Medical Technology Transforming Sports Medicine

The advancement in technology plays a significant role in modern sports medicine. The benefits of advanced technologies allow the healthcare industry to become better, more agile, efficient, and more effective at diagnosing and treating health ailments. Throughout history, the healthcare sector has been fraught with multiple complexities and complications due to lagging medical technologies. With the skyrocketing trends in computing systems and the ability of immediately shared information, advances in Sports Medicine is at a phenomenal rate. 

Advanced medical technologies likely to bring real positive changes to the sports medicine sector in 2017 include;

1.     Injury Prevention Technology

Sports injuries are an Athlete’s worst enemy. Sports medicine companies like CoachMePlus, Kitman Labs, and Kinduct Technologies among others use advanced injury prevention technologies to ensure that those in professional sports continue to earn their incredible salaries without sustaining career-threatening injuries. This advanced sports medical innovation focuses on optimizing exercise/practice/workout plans, monitoring athletes’ heart rates, muscle fibers, blood flow or movements and collecting essential data on how they perform before delivering suitable injury prevention measures.

2.     3D printing

This is one of the medical technologies expected to make real, positive impacts on the healthcare industry in 2017. 3D printing is constantly improving the surgical processes drastically. This medical technology is all about advanced and sophisticated surgery instruments or implant devices. In coming years, 3D printing will be a vital tool in influencing the success of numerous orthopedic, implant or prosthetic surgeries globally. This technology will most likely make cancer detection, bones/cartilage replacement, heart-related ailments and sports injuries diagnosis much easier, cost-effective and more efficient.

3.     Remote Patient Monitoring

Remote patient monitoring programs are taking the healthcare sector by storm. This medical technology is not only incredible and amazing but very effective. It is now possible for healthcare practitioners to monitor their patients’ blood sugar, weight, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, electrocardiograms and blood pressure remotely. Consequently; they can give their recommendations based on the information they receive through remote patient monitoring technology. This medical technology is aimed at improving the healthcare industry significantly through a direct link to patients' monitored health.

4.     Wearable Technology

Modern athletes are embracing advanced medical technologies to improve their careers. The wearable technology involves the use of advanced fitness trackers, smartwatches, heart rate monitoring devices, and GPS watches among many others. The advantage of this sports medicine innovation is that it makes life much easier for professional athletes looking to prevent sports injuries, and enhance their performances through workouts or exercises for better results. Wearable technology devices have become every modern athlete’s best friends. 

5.     Smart Phone Apps

Smartphone apps have become very popular with sports enthusiasts. Sportsmen/women are downloading fitness/workout demonstration videos for reference during practices in order to enhance their fitness levels. Athletes have also developed a tendency of using GPS location services on their smartphones to track their agility, motion sensing, time and performances particularly when cycling, running or working out in the gym. Smartphone apps can help any ambitious athlete to improve their performances through such tracked workouts.

6.     3D visualization and augmented technology

This is one of the greatest medical technologies in the world. Orthopedic surgeons among other healthcare practitioners are nowadays using 3D visualization technology to simplify their orthopedic, neurological or ophthalmology surgical practices. This advanced medical innovation is expected to keep improving the healthcare sector by making it more cost-effective, accessible, efficient and convenient for both doctors and patients, while allowing for non-invasive surgical techniques. 

Although the future may be unpredictable, the above medical technology innovations will continue to improve the healthcare and sports medicine sectors drastically.

Remember to live life to its Fullest

Dr. Kevin Crawford

4110 22nd Place Lubbock, TX 79410

(806) 792-4329

Disclaimer:  This information is provided as an educational service only, and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.  Anyone seeking specific medical advice or assistance should consult his or her doctor or orthopedic surgeon.

Health and Nutrition after Orthopedic Surgery

Patients have gone through orthopedic surgery for a myriad of reasons or injuries to their bodies. Such damages are generally for fractured bones, torn ligaments and tendon repairs. Even with non-invasive techniques, Orthopedic surgery can put stresses on the body. During post-op and the repair period, ensuring that you eat the right food after surgery is vital, which can greatly assist in speeding up the recovery process. Follow your doctor's suggestions and rehab closely. Recovering does not only mean that you get enough rest or take it easy with your injured area. You need to adapt a well-balanced diet filled with nutrients which are good in boosting the immune system and speed the recover time. Orthopedic surgeons often recommend some dietary elements which may be included in their suggested post-surgery regimen:

Low residue diet

After you have undergone surgery, it may be recommended to follow a low residue diet, which consists of food with low fiber like vegetables, fruit, eggs, and tender meat. This diet can assist in easy digestion which will aid and slow down bowel movements.

Protein rich diet

A protein rich diet can help assist the body repair and build organs and muscles. If you have a deficiency in proteins, you might suffer from fatigue. Proteins act as fuel for the body repair and it may be advisable that you consume at least three servings of pork, fish, beef, chicken, milk or cheese during the first stages of your healing.

Iron

Iron is recommended as it helps prevent a patient from suffering from anemia. Our bodies need a regular supply of iron so as to help in the creation of hemoglobin, which allow the red blood cells to transport oxygen all over the body. Constant and unobstructed flow of oxygen helps in promoting the healing process. Food high in iron include liver, sesame seeds, and dried apricots.

Vitamin A

This special vitamin assists in repairing the tissues, as well as aiding in the over healing process after surgery. In addition, it encourages new tissue generation and new skin growth. Foods which are rich in vitamin A include, fish oil, liver and cheese. Vitamin A is also important as it raises the body's resistance to infections.

Vitamin C

This vitamin assists in stimulating the manufacture of collagen, and also assists in healing wounds. It promotes the production of elastin, which is substantial in allowing the wound to stretch without causing any further damage. High levels of vitamin C can be found in fruits like oranges and lemons.

These post-surgery foods can be crucial in the healing process. If you have a diet that is rich in nutrients, you will recover faster and your immune system will remain strong even after going through orthopedic surgery. Having a good health and nutrition after surgery is a vital component to a quicker recovery.

Remember to live life to its Fullest

Dr. Kevin Crawford

4110 22nd Place Lubbock, TX 79410

(806) 792-4329

Disclaimer:  This information is provided as an educational service only, and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.  Anyone seeking specific medical advice or assistance should consult his or her doctor or orthopedic surgeon.