|
Evaluations
..................................................................................................................................................
Primary Care Physician Evaluations
A primary care physician specializing in
sports medicine is available to evaluate athletic injuries and
activity-related medical problems.
Even if an injury may lead to surgical
intervention, the primary care sports medicine physician can make the
diagnosis and start the initial treatment, prior to patients seeing an
orthopedic surgeon.
Your sports medicine evaluation will include
a comprehensive history and physical exam, providing you with an assessment
and treatment plan.
Following the evaluation, your injury and
plan of care will be discussed with you in detail. Many activity-related
injuries do not lead to surgery and primary care sports medicine physicians
are the experts in returning people quickly and safely to their chosen
activity. Evaluation of concussions and return to play decisions after an
injury are some of the services offered.
Certified Athletic Trainer Evaluations
During your visit for an injury, a certified athletic trainer (ATC)
will perform an orthopedic evaluation to assess the injury.
This is a detailed assessment consisting of a
series of questions as to how the injury occurred and hands-on tests to
determine the following:
¢
Where the pain is located
¢
Are there abnormalities that may be present, such as swelling and
discoloration?
¢
Range of motion
¢ Hands-on testing for soft tissue injuries
and any possible broken
bones/fractures.
The ATC will make every effort to keep you
comfortable while performing this assessment. The evaluation will end
with a thorough explanation of the findings, treatment options and the
appropriate goals that should be met in order to return you to your
activity.
|