Sports medicine has moved beyond rest and rehabilitation. As players push their physical limitations, sports medicine has developed to provide better injury treatment and preventive techniques. For the most critical of injuries, today the focus is not just on treatment but also on quicker return and complete restoration of players’ abilities.

People engaged in high-impact sports and intense practice are more prone to injuries due to repetitive stress on the same joints. Some of the most common sports injuries include fractures, meniscal tears (a knee injury), rotator cuff tears (a shoulder injury), etc.

We speak with Dr Manit Arora, Consultant Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Surgeon, Fortis Hospital, Mohali, to understand how the field of sports medicine has changed to make the treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation of these and other conditions better.

These are surgical procedures with small incisions instead of the larger cuts in traditional surgery. This technique of operation has been revolutionary in medicine and is particularly favourable for sports injuries like meniscal tears. “If we look at the future of where knee arthroscopy is headed, there is a huge trend and shift now towards meniscus repair. The meniscus is the shock absorber in the knee, and for many years, doctors have been cutting out the meniscus to alleviate pain in patients,” says Dr Arora.

However, the future is one of meniscal preservation, which is of utmost importance to sustain knee function. “Surgeons are now using techniques like all-inside anchors and biological augmentation to repair the meniscus instead of removing it. Also, when it comes to ligaments and ligament injuries, the future will see a trend towards ligament preservation surgery as well,” says Dr Arora.

According to Dr Arora, robotic arm-assisted surgeries allow surgeons a level of accuracy and control that is not possible with the traditional approach, making them best suited for complicated injuries and chronic conditions such as arthritis.”

The reverse shoulder replacement has proven to be a game-changer for those suffering from significant rotator cuff tears. “This treatment enables doctors to regain shoulder function and relieve discomfort. As robotic technology advances, these operations become more accurate, providing better results with fewer complications,” he says.

With most of the joints being impacted in sports, advancements in implants are making the treatment better. Modern implants now provide better movement and precision. “One of the recent developments is the use of balloon spacer devices. This novel approach involves placing a balloon spacer into the shoulder joint to address certain ailments. The procedure is completed in less time and provides a less intrusive alternative with rapid recovery times, offering athletes another treatment option when standard treatments are not viable,” explains Dr Arora.

In the field of sports medicine, prevention is equally as vital as cure, and emerging technology is helping players avoid injuries. According to the expert, wearable sensors and AI-powered analysis can now detect movement patterns that put athletes at risk for injury. Coaches and medical teams can build individualised training programmes by analysing these patterns in order to rectify hazardous motions and decrease injury risks.

“Customised strength and conditioning regimens are another critical component in injury prevention. These programmes focus on strengthening regions that are prone to injury, such as the meniscus and shoulder, to ensure that players can tolerate the demands of their sport without being injured,” Dr Arora says.

The future of sports medicine, thus, is being shaped by the onset of modern innovations in techniques and technologies.

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