Physician Sports Medicine Primary Care in Kirkland

From its name, sports medicine may seem to be a type of care only extending to athletes. However, the field of sports medicine focuses not only on physical fitness but the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of injuries that occur during any type of movement or exercise. At Orthopedic Physician Associates (OPA), we treat everyone from professional athletes to those who only exercise occasionally. As the premier primary care sports medicine provider in Kirkland, we’re happy to offer our wide range of services to anyone looking for a way to improve their performance or heal after surgery or injury.

What is a Primary Care Sports Medicine Physician?

Sports medicine focuses on the whole person, blending general medicine with orthopedics, exercise physiology, sports nutrition, sports science, exercise physiology, and sports psychology. Primary care sports medicine physicians focus on the non-surgical aspects of injury prevention and rehabilitation and on understanding exercise physiology to enhance healing and optimize athletic performance and overall health.

Primary care sports medicine physicians hold board certification in primary medical care, but also received additional education, training, and certification in Sports Medicine. Unlike an orthopedic surgeons, primary care sports medicine physicians do not perform surgery, however they typically refer patients requiring surgery to a skilled surgeon.

primary care physician sports medicine

How Can a Primary Care Sports Medicine Physician Help Me?

Some of the duties performed by primary care sports medicine physicians include:

  • Diagnosing and non-surgically treating injuries
  • Creating and implementing physical rehab plans
  • Prescribing necessary medications for healing
  • Addressing chronic illnesses that hinder or prevent optimal performance (such as diabetes or asthma)
  • Teaching safe and effective exercise to clients to help them reach their fitness or performance goals
  • Determining when injured athletes at any level may safely return to play

Primary care sports medicine specialists help to both prevent and treat almost any musculoskeletal injuries (injuries affecting the muscles, bones and joints), including acute injuries like fractures, sprains, or dislocations. They also treat chronic injuries from repetitive stress and overuse, including tennis elbow, tendinitis, or shin splints. If your injury or pain isn’t responding to anti-inflammatory or over-the-counter pain medications, icing, or rest we recommend consulting a primary care sports medicine physician to prevent the injury from worsening.

Primary Care Sports Medicine at OPA in Kirkland

At Orthopedic Physician Associates, our primary care sports medicine physicians possess the depth of knowledge to diagnose and non-surgically treat all of our patients using up-to-the-minute techniques and technology. Because nearly 90% of musculoskeletal and other sports injuries do not require surgery, our highly trained and experienced physicians work to maximize the effectiveness of your non-surgical treatments. If necessary, they also provide and expedite referrals to appropriate specialists, including physical or occupational therapists and orthopedic surgeons.

OPA’s primary care sports medicine office even offers imaging services to our Kirkland patients. If one of our doctors wants imaging done in order to provide a comprehensive diagnosis, not only do we have a state-of-the-art ultrasound, x-ray, and MRI diagnostic machines available on-site, but we read the images at the same appointment, saving you time and anxiety.

Quality Sports Medicine Physicians in Kirkland

Our goal is to keep you healthy and moving, so we provide injury prevention techniques, as well as guidance for increasing healthy nutritional habits, tailoring an exercise routine for fitness beginners, or creating a personalized exercise plan to take your fitness journey to the next level.

The primary care sports medicine physicians at OPA provide each of our patients with top-quality care. They work to expand their knowledge base through continuing education and share that knowledge through lectures and training other physicians. We also work with several professional sports teams in the Pacific Northwest, including the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Mariners.

Why Choose OPA?

Whether you’re a professional athlete, a fitness enthusiast, or a daily walk-taker, the board-certified primary care sports medicine physicians at Orthopedic Physician Associates tailor your treatment to fit your unique needs. If you struggle with pain or loss of mobility, let the industry-leading sports medicine physicians at OPA help. We pride ourselves on our experience as the leading provider of orthopedic and musculoskeletal services in Kirkland, WA, and across the Pacific Northwest, and we’re ready to help you reach your goals.

We focus on providing individualized care for everyone, no matter the issue. Whether you want to compete in a triathlon or regain strength after an injury, our sport medicine physicians ensure you leave our offices healed and ready to conquer your goals. Call us today at 206-309-4943 to schedule an appointment with one of our sports medicine primary care physicians.

 

Additional Areas We Serve: