If you or your child is injured while exercising, participating in a sport, or doing any type of physical activity, you may be advised to see a sports medicine healthcare provider for treatment.
Our Sports Medicine program treats sports-specific injuries related to runners (track, cross country, long distance running), and overhead athletes (volleyball, baseball, softball, swimming). Additionally, we can treat individuals initiating an exercise program and can provide sports nutrition counseling as well.
Reasons to see a sports medicine specialist:
You or your child may see a sports medicine healthcare provider for an injury such as:
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- Sprains
- Strains (ligament and tendon injuries)
- Fractures
- Knee and shoulder injury
- Tendonitis
- Exercise-induced asthma
- Heat illness
- Concussion
- Eating disorder
- Cartilage injury
- Osteoarthritis, not interested in surgery
- Joint pain (single joint, or diffuse)
- Back pain (cervical thoracic lumbar)
- Growth plate injuries
About Sports Medicine Specialists
Our physicians have expertise evaluating and treating musculoskeletal injuries using a wide variety of rehabilitative and surgical techniques. As a part of the WVU Medicine family, our sports medicine providers have access to specialists from multiple disciplines, including orthopedics and the WVU Medicine Spine Center. WVU Medicine Sports Medicine providers care for athletes of all sports and all ages—from weekend warriors to competitive high-school and college athletes.
Sports medicine is not a medical specialty in itself. Most sports medicine healthcare providers are certified in internal medicine, emergency medicine, family medicine, or another specialty. They then get additional training. Others specialize in treating injuries in children and teens, whose growing bodies can be quite different from those of adults. They are generally board-certified in pediatrics or family medicine with additional training in sports medicine.
Other experts who are not medical doctors may work with a sports medicine specialist to provide care including:
- Physical therapists. They help people rehabilitate and recover from injuries.
- Certified athletic trainers. These trainers provide rehab exercise routines to help patients regain strength. They also develop conditioning programs to prevent future injury.
- Nutritionists. They may help with needed weight loss or weight gain. They can provide dietary advice to help people improve their physical functioning.
Supporting Our Community
Did you know that Camden Clark is proud to be on the field alongside some of our local athletic teams? We have Certified Athletic Trainers at Parkersburg High School, Parkersburg South High School and Williamstown High School. We’re also supporting all Wood County middle schools on the sidelines as well.
WVU Medicine Orthopaedics
1600 Murdoch Avenue
Parkersburg, WV 26101