Sports Medicine

Sports Medicine right here in Lancaster, CA

Family First Family Medical Practice has a focus on evaluating and treating sports-related injuries and conditions. Sports medicine doctors are medical professionals who have obtained additional specialized training and knowledge. Individuals in the Antelope Valley can experience a sports-related injury, whether an elite athlete, a weekend warrior, or an individual who simply enjoys the occasional recreational activity. Sports injuries can affect all areas of the body ranging from an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear in the knee to an ankle sprain. Family First is dedicated to helping patients of all skill levels reach optimal performance not only in their sport but also in their everyday life.

Learn more about the full range of Sports Medicine services we provide below.

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Move Better, Feel Better, Be Better

A sports medicine physician can help you get back on track, whether you’re a beginner or an elite athlete. They help individuals of every age recover from day-to-day injuries and sports injuries alike. As specialists, they diagnose and treat joint, muscle, tendon, and bone pain. They also help patients increase flexibility and mobility in different parts of the body. Whether you want to tend to a pulled muscle, recover from an accident, relieve pain, or start a new exercise program, they’re here to help you meet your goals.

Below are typical conditions that require sports medicine expertise:

Muscle or tendon injuries
Knee injuries/pain
Shoulder injuries/pain
Diagnostic ultrasounds
Arthritis pain
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Concussions
Hip pain
Non-surgical fracture management
Tennis or golfers elbow
Trigger finger
Tendinitis
Scoliosis
Foot and ankle injuries

We offer advanced ultrasound-guided injection options for certain conditions as well.

Any individual, age 1 to 99, can benefit from the comprehensive care sports medicine doctors provide. They are ideally suited for returning individuals to full function as quickly as possible after injury. In addition to supporting injury recovery, they treat chronic joint, muscle, tendon, and bone pain. They are also great resources for those who pursue exercise for health and recreation.

How does someone become a sports medicine doctor?

Generally speaking, there are two types of sports medicine doctors: primary care sports medicine doctors and orthopedic surgeons. Our primary care sports medicine doctors are fellowship trained in sports medicine with baseline training in primary care or emergency medicine.

How can I prevent injuries?

Athletes can prevent injuries by developing good warm-up habits, training properly, and taking good care of their bodies and equipment.

Specifically, athletes can: perform various warm ups and seek medical advice on ways to improve performance.

Take time to stretch: A warm-up that includes dynamic stretches—a cross between an exercise and a stretch—helps move and lengthen your muscles, preventing injuries and improving performance. Plan to warm up before both training and events.

Develop a training plan: It’s best to increase activity gradually, avoiding big jumps in intensity or duration. Incorporating rest days allows the body to heal, while diversifying your exercise routine helps avoid overuse injuries.

Listen to your body: Learn your limits and avoid overtraining. Frequent use of oral medications to cover up pain can slow healing. Use ibuprofen—or “vitamin I”—and other anti-inflammatories sparingly.

Replace old equipment: Soccer players and runners often suffer from shin splints, a painful condition caused by excessive training or running in worn-out shoes. To prevent this injury, shoes should be replaced after 300 to 500 miles of use. Also, be sure to replace any piece of equipment that no longer fits securely.

Eat a balanced diet and hydrate: What you eat and drink is just as important as your workout. Proper nutrition helps you fuel your athletic performance and recover from training. Plan and prepare healthy portable snacks or meals.

What is Sports Medicine?

Sports medicine is a special medical field with specific training to not only restore function to injured patients but do so in a way so they can get moving again as soon as possible. It's a branch of medicine that helps athletes, weekend warriors and active people improve athletic performance, recover from injury, prevent future injuries and more.

Family First Family Medical Practice partners with AVORS Medical Group to combine a robust program integreation with Orthopedics, Trauma Specialists, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and many more specialists.

We provide working professionals, professional athletes and amateur players a full spectrum of treatments ranging from advanced surgical and nonsurgical options to the most proven and innovative rehabilitation techniques.

Our goal is to get you back to being a better you.
When is it time to consult a Sports Medicine Physician?
Family First Sports Medicine Physicians treat a wide range of conditions and problems, including acute injuries such as the dislocation of a joint, ligament tears and joint sprains. They also care for patients who have overuse injuries such as carpal tunnel, stress fractures, muscle strains and tendonitis.

Being able to communicate any of the symptoms you are experiencing will allow you to provide helpful information to your sports medicine doctor. It can reveal to your doctor how severe your sports injury is or what condition you may have. It is important to schedule an appointment with a sports medicine doctor near you if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Clicking or grinding sensations when moving the affected joint
- Disoriented and dizzy
- Inability to bear weight on the affected area
- Joint stiffness
- Limited range of motion in the affected joint
- Limping due to severe pain
- Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
- Pain in the groin area
- Swelling around the affected area
- Unable to move or bend the affected body part.
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, it could mean that you have one of the following injuries or conditions, which can be treated by our sports medicine specialists:
- Cartilage or tendon damage
- Concussion
- Dislocations
- Golfer's elbow
- Ligament injuries (ACL, MCL, and PCL)
- Hamstring injuries
- Meniscus tears
- Patellar (knee) tendonitis
- Sprains or strains
- Swimmer’s shoulder
- Tennis elbow
What are common injuries seen by Sports Medicine Physicians?

Common injuries treated in sports medicine
Being active and playing sports are so good for you, both physically and mentally. But there is an inherent risk of injury. Below are some of the common injuries we see in sports medicine:

Ankle sprains
Fractures
Knee and shoulder injuries
Tendonitis
Exercise-induced asthma
Heat illness
Concussions
Eating disorders
Cartilage injuries
After we treat your injury, we will help you prevent future problems as well. We can also help you maximize your performance with the right nutrition and exercises.
How to schedule an appointment?

Dr. Peter Zhang, Board Certified Family Physican and Fellowship Trained Sports Medicine is open to new patients.

You can schedule an appointment by calling Family First at 661-341-3800.
Do you treat children?

Family First Sports Medicine providers do treat children. If your child or teen has an injury or illness that affects sports performance, exercise, or activity, a pediatric sports medicine physician has the expertise, experience, and qualifications to treat his or her youth specific problems.

In growing children, injuries and medical problems in the bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints (ie, musculoskeletal conditions) often are quite different from conditions more commonly seen in older patients.