The millions of Americans who participate in sports activity are likely to suffer an injury at some point. But the risk of injury can be lessened with the help of a sports medicine doctor who can provide special nutritional guidelines and recommend appropriate workouts. Angel J. Garcia, MD, with the El Paso Center for Family & Sports Medicine in El Paso, Texas, is board-certified in both sports medicine and family medicine and specializes in treating and preventing sports injuries. To learn more, call or book an appointment online with Dr. Garcia today.
Primary care sports medicine encompasses care of athletes and active individuals. Sports medicine physicians such as Dr. Garcia specialize in treating all injuries incurred while engaged in sports or exercise, except those injuries requiring surgery, which orthopedic surgeons perform.
A vast majority of sports injuries -- 90% -- do not require surgery. Dr. Garcia, a board-certified physician in sports medicine, has all the relevant technology to diagnose and treat injuries properly. He has X-rays, ultrasounds, lab services, and can perform cast fittings in-office. If patients need advanced surgery, Dr. Garcia recommends an orthopedic surgeon.
Sports medicine physicians primarily treat musculoskeletal injuries that benefit from the RICE protocol: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Some of the injuries Dr. Garcia is qualified to treat include:
Some of the most common sports injuries are ankle or wrist sprains, lumbar strains, etc. Dr. Garcia ensures patients follow the RICE protocol, get physical therapy if required, and after initial trauma subsides, do daily exercises to strengthen joints, ligaments, and tendons.
Mature tennis players can get rotator cuff tears, shoulder dislocations, or tendonitis (tennis elbow) from repetitive shoulder motion. Runners frequently get stress fractures in their legs.
For a first shoulder dislocation, patients are placed in a sling, followed by physical therapy. Dr. Garcia fits patients with a cast for a wrist fracture when the bones are still in place.
Dr. Garcia is trained to test for, treat, and clear athletes who have had concussions. Patients with severe symptoms such as vomiting, seizures, or severe headaches need to go to the hospital.
Dr. Garcia works with patients to help prevent injuries, developing a proactive plan to lessen the chance of mishap during sports activity, focusing on the following areas:
Athletes and those who exercise rigorously require larger amounts of vitamins and minerals, micronutrients, calories, and fluids than sedentary individuals. The nutrients help to prevent injury and deliver optimal performance.
Safety is Dr. Garcia’s priority. He evaluates athletes to determine their readiness to return to action after an injury.
Dr. Garcia designs individual exercise programs and adjusts them over time for sedentary patients who want to start exercising for better health.
Call or book an appointment online with Dr. Garcia today to learn more about how sports medicine gives active individuals the boost they need.
