Dr Howard Marans: Best Orthopedic Doctor For Athletes and Sports Injuries

Maintaining an active lifestyle as a student-athlete, minor league player, professional player, or just training to stay fit is a priority to millions of people. When an injury causes a person to halt the training or participation in the sport, the desire to return becomes a feeling of urgency. Athletic and sports injuries may occur due to a variety of circumstances including the type of training or sport of choice.

Orthopedic Doctor for Athletes

A specialized orthopedic doctor for athletes will work closely with the injured person in an individualized manner to achieve an optimal outcome.

Sports Medicine

Sports medicine works on different levels by helping a person:

·         Achieve peak performance

·         Recover from all types of injuries

·         Prevent future injuries through training and education.

Seeking an orthopedic doctor for athletes is essential. The orthopedic specialist understands a person’s dedication for a chosen sport or fitness activity. With the extra training and credentials, the orthopedic doctor for athletes will design the best treatment program for an injured person to allow for the fastest recovery.

Seeking Out Help

Finding the best orthopedic doctor for athletes and sports injuries will depend on a variety of contributing factors. Start by making a list of the orthopedic specialists within a specific geographic location. Ask friends, coworkers, family members, and others to make a referral. Or, use the Internet to check out online reviews. Find out the orthopedic doctor for athletes area of expertise.

Fractures, severe sprains, and overextension are common injuries for athletes. Other injuries require specialities of orthopedic practice.

·         Shoulder: arthroscopy, rotator cuff, impingement

·         Knee: ACL, MCL, PCL injuries and torn cartilage

·         Hip: cartilage injury, tears, bursitis, tendon tears

·         Elbow: MCL injuries, impingement,

·         Ankle and foot: tendon repairs

Accurate Diagnosis

Treating the various orthopedic problems and injuries for athletes begin with an accurate diagnosis. The best orthopedic doctor for athletes will begin with a complete medical history. Before the initial consultation, a patient may want to write down information to help with the process. The smallest detail of past injuries may help identify an overtraining technique or other source contributing the present problem.

Along with the complete medical history, a physical examination and testing will be done. The testing may be done with x-rays, MRIs, or other imaging techniques. After all the medical information is gathered, the orthopedic specialist will design a treatment program to best fit the athlete’s needs to return to an active lifestyle.

Treatment Approaches

Each athlete will have a different treatment approach due to the individualized nature of the injury. When the injury is less severe, non-invasive methods are implemented.

·         Rest

·         Physical therapy to strengthen muscles and restore function

·         Over the counter, prescription, and injections to help ease the pain and reduce inflammation to promote the healing process.

·         Change in fitness routine to help in the prevention of future issues

·         Bracing, or splints to support the injured area, during the healing process

When the non-invasive methods do not yield the desired results or the injury is too severe, an orthopedic doctor for athletes will recommend Arthoscopic Surgery to repair the damage.

Best Orthopedic Doctor for Sports Injuries

Understanding the unique needs of athletes, Dr. Howard Marans will work with each patient to find the best treatment approach involving the shortest amount of recovery time possible. Please click below to schedule your consultation or call us at 714.979.8981.

Howard Marans MD: Are All Knee Surgeries Covered by Insurance

In some cases, the best way to treat a knee injury is with surgery. Many patients are anxious about surgery, not least because of the potential cost. Fortunately, it is possible to get knee surgeries covered by insurance in most cases, which helps keep patients’ costs down; in addition, getting necessary treatment now can go a long way towards minimizing future medical bills. Below, we will explore some basics about knee surgery in general and knee surgeries covered by insurance in particular.

When Knee Surgery is Necessary

In the majority of knee problems, knee surgery is not necessary. Physical therapy, medication, and other non-invasive methods can often resolve knee injuries without the need for invasive procedures. If non-surgical methods are ineffective or if the damage to the knee is extensive, then surgery may be necessary.

How Knee Surgery Works

Most knee surgeries can now be performed using arthroscopic surgery, a minimally invasive surgery in which only small incisions are made, and cameras are used to view the inside of the joint. Arthroscopic surgery is associated with shorter recovery times, a lower risk of side effects, and lower costs. In some cases, such as knee replacement surgery, it is still necessary to perform traditional open joint surgery.

Knee Surgeries Covered by Insurance

Regardless of the nature of the knee surgery, it should be possible to get knee surgeries covered by insurance. Your doctor will only recommend knee surgery if it is medically necessary, and health insurance covers medically necessary procedures. Thanks to the changes brought by the Affordable Care Act, even knee problems that existed before you were insured should be covered.

This means that the biggest factor that influences how much you pay out of pocket is your insurance policy. If you have a high deductible and copay, you may pay a large portion of the cost of surgery out of pocket, while patients with lower deductibles but higher premiums may pay very little. If you are not sure about how your insurance covers the procedure you need, you should contact your insurance provider for more information.

Financing Options

In cases where the patient’s out of pocket costs are still relatively high after insurance is applied, financing options are available to help spread the cost of treatment over a longer period of time. Your financing options include patient financing companies, health care or traditional credit cards, and loans or lines of credit. Your own preferences and your financial situation will determine which type of financing is right for you.

Dr. Howard Marans would be happy to meet with you about your knee health. To schedule your consultation today, please click below and enter your information or call OC Orthopedic at (714) 979-8981.