Sports Medicine

Vermont Orthopaedic Clinic's expert staff is prepared to treat a full range of sports-related injuries.

The board certified sports medicine specialists at Rutland Regional’s Vermont Orthopaedic Clinic use state-of-the-art technology to treat a range of sports conditions. Whether you’ve had a sudden injury or need help managing a long-term issue, our sports doctors and orthopedic experts will get you back to the activities you love as quickly as possible.

What Is A Sports Medicine Doctor?

A sports medicine doctor is a specialist who treats the musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system includes the:

• Bones
• Muscles
• Joints
• Tendons
• Ligaments
• Connective tissues

A sports medicine doctor can treat injuries caused by active recreational activities in both athletes and non-athletes. Sports medicine doctors also educate patients about injury prevention, nutrition, and exercise.

Sports medicine doctors don’t perform surgery, which makes them different from orthopedic surgeons. Most sports injuries don’t require surgery.

The team of sports medicine specialists at Rutland Regional includes:

• Highly trained physicians certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery in Sports Medicine
• Board certified orthopedic surgeons
• Certified physician assistants and nurse practitioners
• Certified occupational therapists
• Athletic trainers and physical therapists

What Conditions Does a Sports Medicine Doctor Treat?

Sports medicine doctors treat conditions that include:

• Muscle strain
• Joint injuries
• Osteoarthritis
• Sprains
• Broken or fractured bones
• Injuries caused by using a joint or muscle too much (overuse injuries)
• Tendinitis (inflammation of the tendons)
• Concussions

What Are The Symptoms of A Sports Injury?

If you have an acute (serious) sports injury, your symptoms could include:

• Sudden, severe pain
• Swelling or bruising
• Not being able to stand on a leg, knee, or foot
• Not being able to move a joint normally
• Weakness in a limb
• A bone or joint out of place

If you have a chronic (long-term) sports injury, your symptoms may include:

• Pain when you play a sport or exercise
• Swelling or a dull ache when you’re resting

How Are Sports Injuries Diagnosed?

If your doctor thinks you could have a sports injury, they may:

• Ask you about your sports or recreational activities
• Examine the injury
• Order tests such as x-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look at your bones and tissues

What Sports Medicine Services Does Rutland Regional Offer?

At Rutland Regional, our specialized services for sports issues include:

• Physical therapy services with licensed physical therapists
• Athletic development programs and training including iSPORT
• Our concussion clinic, which offers the region’s most comprehensive concussion care
• A full range of advanced treatment options at Vermont Orthopaedic Clinic, including surgical and nonsurgical treatments

Vermont Orthopaedic Clinic's iSPORT Program

At Rutland Regional, we offer athletes a specialized athletic development program called iSPORT. iSPORT trains and treats recreational or professional athletes of any age, including high school and college sports players. Our expert iSPORT trainers use the most advanced equipment to provide holistic physical training to both injured and non-injured athletes.