Nonsurgical Treatment in Sports Medicine

At Kimball Health Services, various nonsurgical treatments are employed to manage injuries and conditions without the need for surgical interventions. Our nonsurgical treatments aim to reduce pain, promote healing, and restore the function of the affected area due to sports and exercise. 

Our orthopedic experts, Dr. Jeffery MacMillan and Karen Wenner, APRN, DNP, offer specialized consultations, accurate diagnoses, and personalized treatments tailored to your condition. We foster open communication with you to manage your sports injuries effectively.

Nonsurgical treatments under sports medicine focus on diagnosing, treating, and rehabilitating sports injuries. Our nonsurgical approach helps optimize performance and recover from injuries quickly and safely. 

After a thorough evaluation, Dr. MacMillan will recommend a treatment plan based on medical history, the extent of injury, and your tolerance for medical procedures. More than one nonsurgical treatment option may typically be recommended to address sports-related conditions. 

If your condition is not serious, we may suggest RICE treatment at home. RICE stands for rest, ice, compress, and elevate. It can help minimize pain and swelling, speed recovery, and promote the body's natural healing processes.

• Rest - Take adequate rest to prevent further damage and allow your body to heal naturally.
• Ice - Apply ice to the affected area for 15-20 minutes.
• Compress - Wrap the injured area with an elastic bandage or compression wrap.
• Elevate - Raise the injured area above the level of the heart while resting.

Dr. MacMillan may also recommend braces, splints, and orthotic devices to provide support, stability, and protection for injured joints or soft tissues.

At Kimball Health Services, we offer advanced and targeted nonsurgical treatment based on your condition. It can help restore your movement and function in the injured area and provide interventions to hasten recovery.

We offer comprehensive treatment for musculoskeletal injuries, which include injuries to the joint, muscle, tendon, bone, or ligament. 

Nonsurgical treatment may include one or more of the following options.

Anti-inflammatory oral medications are commonly used in sports medicine to manage pain and inflammation. Commonly prescribed medications may include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen
• Corticosteroids such as prednisone, methylprednisolone, and dexamethasone

Anti-inflammatory oral medications can effectively reduce pain, inflammation, swelling, and other symptoms associated with various sports injuries. Although these medications can provide relief, they do not manage the underlying cause of the injury. Therefore, these medications are often used along with other treatments to promote healing and recovery.

Physical therapy (also called rehabilitation or rehab) designs exercise programs and uses modalities such as heat, ice, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation to heal and strengthen injured body parts. 

A comprehensive assessment is taken to evaluate the extent and nature of your injury. This assessment may include a range of motion tests, strength assessments, functional movement analyses, and other specialized tests.

Based on the findings, our team designs a personalized treatment plan, which may include various therapeutic modalities and exercises. Physical therapy aims to reduce pain, restore function, improve strength and flexibility, and prevent further injury.

At Kimball Health Services, our team monitors your progress and adjusts the treatment plan as required. Physical therapy promotes a gradual and safe return to sports activities.

Several types of injections can be used to treat sports injuries, ranging from tennis elbow to torn Achilles tendon.

• Steroid injection: It is often injected into joints and can take five to seven days to provide relief. It helps reduce swelling, pain, and stiffness. 
• Viscosupplementation injection: This involves injecting hyaluronic acid, a natural substance found in joint fluid, into an injured or arthritic joint. It may help reduce pain and swelling in your arthritic joint.

Opting for nonsurgical treatment in sports medicine has several benefits.

• Low risk of complications
• Cost-effective
• Customized approach based on your condition
• Improved functionality in the injured area

At Kimball Health Services, we provide nonsurgical treatments in sports medicine that are effective and efficient in managing your condition. Our team focuses on facilitating a safe and timely return to physical activities.

As one of the top critical access hospitals in the nation, we pride ourselves on delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. 

In case of an emergency, call 911 or walk into our emergency department anytime. For appointments, call us at 308-235-1966 or fill out our online form. We're here for you whenever you need us.