Comparing Orthopaedic Treatment and Sports Medicine

Orthopaedics and sports medicine both play distinct and important roles in musculoskeletal care and injury rehabilitation. Orthopaedics is the branch of medicine that deals with musculoskeletal problems, while sports medicine prevents, identifies, and heals sports-related injuries. Both fields work with musculoskeletal issues but take different approaches to treat different problems.

Despite their distinct fields, many people don’t know the difference between the two terms and use them interchangeably, causing confusion when scheduling care. Knowing the differences between the two types of medicine helps patients understand the type of care they need.

What is Orthopaedics?

Orthopaedics is a branch of medicine specializing in the correction and prevention of musculoskeletal issues. Orthopaedic treatment focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing conditions related to bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

Generally, orthopaedic treatments are minimally invasive and include routine treatments like physical therapy, medication, injections, and physical aids like joint braces. Orthopaedic specialists do sometimes use surgical intervention to correct serious problems, such as joint replacements, fracture repair, and spinal surgery.

Preserving long-term mobility through prevention and injury rehabilitation is the primary goal of orthopaedic treatment. Ideally, orthopaedic patients can return to their lives shortly after treatment and go about their day without pain or impaired functioning.

Issues that Warrant Orthopaedic Treatment

There are a variety of problems that benefit from orthopaedic treatment, including but not limited to:

• Fractures
• Arthritis
• Localized pain such as hip pain
• Plantar fasciitis
• Bursitis
• Meniscus tears
• Joint replacement
• Tennis elbow
• Congenital musculoskeletal deformities
• Osteoporosis
• Spinal conditions like herniated discs.

What is Sports Medicine?

Sports medicine specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of injuries related to physical activity and sports. Among the most common sports medicine treatments are the diagnosis and treatment of injuries caused by sports, such as broken bones, torn ligaments, and bruises. In addition to medical treatment and injury rehabilitation, sports medicine specialists also consult with athletes on how to avoid injury or reinjury on the playing field.

Issues that Warrant Sports Medicine Treatment

There are a variety of problems that benefit from sports medicine treatment, including ACL tears, concussions, sprains, strains, splints, and pulled muscles.

Key Differences and Shared Benefits

In general, orthopaedic treatment covers a wider range of musculoskeletal problems, while sports medicine treatment exclusively addresses injuries related to physical activity and sports performance. Orthopaedics may use surgery as well, while sports medicine typically avoids invasive procedures.

An injured person might need to use both orthopaedic treatment and sports medicine treatment to reach the best clinical outcome. Orthopaedic specialists and sports medicine specialists can work together to provide a treatment plan for an athlete that needs both surgery and injury rehabilitation, for example.

Effective Orthopeadeic Care and Sports Medicine at MMI

Orthopaedics and sports medicine both treat musculoskeletal conditions, albeit with different approaches. Orthopaedics applies both surgical and non-surgical treatments to address persistent conditions like arthritis and improve long-term mobility. Sports medicine specifically treats athletes and those who keep active, working to prevent injuries and recover from them using non-invasive methods.

Each patient’s individual needs will determine whether orthopaedic treatment or sports medicine treatment is right for them. Fortunately, MMI offers both. If you have an injury that needs professional treatment, don’t delay the healing process!

Reach out to MMI now to schedule your professional consultation.