Sports medicine is a unique subspecialty of orthopedics focused on supporting patients whose difficulties arise from all levels of athletic activity. The physicians at Hospital for Special Surgery's Women's Sports Medicine Center in New York City take this specialization a step further by focusing specifically on women's treatment.
Women, especially female athletes, are at a higher risk for ACL injury, osteoporosis, arthritis and stress fractures, and the Hospital for Specialty Surgery seems to be the first to open a center dedicated specifically to the female sports medicine patient.
The Women's Sports Medicine Center includes services in orthopedic surgery, sports psychology, exercise consultation, nutrition services and physical therapy, which allows treatment for patients with a diverse range of needs.
"In a women's sports medicine center it's a little bit easier to be comprehensive when treating the female athlete," says Sabrina M. Strickland, MD, a Women's Sports Medicine Center physician whose focus includes ACL reconstruction. All physicians at the Women's Sports Medicine Center are female, which helps some female patients feel more comfortable.
"We have everything on site. I think it's this general atmosphere that makes patients feel more comfortable," says Dr. Strickland. The physicians focus on their patients and make sure to thoroughly answer any questions. "We don't have 100 patients coming through in a day. We like to take more time with each individual patient."
As an example of their individualized treatment, Dr. Strickland says patients with a torn ACL go through an evaluation and are given a specialized at-home program detailing the exercises they should perform. Further evaluations and recommendations are made at the follow-up visits.
The most common reasons for patients to see the physicians at Women's Sports Medical Center are shoulder impingement and patellofemoral syndrome, which occurs from either overuse or under use of the knee joint.
"Most of the patients get better by improving their strength and flexibility," says Dr. Strickland. "Ideally, you treat the patient before they tear their rotator cuff or ACL."
Dr. Strickland targets females at risk, especially younger athletes, and teaches them about methods for preventing common injuries. She emphasizes bone health and ACL injury prevention though healthy eating practices and muscle strengthening exercises.
Learn more about the Hospital for Special Surgery's Women's Sports Medical Center.
Read other coverage on sports medicine centers.
-5 Tips for Building a Successful Sports Medicine Center
-Construction Begins on New Florida Sports Medicine Center
-Minnesota's Twin Cities Orthopedics Opens Edina Building
Women, especially female athletes, are at a higher risk for ACL injury, osteoporosis, arthritis and stress fractures, and the Hospital for Specialty Surgery seems to be the first to open a center dedicated specifically to the female sports medicine patient.
The Women's Sports Medicine Center includes services in orthopedic surgery, sports psychology, exercise consultation, nutrition services and physical therapy, which allows treatment for patients with a diverse range of needs.
"In a women's sports medicine center it's a little bit easier to be comprehensive when treating the female athlete," says Sabrina M. Strickland, MD, a Women's Sports Medicine Center physician whose focus includes ACL reconstruction. All physicians at the Women's Sports Medicine Center are female, which helps some female patients feel more comfortable.
"We have everything on site. I think it's this general atmosphere that makes patients feel more comfortable," says Dr. Strickland. The physicians focus on their patients and make sure to thoroughly answer any questions. "We don't have 100 patients coming through in a day. We like to take more time with each individual patient."
As an example of their individualized treatment, Dr. Strickland says patients with a torn ACL go through an evaluation and are given a specialized at-home program detailing the exercises they should perform. Further evaluations and recommendations are made at the follow-up visits.
The most common reasons for patients to see the physicians at Women's Sports Medical Center are shoulder impingement and patellofemoral syndrome, which occurs from either overuse or under use of the knee joint.
"Most of the patients get better by improving their strength and flexibility," says Dr. Strickland. "Ideally, you treat the patient before they tear their rotator cuff or ACL."
Dr. Strickland targets females at risk, especially younger athletes, and teaches them about methods for preventing common injuries. She emphasizes bone health and ACL injury prevention though healthy eating practices and muscle strengthening exercises.
Learn more about the Hospital for Special Surgery's Women's Sports Medical Center.
Read other coverage on sports medicine centers.
-5 Tips for Building a Successful Sports Medicine Center
-Construction Begins on New Florida Sports Medicine Center
-Minnesota's Twin Cities Orthopedics Opens Edina Building