Sports and musculoskeletal medicine
What is sports medicine/sports physician?
Sports and musculoskeletal medicine is a specialty in itself. Often, physicians who practice in this field have completed an additional year of study or are graduates of the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine. It consists of having more in-depth skills and expertise in muscle, tendon and ligament injuries as well as bone injuries. This allows for optimal management of your condition with a tailored questionnaire, specific physical examination as well as the request of relevant complimentary tests (or images) to better diagnose your case. Whether you are a high level athlete, an amateur or more of a mathlete, the sports and musculoskeletal physician may be just what you need.
Who can benefit from it?
Our medical team has a keen interest in injuries in patients of all ages and all levels of physical activity. You do not have to be an athlete to benefit from our sports medicine and musculoskeletal services and expertise. If you have suffered an injury during an activity or even have intermittent pain with no apparent cause, our specialists are there to accompany you and guide you through your rehabilitation. Our sports medicine specialists will find the cause of your problem and refer you to the right health specialist to optimize your recovery and your return to activity.
What happens during the consultation?
A sports medicine consultation generally consists of the following:
- A questionnaire about your health and injury and the evolution of your injury and associated symptoms followed by a targeted physical examination relevant to your injury
- Of course, the physician will fully review your file and medical images (if available) regarding the reason for the visit
- If the physician cannot make a diagnosis during the appointment, medical imagery or a refferal to the right health care professional will be offered
- Depending on the diagnosis and gravity of the injury, the physician might require a follow-up appointment or simply refer to a more appropriate health care professional
What to do while waiting for an appointment?
While waiting for your appointment with a health specialist, being proactive in your healing process will help with your rehabilitation. We recommend resting and elevating your affected limb help with blood flow and limit swelling. In addition, if your health allows it, you can also take painkillers depending on your pain. Note that the application of ice, use of anti-inflammatory drugs and compression are controversial, but can still be used in some cases.
Please note
An important point to remember is that if you have extreme pain, complete loss of sensation or are worried, do not hesitate to consult a doctor quickly.