Utah Valley Orthopedics & Sports Medicine – North Valley American Fork
3. “I have a joint problem, so I need to see an orthopedic surgeon.” It is typical for people with muscle, bone or joint issues to feel like they should go see an orthopedic surgeon. But Dr. Evans says that 75 percent of injuries that lead people to see an orthopedic surgeon don’t actually need surgery. While orthopedic surgeons can still treat these conditions in most cases, a nonsurgical sports medicine professional like Dr. Evans may be the better option.
Matthew Evans, MD Common Misconceptions With Common Spor ts Injuries A broken finger or a knock on the head can leave us wondering what we’re supposed to do to heal properly. Dr. Matthew Evans, a non-surgical sports medicine specialist in American Fork who knows a thing or two about athletic injuries, has some helpful insight. A former college football player, Dr. Evans relates to the concerns of active people of every variety. He focuses helping people find the quickest ways to healthy and full recovery, so they can get back to doing what they love. There are a few misconceptions about common injuries, such as broken fingers and concussions, which Dr. Evans encounters frequently.
1. “I broke my finger, but I’m not going to a doctor because there isn’t much he/she can do to help.” Dr. Evans explains that this mentality about broken fingers and toes is wrong, and potentially harmful. Every broken bone should be evaluated and immobilized. “Some people just want to walk around and take some ibuprofen,” Dr. Evans says. “In many cases, the bone needs some guidance to heal properly.” If the broken finger or toe isn’t given the proper care, the consequences can be serious and long-lasting.
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“There can be problems down the road as far as range of motion,” Dr. Evans says. “Some people will lose the ability to fully extend or bend their finger. Some people say ‘while I have nine others,’ but we use our hands for everything.” If a broken toe doesn’t heal correctly, it can jut out the wrong way, pointing to the outside, which puts the person at risk for future toe breaks and stubbed toes. Furthermore, the individual’s shoes may no longer fit right.
2. “He didn’t pass out, so it’s not a concussion.” Concussions are a hot topic in recent years, especially for youth, but there are still some serious misunderstandings, explains Dr. Evans. Not being knocked out after a blow to the head does not mean the person doesn’t have a concussion. In fact, Dr. Evans says, most of the time loss of consciousness doesn’t happen with a concussion. Another common error parents can make is to assume that their child doesn’t have a concussion because the coach looked in the player’s eyes with a light, and didn’t see any issues. Looking at a person’s pupils with a light is actually done to determine if there is problem with pupil constriction, which can be a sign of a concussion. It is just part of the diagnostic process, and is not sufficient for a definite concussion diagnosis.
“That is why our field of nonsurgical sports medicine was developed, to have people that can more effectively treat these nonsurgical injuries,” Dr. Evans says. Nonsurgical approaches to joint issues can mean less pain, less healing time, and less time away from the activities people want to do, compared to surgical approaches. For example, if there are calcium deposits in the rotator cuff causing mobility issues, it can often be treated effectively with an ultrasound-guided injection, or with manipulation of the tendon with a needle. Dr. Evans is also trained in manual manipulation of the spine and pelvis, which is a nonsurgical approach to treating spinal injury. This technique, which has been used for more than 100 years, can be used to increase mobility and decrease pain. Dr. Evans’ makes sure to spend plenty of time with each patient, and has close oversight over each patient’s progression. For example, if a patient needs physical therapy, Dr. Evans will outline for the therapy team what the patient should and should not do. The Utah Valley Orthopedics and Sports Medicine team in American Fork consists of physicians with a broad range of training, so that each patient receives coordinated, comprehensive care all in one office.
North Valley 98 N 1100 E Ste. 103 American Fork, UT 84003 Phone: 801-492-2330
September/October 2016
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