Summertime in the Rocky Mountains means blue skies, plenty of time outdoors, and lots of weekend sports competitions for youth athletes and their families. Unfortunately, along with the cheering and crowds come sports-related injuries.
“Injuries can often be specific to the sport being played, but some of the more common acute injuries we encounter are ankle sprains, wrist fractures, and concussions,” Dr. David Woodson says.
Dr. Woodson is a member of CommonSpirit’s sports medicine team in Colorado and has over a decade of experience treating sports-related injuries in adults and adolescents. CommonSpirit Health is a dedicated, mission-driven healthcare system that operates clinics and hospitals across 21 states, providing comprehensive healthcare services to diverse communities.
Over time, Dr. Woodson has seen a pattern emerge.
“As training and practice intensity increases and a season progresses, we start to see more overuse injuries from repetitive movements,” he says.
Parents and athletes alike can be prepared for those inevitable injuries by understanding the available treatment options here in Colorado.
Making the Right Choice: ER, Urgent Care, or Primary Care?
When your athlete gets hurt, choosing whether to head to the emergency room or book an appointment with a sports medicine primary care doctor can feel impossible. For parents who want the best care (and fast), it’s important to understand how to make the best choice.
Assessing the Immediate Effects
Dr. Woodson explained that there are many reasons an athlete should visit the emergency room or urgent care, and parents are the first line of defense in making that decision.
“Parents are usually able to assess their kids’ pain relative to what would be expected for the injury,” he said. “If pain is out of proportion to what would be expected, if there is an obvious deformity, or there is numbness or signs of decreased blood flow, then urgent care or emergency department evaluation is warranted.”
Head injuries can be especially scary for parents. Dr. Woodson said parents who suspect a concussion may be possible should look for the following symptoms that would indicate a visit to the emergency room:
- A significant change in mental status
- Neurologic change (numbness, tingling, weakness, slurred speech)
- Vomiting
- Loss of consciousness
Before heading to emergency services, parents should make sure they have a plan and that the chosen facility can handle the potential injury and level of care needed.
“Parents should confirm that an urgent care has imaging capability (x-ray) available for evaluating musculoskeletal injuries,” Dr. Woodson advised.
And after the visit? Always seek follow-up care with a sports medicine physician or an orthopedic physician who specializes in sports medicine.
Weighing Costs and Benefits
When your athlete gets injured, the last thing you want to worry about is money. Unfortunately, many Colorado families face high medical bills and are aware that emergency services can be more expensive.
If your athlete isn’t exhibiting any signs of acute distress that need emergency care, Dr. Woodson reminds parents that sports medicine primary care doctors offer specialized care without the higher price tag.
“Although cost should not be the motivating factor when deciding injury evaluation and treatment, a visit to the urgent care or emergency department tends to cost more than an office visit at a primary care sports medicine clinic or orthopedic practice,” he said.
The Advantages of Primary Care Sports Medicine
For parents and athletes looking for sports injury treatment beyond the emergency room, the team of primary care sports medicine doctors at CommonSpirit Health offers the best specialized knowledge and treatment plans.
Same-Day Services
Understandably, parents want injured kids to get treatment immediately, and urgent care or the ER might seem like the only way.
Dr. Woodson shared that his office often can see patients for same-day or next-day appointments.
“Patients can usually be seen the same day or next day that I am in the clinic,” Dr. Woodson shared. “Although it can be difficult to ‘squeeze’ in a patient, we understand the importance of early diagnosis and definitive treatment for acute injuries.”
Even specialists often reserve several appointment blocks for acute injuries.
“Often times, our orthopedic surgeons specializing in sports medicine can see simple fractures and other more severe orthopedic injuries the same day they occur,” Dr. Woodson shared.
Specialized Treatment
Many youth sports injuries require treatment that dedicated sports medicine doctors in Colorado can provide without the equipment found in emergency rooms.
“Overuse and overtraining injuries, sprains, strains and concussions can reasonably be treated by primary care sports medicine without the need for emergency department or urgent care evaluation,” said Dr. Woodson.
For concussions, Dr. Woodson shared that parents should know a visit to the sports medicine doctor is essential.
“Concussions are a clinical diagnosis not confirmed with imaging or laboratory work up,” he said. “[Emergency departments] may not always diagnose a patient with a concussion on paper… there should always be a follow-up with a primary care physician or neuropsychologist that specializes in concussions to provide the best treatment protocols and return-to-learn and play process.”
Long-Term Care
One of the most important interventions for treating youth sports injuries is long-term care and management. Whether it’s physical therapy or an appropriate training plan, the CommonSpirit sports medicine team is best positioned to work with families through every stage of treatment.
“The greatest difference we provide as primary care sports medicine providers, is the understanding of the injury after the initial visit,” explained Dr. Woodson. “We take into account the goals of the patient and the desire to return to play both in the near term and long term.”
Sports medicine doctors also provide professional input that parents and athletes can take back to coaches.
“We also try to educate the patient and parents about realistic, reasonable, and evidence-based return to activity,” Dr. Woodson added.
Preparing for a Successful Season
Ultimately, Dr. Woodson would like to see fewer kids in his office due to injuries, even if he does love interacting with the community. Good preparation and training can help minimize this season’s injuries and set your child on a path for healthier living down the road.
His best advice?
“Let kids play lots of sports. Early sport specialization can be detrimental. Multisport athletes tend to have more enjoyment in sports, a better mental well-being, decreased injury frequency, more well-rounded physical development, and longer playing careers.”
And when injuries do happen, getting treatment quickly is the best course of action.
“Injuries are unfortunate, but not unexpected,” Dr. Woodson said. “Early recognition and treatment with physical therapy and relative rest can truly save a season and prevent creating a surgical injury out of a non-surgical injury.”
The entire team at CommonSpirit Health can help ensure your athlete is ready to enjoy this season and many more for years to come.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment with one of our Sports Medicine specialists near you, visit our page.
