Sports Medicine
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Texas Pain & Orthopedics
Pain Management, Sports Medicine and Regenerative Orthopedics serving Austin, Pflugerville, Round Rock, Georgetown, Hutto, Taylor, Cedar Park, and Central Texas.
If you love playing sports, the last thing you want is an injury keeping you on the sidelines. Sports medicine expert Ike Malik, MD, of Texas Pain & Orthopedics in Pflugerville, Texas, can promptly and effectively diagnose and treat your injuries. Dr. Malik combines physical therapy with advanced treatments such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and steroid injections to heal damaged tissues quickly and restore full function. To learn more about the benefits of sports medicine, call Texas Pain & Orthopedics today or book an appointment online.
Sports Medicine Q & A
What is sports medicine?
Sports medicine experts like Dr. Malik treat injuries that occur while playing sports, training, or exercising. In addition, sports medicine specialists often help athletes optimize their performance by improving their overall health and fitness.
Injuries are a common problem for people who play sports or lead active lives. Causes of sports injuries include:
- Not warming up properly
- Pushing yourself too hard
- Wearing old, ill-fitting, or unsuitable footwear
- Not wearing protective equipment
- Exceeding your fitness levels
- Running on hard or uneven surfaces
- Falls and collisions
- Not cooling down after exercise
Sports injuries aren’t just painful — they can prevent you from doing the activities you enjoy. Without treatment from a sports medicine expert, you may not regain full function after your injury heals.
What conditions do sports medicine doctors treat?
Dr. Malik diagnoses and treats a wide range of sports injuries. The most common include:
- Muscle strains
- Meniscus tears in the knee
- Achilles tendon injuries
- Ankle sprains
- Rotator cuff tears in the shoulder
- Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
- Medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow)
- Labrum tears in the shoulder and hip
- ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) sprains
- Stress fractures
Acute injuries like sprains and strains occur suddenly when tissues stretch too far. They cause instant pain, and you might be unable to use the affected joint or limb.
Other sports injuries develop more slowly; tendinitis is a typical example. Tiny tears form in the tendon due to repeated use, gradually increasing until you develop chronic pain and weakness in the joint.
What treatments are used in sports medicine?
Dr. Malik typically begins sports medicine treatment with physical therapy. In addition to targeted exercises, physical therapy may include passive treatments like therapeutic massage, ice and heat, ultrasound, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).
You might also benefit from wearing a sling, splint, or brace to protect the injury and prevent overuse. If physical therapy alone is insufficient, additional treatments include:
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
- Stem cell therapy
- Epidural steroid injections
- Nerve blocks
- Joint injections
- Radiofrequency ablation
Dr. Malik’s expertise ensures that you can return to sports without unnecessary delay. Proper treatment also helps prevent long-term issues, such as joint instability, weakness, and scar tissue buildup.
If you’re a keen athlete or someone who likes to stay active, make sure to see Dr. Malik if you suffer an injury. Call Texas Pain & Orthopedics today or book an appointment online.
