Primary Care Sports Medicine
At OrthoSC, the Grand Strand's largest and most comprehensive orthopedic practice, our specialty-trained primary care sports medicine doctor is dedicated to providing world-class care for a variety of sports-related injuries and conditions.
A primary care sports medicine doctor is a medical specialist who has had training in primary care as well as completed a fellowship in primary care sports medicine. This one-year fellowship helps prepare them to care for serious athletes as well as everyday active people of all ages and help restore them to better health.
Primary care sports medicine doctors offer nonsurgical care for sports-related musculoskeletal injuries and conditions, such as injections or concussion evaluation and management. If surgery is required due to a sports injury or sports-related condition, this physician can refer a patient to an orthopedic surgeon for further treatment.
Some primary care sports medicine physicians may serve as team physicians for athletes in high school or college or for a professional sports team. Others may have a special interest in certain areas within musculoskeletal medicine and may partner with an orthopedic surgery provider.
When It's Time to Seek Sports Medicine Care
When you have pain due to a sports-related injury or condition, it's important to pay close attention to your symptoms so you can give your doctor a more detailed description of your pain when you go to your appointment, which in turn helps your doctor diagnose and treat you. Although every person experiences issues differently, here are examples of common symptoms you may be noticing:
- Decreased range of motion in the affected joint
- Pain and swelling
- Pain that worsens when you exercise or participate in a sport
- Pins-and-needles sensation
- Popping sound when the injury occurred
- Severe muscle cramps
- Stiffness
- Tenderness in the finger, arm, wrist, elbow, or shoulder
- Unable to bear weight on your leg, ankle, knee, or foot
- Unable to straighten or bend the joint normally
Having any of the symptoms above may indicate one of the following common sports problems or injuries:
- Acute injuries (sprain, fracture, dislocation, etc.)
- Concussion
- Hip injury
- Joint dislocation
- Knee injury
- Muscle, tendon, or ligament tears
- Musculoskeletal pain, such as after a fall or hard blow
- Other musculoskeletal conditions (ligament sprain, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc.)
- Overuse injuries (stress fracture, tendonitis, etc.)
- Rotator cuff injury
Taking good care of yourself means seeing a primary care sports medicine specialist when you suspect a problem and taking action sooner rather than later. In doing so, you may be able to avoid further pain or the need for surgery. You may also reduce the risk of having your condition worsen or developing severe problems, for instance, if the damage advances over time and you begin to lose mobility in the affected joint. To discuss your options, schedule an appointment with our primary care sports medicine doctor by calling (843) 353-3460 or scheduling an appointment online.
When you need the right care, right now for bone, joint, and muscle needs, walk into our orthopedic Urgent Care in Market Common or North Myrtle Beach seven days a week to get immediate help.
At OrthoSC, we believe in partnership between patients and care providers. Our Patient Education Center is designed to provide you with the information you need to be an active participant in your healthcare journey. Our experts have put together convenient online guides for specialty care, surgical care programs, videos, articles, and more to guide you in recovery.
Our World-Class Primary Care Sports Medicine Expert
Experience World-Class Sports Medicine Care at OrthoSC
At OrthoSC, our expert applies his medical knowledge and skills to treating you and your sports-related issue. He is dedicated to providing each patient with specialized orthopedic care and is equipped with the most advanced resources, which allows him to focus exclusively on diagnosing and treating your sports-related pain.
Our board-certified and fellowship-trained primary care sports medicine doctor, Dr. Christopher Feathers, is highly skilled in his respected field of evaluating and treating sports injuries and conditions. A core component of his care is ensuring that every patient is educated about the pain-relieving nonsurgical treatment options that are available to them. Our doctor also consults with his patients, offering suggestions, listening to questions, and helping them decide which course to take. If our primary care sports medicine physician believes that surgery is the best option to restore proper function, he will refer you to one of our specialty-trained orthopedic surgeons who specialize in sports medicine.
Having questions or concerns about your sports-related issue is normal. Schedule an appointment with our experienced primary care sports medicine doctor by scheduling an appointment online or by calling our convenient location in Myrtle Beach – Carolina Forest at (843) 353-3460. We’re ready to help restore you to better health.