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Essay Name       : 1532.txt 
Uploader         : Chris Bailey
Email Address    : 
Language         : English
Subject          : Sport
Title            : "A Skeptic's Guide to Sports Medicine"
Grade            : B
School System    : NCCU
Country          : U.S.
Author Comments  : Essay on how 1 should watch out for injuries and who they go to 4 help.
Teacher Comments : 
Date             : 11-25-96
Site found at    : Saw a friend find it......
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"A Skeptic's Guide to Sports Medicine"
				

 Nov. 22, 1996
		Many times  put all of our trust in a man, or woman, to diagnose an injury just because of what they wear on a white jacket. Where we go wrong is when we trust their credibility without researching this doctor. Was, or will their assessment be accurate? It is important to know exactly how you injured yourself and get the right treatment. A medical specialist can be very costly for your insurance company, and can waste a lot of you time and energy. Before you start calling doctors and making appointments for your weekend football injury, there are some things you should consider:
"		Many injuries, even sports injuries don't require a
	sports specialist
"		If you do require a sports medicine specialist, finding
a	good one can be tricky
		Most injuries such as a sprain, bruised hip, or strain can be handled by the family physician. If there is a compound fracture on the other hand, that is the specialty of  an orthopedist. They are well versed in the repair of bone, cartilage , and muscle. So when should you consult with a sports medicine doctor? It's like this, whenever you have an injury , any injury, that interferes with your sport or workout, it's time to see a specialist.

 " The best sports medicine specialists understand the special needs of an athlete." Or at least they should according to Dr. Andrew Cosgarea, team physician and assistant proffessor of orthopedic surgery at Ohio State University. These guys understand how important athletics are important to you, and it's their job to make sure you can play as you did before you got hurt.
		A major problem is that, unlike other specialties like obstetrics or ophthalmology, sports medicine is not a well defined field of medicine. A startling fact that many might not know is that any doctor can put up a sign and claim to practice sports medicine. Which causes another problem, since some can't tell a torn ligament from a stained one, and that can be scary. Many health care providers get rich with fancy titles, but few have the credentials. When you want a doctor who can handle your pain, scout the field before you pour out you heart and money.
		There are sports medicine physicians for primary care. Orthopedic doctors, who are actually surgeons, rebuild problem joints and set broken bones. Physiatrists, like orthopedists, specialize in skeletal and muscular problems, but aren't qualified for surgery. "Ultra specialist" is a

 sub name that includes doctors that specialize in certain areas, such as podiatrists and dentists. Some of these people are good to see, but one must remember that generally, there are no exams or screenings that will back up their sports medicine "expertise".
	Evaluating the talent is a must. Ask around at the local colleges  and high schools and find out who they think is the best qualified to serve you. Speak to medical directors and trainers. All teams deserve the best treatment, and most schools will do everything in their power to make sure their teams get it. It's also important to find out if they study chemistry. A very important, but over looked, part  of your search is finding out the physicians  connections to qualified rehabilitation specialists. Make sure they are a licensed physical therapists or athletic trainer who is certified by the state. Never be afraid to ask questions, this is your body you're talking about. What is the ration of staff to patients? Is the staff working with the athletes? Is there a variety of equipment available? A good rehabilitation specialist will spend half an hour or so teaching you exercises to do on your own time. They may even give you an extensive handout illustrating your home program. In conclusion, be sure you're getting the right treatment. Not too much, and not too little, or you may end up re-injuring yourself.
 
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