Playing games is good for you. So are exercises. But, sometimes, it is easy to get carried away. When that happens, there is an increased possibility of injuries. Sports injuries can occur due to strain, accidents, poor training or improper gear. Sometimes, people get hurt because they stretch themselves too much. Injuries may result even from oversight or carelessness like not stretching or warming up before strenuous exercise.

Sports medicine has derived a lot of importance because of this. Sports medicine takes care of:
1.Sprains
2.Strain
3.Knee and joint problems
4.Muscle tears
5.Pain in the bone (ankle and foot)
6.Injuries in the tendon
7.Fracture
8.Dislocation

There are two kinds of sports injuries: acute and chronic. Acute injuries occur suddenly and are an immediate result of play or exercise. These injuries are accompanied by severe pain, sudden swelling, extreme weakness and immobility. Sometimes, disfigurement may also take place and this might be quite obvious.

Chronic injuries generally surface after a while. The symptoms are more insidious and may appear intermittently. Sometimes, there is pain only while playing or a dull persistent ache followed by swelling or tenderness.

In case of an injury, it is better to go to a doctor who specializes in sports medicine. Even seemingly small problems may need medical attention as only a doctor can determine whether a problem is serious or not. It is necessary to call a doctor in case of swelling, bleeding, pain or a feeling of instability.

Sports medicine leans on the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) to help reduce pain and swelling. After this, a doctor will conduct an examination to decide the best way to treat the condition. Often immobilization is a must. Casts, slings and splints help to immobilize the area. At this stage, doctors of sports medicine will decide if a surgery is called for. Torn ligaments, muscles, worn out cartilage and tendons may require surgery. However, a good number of sports injuries may not require surgery in case immediate care and attention is provided to patients.

In case of surgery, practiced doctors who are specialists in knee and joint problems will be called in. Often, surgery may also be followed by physical therapy and exercise. This will ensure a return to normalcy.

To get the best treatment and to identify the best doctor in sports medicine in the Seattle region, it is necessary to do some research. You can find the practitioners of sports medicine through word of mouth, yellow pages and the local health magazines in Seattle. Many online search engines are also a good resource. These allow you to search by region, thus making it easy to identify the right doctor.