Expert Diagnosis for Sports Medicine

Sports and exercise-related pain require targeted treatment for proper recovery. An essential first step is a thorough history and physical. Your doctor will ask you how the injury occurred, what types of exercises or sports you regularly participate in and what types of protective equipment you use.

Depending on your injury, your sports medicine doctor may ask you to perform simple activities, such as walking, bending or flexing, in order to assess the type and extent of your injury.

Your physician also may recommend tests such as:

Lab work, including blood tests
Imaging studies, such as X-rays (which primarily show bone injuries), and CT scans or MRIs (which can show details of soft tissue damage)
Arthroscopy, in which a small incision is made and a lighted tube with a tiny camera is inserted. This procedure allows the surgeon to see the extent of the injury, clean away torn cartilage and remove bone spurs.

Please bring the following to your first appointment:

Films or any X-rays or other imaging studies you may have already had
A referral (if necessary) from your primary care doctor
A list of all medications, prescription and over-the-counter, that you take regularly
Your insurance card

Once the evaluation and any necessary tests are completed, your doctor will discuss treatment options with you.

Interested in an orthopaedic consult or a second opinion? Call 410-350-2563 for a physician referral to one of our experts or request an appointment online.

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