine. Dr. Melillo helps you get a diagnosis so you can start treatment as soon as possible.
The goal of treatment is not only to heal your injury, but also maximize your treatment so you can get back to your normal level of activity.
Treatment from Dr. Melillo depends on the type of injury you’ve suffered. For minor injuries, he suggests conservative care such as:
But not all injuries are going to respond to conservative treatments. Sometimes, a more aggressive approach is needed to get your body back to itself. In these cases, Dr. Melillo recommends surgical repair. Some of the surgeries he performs include:
With all of these procedures, Dr. Melillo schedules physical therapy as part of your recovery plan. This helps you to strengthen other areas of your body to aid in healing your injury as well.
Sports injuries aren’t always preventable, but there are steps you can take to decrease your risk of getting hurt. Properly warming up your body and getting enough rest between games are just two of the ways to look out for yourself.
Don’t let your sports injury go untreated — call us today at 281-223-1391, or book an appointment with Dr. Melillo using our convenient online booking tool.
