If you play sports regularly, chances are you’ve suffered an injury or two from it, and there might be more in your future. But when sports injuries occur, who should you go see?
In general, it’s a matter of a podiatrist vs. an orthopedist. And which is the correct choice depends on what injury you’ve sustained.
What Orthopedists Do
Sports injuries often need immediate treatment. However, it can be a struggle to know who to turn to.
Orthopedists are specialists who diagnose, treat and prevent conditions that impact the musculoskeletal system as a whole. This means they can help with injuries to the muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons and other connective tissues throughout the body.
An orthopedist can choose to practice orthopedic medicine in general or complete more studies and specialize in a specific area of orthopedics. However, most are generalists within their field.
What Podiatrists Do
A podiatrist is a specialist who treats orthopedic conditions that specifically impact the foot and ankle. This means that they have intensely studied all the elements of the foot and ankle and are experts at diagnosing and treating conditions related to these parts of the body.
Who Is the Right Doctor for Foot Pain?
Pain in the foot or ankle should be addressed by a podiatrist. However, if your sports injury impacts other parts of the body as well, you will need to work with an orthopedist. In some cases, you might need to see both types of doctors for the best results.
If you are experiencing foot or ankle pain after a sports injury, the Shady Grove Podiatry team is here to help. Call us at 301-948-2995 or get in touch using the contact form.
