Sports Medicine for Everyday Athletes

From BestHealth, September 2006

Like many young boys, 11-year-old Michael and 9-year-old David Silvia love sports. In fact, they loved their newest sport, snowboarding, so much, that when they both injured their arms during falls, they didn’t tell their parents they were in pain until the end of the day.

After a trip to the emergency room, the boys were referred to Daryl Rosenbaum, M.D., a sports medicine specialist at Wake Forest Baptist. X-rays didn’t reveal fractures, but because they were still in pain, Rosenbaum recommended casts.

“Some types of fractures do not show up on an X-ray,” said Rosenbaum.

When the casts came off in a week or two, more X-rays showed Michael to be fracture-free, but one of David’s wrists, as Rosenbaum predicted, had a small fracture.

The injuries didn’t sideline the boys for long, but because they are so active, Rosenbaum advised them on ways to prevent future injuries. He recommended wearing wrist guards for snowboarding and helmets for other sports.

“I’m glad he covered all the bases. We were impressed with his professionalism, and the way he related to the boys,” said their father, Joe Silvia.

Rosenbaum, a family physician, is part of a team of sports medicine specialists at Wake Forest Baptist who treat athletes of all ages and abilities, including players at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem State University and the Winston-Salem Warthogs.

“Sports medicine experts are experienced at getting people back to their activities as soon as possible,” said orthopaedic surgeon David F. Martin, M.D. “The same expertise that helps professionals can help active people of all abilities.”

In addition to Rosenbaum and Martin, other sports medicine specialists are family medicine practitioners Michael Coates, M.D., and Heath Thornton, M.D., orthopaedic surgeons Cristin Ferguson, M.D., Gary Poehling, M.D., and Ethan Wiesler, M.D., and pediatric orthopaedic surgeon John Frino, M.D.

A Team Approach

• Many athletic injuries do not require surgery and can be resolved with physical therapy. At Wake Forest Baptist, physicians and therapists work as a team, using the latest equipment and technology.

• The Medical Center is one of a few centers in the state to offer motion monitor technology, a sophisticated system to measure human motion. It evaluates how specific parts of the body are affected by injury, allowing therapists to develop comprehensive treatment.

• Athletes are not immune to other common medical problems and the group’s broad background allows them to help athletes with concussions, diabetes or asthma resume activity safely.