Sports Medicine

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Sports Medicine in Houston, TX

Dr. Mathew Warnock is board certified as an orthopedic sports medicine specialist serving the residents of the Houston area. With specializations in knee and shoulder surgery, he provides superior care in a friendly environment for his patients to help get them back to their sport, job, or life at home. Whether you need immediate relief from the pain of a shoulder dislocation, require serious surgery, or are interested in techniques for preventing future injuries, Dr. Warnock can help you today.

Basketball, hockey, and soccer players performing after receiving sports medicine treatment from K. Mathew Warnock, MD in Houston, TX

What is Sports Medicine?

Sports Medicine, also known as Sport and Equipment Medicine (SEM), is a branch of medicine that deals with the treatment and prevention of sports-related injuries. Sports medicine doctors have specialized training to treat injured patients so that they can quickly get back to their sport. SEM doctors typically treat musculoskeletal injuries relating to tendons, ligaments, muscles, and bones. Sports medicine physicians treat children and adults who exercise for personal fitness, in addition to professional athletes. The physical therapists and trainers they work with play a pivotal role in helping athletes rehabilitate with ease.

Prevention of Sports Injuries

To keep athletes healthier so that surgeries are not needed, Dr. Warnock stresses the importance of preventative medicine with his patients. While each sport carries its particular types of prevention techniques and stretches, if you are considering a new training regimen, consider the following:

  • Obtain a physical examination from a doctor.
  • Create a conditioning program.
  • Gradually increase your training if you have been inactive for a long time.
  • Hydrate before, during, and after practice or games.
  • If pain develops, decrease your training workload.

Sometimes prevention isn’t enough. If an injury becomes severe to the point in which rest and over-the-counter medications will not suffice, it’s time to seek treatment from a professional.

Treatment of Common Sports Injuries

To begin treatment, Dr. Warnock will first need to diagnose the problem. The shoulder and knee are two of Dr. Warnock’s specialties, and each brings its own set of challenges, which he can address.

Meniscus Tear

Meniscal tears are one of the more common knee injuries in sports and can happen in a variety of activities. You could experience a tear simply by turning too hard with one leg. Some athletes may hear a “pop” at the moment of the tear, while other patients have described a more gradual soreness and swelling. After diagnosing the damage through a physical exam or MRI, Dr. Warnock will discuss your treatment options. Some patients will properly heal by using the RICE protocol (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation). For the majority of tears, though, Dr. Warnock utilizes arthroscopic surgery. For this type of surgery, a small incision is made on the knee and then the doctor uses a camera and tools to see the injury while operating. After the surgery, a rehabilitation program and a supportive brace will be needed.

ACL Tear

The ACL is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. Like Meniscus tears, a small percentage of ACL tear cases do not require surgical reconstruction to heal. For these patients, a knee brace provides sufficient healing. In most cases, though, arthroscopic ACL surgery is necessary to fix the damaged knee. This procedure uses tissue from either the patient’s body or a donor to repair the torn ligament. Like the meniscal tear repair, arthroscopic surgery of the ACL involves a small incision so that the doctor can easily see the inner knee.

Rotator Cuff Repair

The shoulder’s rotator cuff can wear down due to age, overuse, and damage from possible trauma. Repetitive motions from certain occupations and sports, such as a baseball player’s throwing motion, can damage the tendons in the shoulder over time. Over-the-counter pain medication or cortisone injections may provide patients with adequate pain relief. For surgery cases, Dr. Warnock uses both arthroscopic repair and superior capsule reconstruction. Superior capsule reconstruction is a new type of technique meant to help patients who have suffered severe, irreparable rotator cuff tears.

Shoulder Dislocation

Shoulder dislocations occur when the patient’s humerus bone in their upper arm separates from the joint socket. For treating this injury, Dr. Warnock will insert the ball of the humerus bone back into the socket. While this is a short, painful process, patients should experience instant relief from the pain and be back to using their arm usually within a few days.

Schedule an Appointment Today

If you’ve suffered a sports medicine related injury, contact Dr. Warnock to schedule an appointment. He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese to easily assist all of his patients. He understands that these injuries don’t just affect your athleticism or physicality; they affect your way of life and peace of mind. With his expertise and top-notch bedside manner, he’ll treat you and get you on your way to rehabilitation and recovery.