WHEN SHOULD A PATIENT SEE A SPORTS MEDICINE PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN INSTEAD OF THEIR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDEr?

“THE BENEFITS OF SEEING A PRIMARY CARE SPORTS MEDICINE PHYSICIAN IS WE ARE SPECIFICALLY ORTHOPEDIC TRAINED”

When someone says they are going to see a doctor they normally mean a primary care physician (PCP). While visiting a PCP a few times a year is recommended for routine check ups, going straight to a sports medicine primary care physician can save time and money.

PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS

Primary care physicians practice general healthcare addressing a wide variety of health concerns. PCPs are normally a patient’s first point of contact in case of a health concern. They can address chronic, long-term conditions as well as acute conditions like bronchitis, allergic reactions, or colds and flu.

A patient may seek a visit to their PCP for: 

  • Preventive care (stopping illness before it happens)

  • Treatment of common illnesses

  • Diagnosis of common illnesses or conditions 

  • Management of chronic (long-lasting) conditions

SPORTS MEDICINE PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN

Visiting a primary care physician may seem like a one stop-shop. However, if  a patient has a sports-related injury, or is looking to improve performance or prevent sports’ injuries, a visit to a sports medicine primary care physician would be a better investment. 

Sports medicine is a specialty area within orthopedic medicine focused on the musculoskeletal system: the muscles, nerves, bones, joints, and connective tissues. Sports medicine physicians are orthopedic trained so they can care for patients with a variety of conditions and pains (such as knee pain, joint pain, and muscle pain). 

DR. PALOMERA DISCUSSES THE BENEFITS OF SEEING A PRIMARY CARE SPORTS MEDICINE PHYSICIAN:

  • To address sport and exercise related injuries

  • If you are looking to improve fitness levels

  • To enhance performance in a sport or activity 

  • As a means of preventing sports-related injuries

  • To maintain a healthy, active lifestyle

Broadly speaking, injuries shouldn't last longer than a week or two without completely healing or showing signs of improvement on their own—especially for people roughly college-aged and younger. If pain lingers, is not getting better within a week or two weeks at the longest, regardless if there was an injury, one should be evaluated by a professional. 

IN THE CASE OF ANY HEALTH CONCERN A PATIENT SHOULD SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE.

GET TO KNOW DR. PALOMERA IF YOU ARE SEEKING MEDICAL ADVICE FROM A SPORTS MEDICINE PHYSICIAN BY SCHEDULING A CONSULTATION.

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DOC TALK WITH DR. PALOMERA AND DR. GIRLING: DO I REALLY NEED A KNEE REPLACEMENT?

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“THE NEXT BEST THING TO BEING AN ELITE ATHLETE IS TAKING CARE OF ELITE ATHLETES” - Dr. Paul S. Saenz