If you’ve injured yourself while playing pick-up basketball, enjoying a weekend golf outing, or during any other athletic activity, you should seek care from a doctor who specializes in treating sports injuries. But, do you know who to turn to when sports injuries strike?
Orthopedic doctors and sports medicine doctors are physicians who are specially trained to diagnose and treat sports injuries that impact the body’s musculoskeletal system. This includes the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, cartilage, and other connective tissues that facilitate movement. Let’s take a closer look at these medical professionals and how they help injured athletes get back in the game.
Orthopedic Doctors
Orthopedic doctors are medical professionals who are trained to treat musculoskeletal problems that athletes often face, such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, shin splints, and rotator cuff injuries. However, they also treat injuries and degenerative diseases that aren’t necessarily related to athletic activities, like osteoarthritis. People of all ages and activity levels can consult with an orthopedic doctor to receive expert treatment for a wide array of aches and pains. Orthopedic doctors are also able to provide surgical treatment, like arthroscopic repairs for soft tissue injuries and joint replacement.
Sports Medicine Doctors
Like orthopedic doctors, sports medicine doctors are trained to treat musculoskeletal conditions. However, they focus on caring for people with problems that are related to athletic activities, and can also help athletes maximize performance and prevent injuries through tailored conditioning programs. Sports medicine doctors may collaborate or refer to orthopedic doctors if a patient requires surgery or is dealing with a chronic, ongoing musculoskeletal issue.
Sports Medicine from Trusted Local Doctors
Tampa Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Group provides a full spectrum of specialized sports medicine services to adolescents and adults in the Tampa area. A division of Florida Medical Clinic, our orthopedic practice has been serving our community since 1949 and provides progressive care options to athletes of all levels, from the occasional jogger to the champion marathoner. Some of our treatments include platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections, stem cell therapy, viscosupplementation, and minimally invasive procedures that spare healthy tissues and require less downtime.
The Tampa Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Group team is led by sports medicine specialist Dr. Arnold Ramirez and Dr. Daniel Murphy, an orthopedic surgeon who frequently assists athletes in their recoveries. When they’re not caring for patients at our practice, they’re serving our areas finest professional athletes—Dr. Ramirez is a team physician for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Dr. Murphy is on the medical staff of the Buccaneers and New York Yankees.
Contact Tampa Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Group today if you would like to learn more about our approach to sports injury treatment and how we help local athletes achieve peak performance. You may also request an appointment when it’s most convenient for you. We accept most health insurance plans and will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
