General Orthopedics

Sports Medicine Washington DC

Do you regularly play organized sports? Do you routinely run or work out with friends? Are you managing a sports-related injury plaguing you from your high school years? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you will benefit from seeing Dr. Stein, a sports medicine doctor.

Participating in sports on a regular basis has been proven to not only keep us in peak physical shape but mentally adaptable as well. If you are an athlete, you know the risks of competition better than anyone. You also know the importance of preparedness, whether that be for a game or for handling an unexpected injury. If you own a car, you have a mechanic. If you play sports, you have sports medicine.

Common Sports Injuries

The most common sports injuries include the following:

Ankle spin
Pulled groin
Strained hamstring
Shin splints
ACL tear (knee injury)
Knee injuries (in general)
Tennis elbow

What is Sports Medicine?

Sports medicine places a focus on diagnosing and treating sports injuries with an athlete in mind. Our goal is to help you fully heal, with future strenuous activity in mind. Maintaining an active lifestyle is an important part of your overall health. The level of physical exertion that athletes face regularly requires the care of a specialist when their body becomes overworked or involved in an accident.

Dr. Stein and his expert team of sports injury specialists in Washington DC focus on three pillars of sports medicine:

Sports injury prevention: Strengthening your body to avoid sports injuries before they happen.
Identifying an injury: Knowing when you need professional help.
Injury Maintenance: Rehabilitation and taking care of prior injuries.

Sports Injury Prevention

While every sports injury cannot be prevented due to the unique aspects of one’s own body in addition to the nature of the sport, there are steps you can take to maintain a healthy, injury-free body.

Technique: Before beginning any sport, take the time to learn the proper technique. Whether it’s something as low impact as golf or high-impact deadlifting, consult someone with experience to ensure you know what you are doing. Most sports injuries can be prevented simply by knowing the right way and wrong way to move your body.
Equipment: Depending on what you are doing, you must have the right equipment for the job. Be sure you have the proper safety equipment and know how to fit it for optimal protection.
Know Your Limits: While this may not be something everyone wants to hear, it’s important to know your physical limits. If you haven’t gone on a run in a decade, take it easy and refrain from running marathon distances. Part of the process of getting one’s body into shape is gradually increasing the intensity of one’s workouts. Pushing yourself too hard too fast is one of the most common ways athletes get injured.
Cool Down: Letting your body have time to cool down after physical activity allows it to transition effectively. Take the time (at least five minutes) to stretch or walk slowly to allow your body adequate time to cool off.

Steps Post Sports Injury

ven if you take the steps for prevention, sports injuries may still occur. Depending on your injury, you may need physical therapy or surgery. While it may be tempting to attempt home remedies for your injury, the internal impact of an injury may not be visible from the outside. This is why a sports medicine doctor is usually prudent. While you may not need physical therapy or surgery, consult with a professional is critical to assess the true impact of the injury.

Physical Therapy

If you already have a serious sports-related injury, Dr. Stein will work with you to set up an appropriate physical therapy regimen. Physical therapy is a benefit to you as it not only rehabilitates your injury, but it gives you the confidence that you will be back to playing the sport you love. Physical therapy teaches you about your joints and muscles and how you can get back to full strength. Most importantly, you will be able to regain a full range of motion.

Sports Injury Specialist and Surgeon

If you are at a point where your injury requires surgical intervention, Dr. Stein is an experienced orthopedic surgeon. Surgery is always a last resort. Dr. Stein’s approach is to know precisely what caused the injury so he can develop a surgical plan that will repair it most effectively. Further, he makes every effort to operate with as minimally invasive of an approach as possible. Sometimes, surgery is essential in helping you to make a full recovery. It ensures that you will have the needed strength and stamina to return to play at the level you had before your injury.

Take the next step.

Dr. Stein is a Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon with a specialty in sports medicine and sports-related injuries. Dr. Stein is focused on getting patients back to health and most importantly, ensuring that they prevent the same or similar injury from occurring again.

Dr. Stein will be able to help you prevent injuries from occurring in the future while treating your current injury. Please call our office today at 202-835-2222. The investment in seeing a professional for support, recovery, and prevention is invaluable.