Physiatry and Sports Medicine – Collab or Collide?

Christopher Strock / Sport Injury Treatment Sport Injury Treatment

My physical therapist is excellent! The whole office is very friendly and helpful. Physio is absolutely outstanding. Thank you very much for your great, attentive service

Christopher Strock / Sport Injury Treatment Sport Injury Treatment

My physical therapist is excellent! The whole office is very friendly and helpful. Physio is absolutely outstanding. Thank you very much for your great, attentive service

Christopher Strock / Sport Injury Treatment Sport Injury Treatment

My physical therapist is excellent! The whole office is very friendly and helpful. Physio is absolutely outstanding. Thank you very much for your great, attentive service

Christopher Strock / Sport Injury Treatment Sport Injury Treatment

My physical therapist is excellent! The whole office is very friendly and helpful. Physio is absolutely outstanding. Thank you very much for your great, attentive service

Christopher Strock / Sport Injury Treatment Sport Injury Treatment

My physical therapist is excellent! The whole office is very friendly and helpful. Physio is absolutely outstanding. Thank you very much for your great, attentive service

Christopher Strock / Sport Injury Treatment Sport Injury Treatment

My physical therapist is excellent! The whole office is very friendly and helpful. Physio is absolutely outstanding. Thank you very much for your great, attentive service

You must have heard of sports medicine, right? With nearly 2 million people (Source: ASPE: https://bit.ly/3mWG45C) in the U.S. suffering from sports injuries every year, sports medicine is in the limelight. Another term that you may have come across is Physiatry. This program also claims to repair damaged or injured areas of athletes and others. If you think both of these are the same, hold that thought. Physiatry (Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine) and Sports Medicine differ. Sports medicines are completely focused on athletes but Physiatry has a holistic approach for anyone with similar symptoms. If you are in a fix about choosing the right one for your purposes, continue reading this blog for better insight.

Christopher Strock / Sport Injury Treatment Sport Injury Treatment

My physical therapist is excellent! The whole office is very friendly and helpful. Physio is absolutely outstanding. Thank you very much for your great, attentive service

Christopher Strock / Sport Injury Treatment Sport Injury Treatment

My physical therapist is excellent! The whole office is very friendly and helpful. Physio is absolutely outstanding. Thank you very much for your great, attentive service

Christopher Strock / Sport Injury Treatment Sport Injury Treatment

My physical therapist is excellent! The whole office is very friendly and helpful. Physio is absolutely outstanding. Thank you very much for your great, attentive service

Sports Medicine

Sports medicine aims at addressing musculoskeletal malfunctions and sports injuries in addition to diagnosis and prevention of the same. Assessing and diagnosing sports injuries is a competence that professionals with adequate experience in sports medicine can offer. Understanding the type of injuries that athletes can face and analyzing the level of work-out, and individual anatomy the adept people suggest sports medicines.

Physiatry

This is a perfect blend of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. This is a holistic approach that focuses on restoring and enhancing the functional abilities of a person. Pain and disabilities can directly impact your brain resulting in the deterioration of one’s quality of life. The spinal cord, nerves, ligaments, bones, tendons, joints, and muscles work as a team to help a person live an independent life and Physiatry takes care of this ‘team’. For that, of course, a patient-centered, customized, and comprehensive treatment plan is needed.

To sum up, Physiatry is capable of addressing various issues that are not exclusive to athletes. Some areas where Physiatry excels are:

Pain Management
Sports Injuries
Posture Correction
Age-related problems with mobility, flexibility, and pain symptoms
Pre and post-surgery difficulties ‘
Overall body functionality
Daily activities and more.

Can these two merge?

Experts in movement, physical therapists enhance patients’ well-being through therapeutic exercise, manual treatment, and education. The conditions treated by physiatrists and physical therapists are similar, but the methods employed by the two professions are unique.

In the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, physiatrists, and sports medicine experts may operate together or separately. Although they approach diagnosis and treatment from distinct perspectives, both are effective. A patient has the option of seeing either of them or the patient could experience both. Collaboration between the two is essential for optimal treatment outcomes. Patients may benefit from sports medicine and therapy but in some cases, a physiatrist can do more intrusive interventions.

Still a bit confused? You’re not alone. Therapies with similar roles often bewilder people. You can reach out to us for a consultation. Based on your requirements, your current health conditions, and your goal, we can give you a customized plan and suggest the best program for you.