31 Mar CAN A PEDIATRIC ORTHOPEDIC DOCTOR HELP MY CHILD RECOVER FROM THEIR SPORTS INJURY MORE QUICKLY?
Whether it’s football, baseball, basketball, soccer, or another athletic activity, contact or non-contact sports injuries can and often do occur. As agile and resilient as children are, they are just as susceptible to head and orthopedic injuries that can keep them on the sidelines for days, weeks, or months.
When your child sustains a sports injury, such as a sprain or strain, a broken bone, or a ligament tear, your first impulse is to consult with your family pediatrician. However, complex orthopedic issues and concussions associated with sports injuries often require special care to help them heal and get back on the field of play as quickly as possible.
How long it takes for your child to recover from a sports injury not only depends on the type and severity of the injury, but also on the quality of the care they receive from a specially trained pediatric orthopedic doctor.
How a Sports Medicine Doctor Can Help Your Child Recover Quickly from a Sports Injury
Pediatric orthopedics is a subspecialty of orthopedics that is devoted to treating children’s joints, muscles, soft tissues, and bones. A pediatric orthopedic doctor specializes in providing care for children ranging from infancy to young adults. This often includes sports-related injuries, which may vary depending on the nature and severity of the trauma.
How do you, as a parent, assess the seriousness of your child’s sports injury? You should take your child to a sports medicine physician immediately if you observe symptoms such as:
- Loss of movement or strength in an injured limb
- An obvious or suspected bone fracture
- A dislocated joint
- Obvious signs of deformity in your child’s injured area
Common sports-related conditions treated by a pediatric orthopedic doctor include fractures, lacerations, gait abnormalities, and limb pain.
Nonoperative management of sports injuries may include medications, physical therapy, braces, and prescribed training habits and programs.
Minor, non-urgent sports injuries can be treated at home with the R.I.C.E. method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) to ease your child’s discomfort while they recover. Make sure to always get them examined by a pediatric orthopedic doctor in a convenient but timely manner.
Pediatric Orthopedic Doctor in Crested Butte and Gunnison, Colorado
Whether your child sustains an injury on the playing field, the playground, or at home, the sports medicine experts at gO Orthopedics can help them get back to doing the activities they love. Our specially trained physicians provide medical care, treatment, and rehabilitation plans for professional athletes, recreational athletes, and everyone in between. At gO, we specialize in athletic injuries of the joints, bones, muscles, cartilage, and ligaments, with a special focus on knee, hip, shoulder, foot, and ankle conditions.
We’re especially passionate about helping young athletes recover from injuries and get back to their sport as quickly and safely as possible. Our division of pediatrics at gO is led by Dr. Blake Clifton, the only fellowship-trained pediatric sports medicine doctor on the Western Slope. Along with Dr. Clifton, our pediatric orthopedic specialists provide highly skilled and compassionate care to our pediatric patients. They understand the particular developmental needs of children and work to ensure your child receives comprehensive and individualized care governed by age-appropriate treatment plans.
If your child sustains a sports injury, don’t delay – come see the board-certified professionals at gO Orthopedics. Call us to schedule an appointment at (970) 349-5103 (our Crested Butte office) or (970) 641-8899 (our Gunnison office). We look forward to helping your child recover quickly and achieve their optimal athletic performance.
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