5 reasons a sports medicine doctor near you can support faster injury recovery

Playing a sport can add so much positivity to your life, from regular exercise to making friends. But it can also come with a risk of injury. 

In 2024, more than 4 million people went to the emergency room for an injury related to sports or recreational equipment. Besides exercise equipment users, people who ride bikes or play basketball or football have the most reported injuries.   

If you’ve sustained an injury while throwing a ball, running on a track or flipping on a beam, then finding a sports medicine doctor near you can help you get back to doing what you love. 

Read on to learn about how a sports medicine doctor in your area can accelerate your injury recovery. We'll also discuss what to expect from treatment at KC Rehab. 

5 ways that a sports medicine doctor near you can speed up recovery

Every sports injury is different, and the recovery timeline can vary from person to person. But no matter how long it’s expected for an injury to heal, a local sports medicine doctor can help to shorten that time frame. Here are five ways they can accelerate recovery:

1. Boosting circulation

Your blood carries the nutrients and oxygen needed to help repair internal damage while also removing metabolic waste. By increasing blood circulation, you’re helping to move your body along the recovery process. When you start treatment with a sports medicine doctor, they will help to boost your circulation in the affected area. 

Your blood flow can be increased through strength training, soft tissue mobilization and dry needling.

2. Improving strength and mobility

Muscle weakness and reduced range of motion are common in sports injuries such as rotator cuff tears and ligament sprains. A sports medicine doctor can target those symptoms through exercises that strengthen your impacted muscles and provide support for your joints. 

By improving the affected area’s strength and mobility, you can work to restore its overall function.

3. Reducing pain and inflammation

Unfortunately, pain and inflammation (heat, swelling, etc.) are two of the most challenging symptoms that come with many sports injuries. A sports medicine doctor in your area can help to reduce the uncomfortable, sometimes unbearable, symptoms through treatments such as dry needling and targeted exercises.

Pain and inflammation are usually the most prevalent indicators of a sports injury. So getting them under control shows evidence of recovery progress.

4. Decreasing the risk of further damage

When you sustain a sports injury, seeking treatment with a sports medicine doctor as quickly as possible can improve your recovery timeline. In addition, you’re reducing the risk of further harm or complications to the affected area, such as more severe damage.

A sports medicine doctor can gain a full understanding of your injury and how to mitigate any further issues. Treatments will not only address the root cause of the injury, but also improve the quality of the area to reduce the risk of future issues or reinjury. 

Your doctor can also help you make adjustments to your movement patterns during your sport-specific skill to lessen the strain on the tissue while optimizing performance.

5. Restoring functions and sports-related skills

For many athletes, the end goal of sports medicine treatment is to return to their sport of choice. That means restoring the function of your affected area, both in relation to your specific sport and in your everyday routines. For example, if you sprain your wrist while playing football, your doctor will help you relearn how to throw the ball after making progress during treatment. 

They will also make sure that you’re able to complete everyday tasks that involve your wrist, such as moving a box or typing on a computer.

What to expect from sports medicine at KC Rehab

At KC Rehab, we provide a comprehensive sports medicine program to help you recover from injuries and get back on the field (or court or track).

After an evaluation with us, you’ll receive a personalized treatment plan designed to decrease pain as well as increase function and strength.

We also emphasize keeping you informed about how to take care of your body while carrying out strenuous physical activities in the future. That's why education and injury prevention are always a priority. We even have a specific ACL injury prevention program.

KC Rehab offers sports medicine in more than a dozen locations across Missouri and eastern Kansas. 

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.