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| SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020
Sports
MEDICINE: A medical subspecialty that involves the treatment and prevention of acute and chronic injuries sustained by athletes and other active individuals during sporting events or exercise.
By Cori Urban
SPECIAL TO THE REPUBLICAN
“Most surgeons have a specific protocol, or timeline, they like us to follow when advancing their patients through the rehab process.”
Dr. Zachary L. Schepart participated in multiple sports and had followed numerous collegiate and professional teams since he was a young child. As he entered the field of medicine, the fields of anatomy and physiology — as well as the musculoskeletal exam — piqued his interest. “My favorite aspect of this field is that I have the opportunity to evaluate and treat patients both in the office as well as on the sideline or rink side — while providing medical coverage for a sports team,” he said. He is employed by Trinity Health Of New England Medical Group, part of Trinity Health Of New England, and specializes in sports medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics. Jack Jury, lead physical therapist Sports medicine is a medical subspecialty that involves the treatment at the Rehabilitation Hospital at and prevention of acute and chronic Mercy Medical Center injuries sustained by athletes and other active individuals during sporting events or exercise. He evaluates and treats acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries, such as patellofemoral pain syndrome, rotator cuff tendinitis, subacromial impingement, ankle sprains, acute shoulder or knee injuries and concussions. In addition to evaluations and treatment plans, based on the patient presentation, he provides both bony landmark-guided and ultrasound guided steroids injections. He also makes referrals as appropriate to chiropractors, orthopedic surgeons, physiatrists and physical therapists. Jack Jury, lead physical therapist at the Rehabilitation Hospital at Mercy Medical Center, specializes in the rehabilitation of chronic, traumatic and post-operative foot and ankle injuries as well as injuries to the knee. The majority of patients he treats with sports-related conditions Jack Jury, lead physical therapist at the Rehabilitation Hospital at Mercy Medical Center, trains his patient are high school and college-level Steven Torres, Sr. during a therapy session. (HOANG ‘LEON’ NGUYEN / THE REPUBLICAN) athletes, but he also treats adult
clients injured while participating in recreational sports. Common chronic-type injuries include those involving the patellofemoral joint where the kneecap glides on the end of the thigh bone. He also commonly treats patients with acute, post-operative conditions, such as those who have sustained a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament and had reconstructive surgery. His specialty as it relates to sports medicine and rehabilitation is rehab of chronic, traumatic and post-operative foot and ankle injuries as well as injuries to the knee. “Rehabilitation of a chronic patellofemoral condition starts with a thorough examination and assessment to determine the most likely cause of the patient’s issue,” he explained. “Oftentimes this is a result of imbalances in flexibility, strength and overall lower extremity biomechanics. Our efforts are then focused on restoring dynamic balance to these areas through therapeutic exercise programs involving the knee, hip and core musculature.” The rehab after ACL reconstruction follows a somewhat challenging yet predictable course for most patients over 8-12 weeks, he continued. “Most surgeons have a specific protocol, or timeline, they like us to follow when advancing their patients through the rehab process.” This involves managing pain and swelling initially, while slowly restoring range of motion and strength to the leg. The patient also is instructed in protecting the repair during walking and stairs through brace and crutch use. After about six weeks, there is a gradual advance to more challenging range of motion, strengthening and agility exercises. At this time the patient is usually walking without a brace or crutches. SEE SPORTS, PAGE D2