For many, living well means being athletically active - golf, baseball, soccer, tennis, cycling, skiing, snowboarding, climbing. Although activity keeps us healthy with exercise and alive with enjoyment, any athletic activity is associated with some risk of injury. When injury does occur, the specialized care of a physician trained in sports medicine can help put you on an accelerated road to recovery - getting you back to your game.

Sports medicine focuses on using prompt diagnosis and treatment along with a comprehensive rehabilitation plan to safely return you to your sports activity. A premature return to your sport may re-aggravate the injury, putting you on an even longer recovery program. The goal is to return you as closely and safely as possible to your full functional level before the injury.

• Maintain year round balanced physical conditioning
• Make sure injuries are recognized early and treated promptly
• Participate in a full functional rehabilitation program
• Stay fit while injured

Orthopedics is the area of medicine specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of bone, joint, ligament, tissue and nerve disorders, including those caused by athletic injury. VOA's Sports Medicine Services combines the specialties of orthopedics and sports medicine to provide the comprehensive care needed to successfully diagnose, treat and rehabilitate any sports-related injury. 

If you are suffering from an athletic injury call Valley Orthopedic Associates at 425-656-5060.

Additional Resources:
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons   
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
American College of Sports Medicine