If you are looking for the best of the best of Chicago sports medicine, you have come to the right place. Dealing with athletic injuries requires seeing a sports medicine professional but sometimes it can be difficult to know which type of provider to see. It is important that you understand what a sports medicine physician is and what they are capable of. Seeing a family doctor for an athletic injury will often get you the advice of rest and ice, and you probably don’t have time for that.
Family doctors avoid giving aggressive advice to help come back from injuries due to a lack of training and due to not wanting to be sued. Sports medicine providers understand what your pain point is and that you need to get back in the game quickly. You need to know the ins and outs of Chicago sports medicine.
Chicago Sports Medicine
Sports medicine is a specific branch of medicine that deals with physical fitess, athletic injuries, and the prevention of injuries related to athletic movements. The field has only been recognized since the 20th century so it is still relatively new which explains why it can still be hard to find the best in Chicago Sports Medicine.
Sports medicine doctors have completed medical school like other doctors but after they choose to specialize in the sports medicine branch. They specialize in the treatment of athletes and other physically fit individuals. Unlike normal doctors, they have extensive educations in musculoskeletal medicine. These doctors treat issues with muscles, ligaments, bones, and tendons but can also help with more chronic conditions that affect athletic performance like asthma and diabetes.
There are also sports medicine providers that come from other areas of healthcare that specialize in working with athletes like the following:
Chicago Sports Medicine Types
Physical Therapy
Most people are familiar with a physical therapy because it is much more integrated into the traditional healthcare system. As an athlete would see a physical therapist after having a severe injury where surgery may have been needed. Physical therapists skills vary based on interest, continuing education and background experiences.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is the best choice when dealing with muscular soreness, and stress. A massage therapist will not be able to diagnose an injury. They are not a first responder to injury but may be a great choice once you know what the issue is.
Acupuncturists
Acupuncture is a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is quickly growing in popularity. It is important to know that it is a TCM because its principles are not from the United States which can make it hard for Westerners to understand.
Acupuncturists use meridian points around the body to help release energy blocks that build up from life. Energy blocks are released by sticking needles into these meridian points. Acupuncture can be great for injuries that hands cannot get to well.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic is often known as being doctors for the back and some do not believe in their ways. Though they do an extensive study of the spine, chiropractors can do so much more, but it depends on what they choose to focus on. Some are good with athletic injuries because they are certified in skills like Active Release Technique and Graston Technique.
Registered Dietician
A registered dietician will help you to match your eating to your athletic goals. A lot of foods we eat often create inflammation which does not help our natural recovery processes at all. Seeing a registered dietician can have a lot of benefits that the average athlete is missing out on.
Should You See a Sports Physician First?
It all depends on what you are the most comfortable with and what feels like the best route. A sports physician has the all the abilities that a family doctor has but they focus on athletes. If that is the most comfortable starting place, then start there. On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with skipping over that stage and going straight to a chiropractor of your choice for example. If you don’t know where to start with this process the 9INE POINT Health Mobile app will provide you with the direction you need. The app will ask you a few questions and help you to figure out which type of provider you should see.
Use 9INE POINT Health to Find the Best in Chicago Sports Medicine
But it does not end there because you can also search by skill set which is where things get fun. The type of skills set you can search for
- Dry needling
- Acupuncture
- Joint Manipulation
- Active Release Technique
- Graston Technique
- Functional Movement Screen
- Fascial Stretching
- Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Athletic Trainer
- Sports Background
- And many more
Where the search tool gets powerful is that you can search based off of type and skill. For example, you can search Chiropractors + Acupuncture + Graston, and the results will show you local options that have all of those skill set that you desire. There is nowhere you can do this on the internet besides 9INE POINT Health.
Now all of that may seem a bit overwhelming. You may be thinking I need a sports medicine doctor near me, but I did not realize there were all these options and you don’t even know where to start. 9INE POINT Health will ask you a series of yes or no questions that will help you figure out what type of provider that you should see.
Using The 9INE POINT Number to Compare Healthcare Providers
Every provider comes with what is called a 9INE POINT Number. The 9INE POINT number is your way of comparing and ranking healthcare providers. The number consists of three key data points.
- Ratings and Reviews – To help you figure out what others think
- Engagement – Does the healthcare provider answer question and post content to educate the community.
- Insurances Accepted – The more insurances accepted, the better chance you can see them
The 9INE POINT number makes it easy for you to make healthcare decisions quickly. You don’t have to read reviews or check their profile if you don’t want to because the 9INE POINT Number will tell you what you need to know. If you are on the search for that great Chicago sports medicine, 9INE POINT Health is the best place to start.
KHO Health was acquired by was acquire by 9INE POINT in the summer of 2019 and is now referred to as 9INE POINT Health.
