By Christopher Trinh, D.O. Sports medicine physician for Baylor Scott & White Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Institute in Midlothian and Waxahachie
Dr. Trinh is a fellowship trained sports medicine physician who provides skilled, non-surgical treatment for musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. He takes care of patients of all ages who have both acute and chronic medical conditions. Acute conditions range from injuries, concussions, and fractures. Chronic conditions range from arthritis to tendinopathies. His goal is to maximize function and minimize disability while focusing on the patient as a whole to prevent injuries, improve performance, and enhance overall health.
Dr. Trinh completed his residency training at the University of Oklahoma while completing a sports medicine track and working with Big 12 athletes, AAA professional baseball, and surrounding local universities and high schools. Dr. Trinh completed his fellowship training at the University of Arkansas where he was a team physician for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Dr. Trinh has experience with athletes in a wide range of sports as well as training room and sideline coverage skills.
During his fellowship training Dr. Trinh completed extensive training in the use of ultrasound. Now, Dr. Trinh’s practice includes the use of diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound. Sports medicine physicians are specially trained to do joint and soft tissue injections to treat conditions such as arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, and/or remove fluid from swollen joints. Ultrasound can also be used to guide injections and other procedures to support safe delivery of the injection, avoid neurovascular structures, and increase effectiveness of medical treatment.
Dr. Trinh is passionate about following up to date evidence-based guidelines. In his fellowship training he was involved in ongoing concussion research and has experience managing concussions and return to play protocols for SEC Division I athletes. Dr. Trinh is a nationally certified ImPACT® concussion consultant and can manage concussions of all ages and activity levels.
What is a Sports medicine physician?
A sports medicine physician is a fellowship trained physician specialist who treats anyone who is physically active or who wants to become active and more mobile. They can help improve performance, improve overall health, and prevent injuries so that patients can maintain physical activity throughout their lives.
Whether it is an acute injury or a chronic overuse injury, the sports medicine physician has the expertise to evaluate the injury and develop a plan of care. The approach is non-surgical with an emphasis on rehabilitation modalities, casting, bracing, or injections as needed. The goal is to return the patient to their previous level of activity or their desired level and to know when surgery is necessary to achieve that goal
Sports medicine physicians work closely with orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and other specialists to provide the timely and appropriate management of your injury. With special knowledge of return to play issues your physician will also know when and how it is safe to return to your sport or activity.
What does a sports medicine physician treat?
Sports medicine physicians see a wide range of orthopedic concerns.
- Acute injuries such as ankle sprains, muscle strains, rotator cuff injuries, and various other knee, hip, and shoulder injuries
- Overuse injuries including stress fractures and tendonitis
- Osteoarthritis
- Exercise prescriptions for patients who want to be more active
- Injury prevention
- Pre-participation physical exams
- Sports concussions
- Return to play decisions for athletes
- Athletes trying to stay healthy and active in their chosen sport
Do sports medicine physicians only see athletes?
No. Sports medicine physicians treat patients of all ages and activity levels. A large portion of patients are active adults and children, “weekend
warriors,” “industrial athletes,” and those who are not physically active but have orthopedic ailments.
Platelet Rich Plasma in sports medicine
Platelet rich plasma injections or PRP is a form of regenerative medicine and one of the newer treatments in orthopedics and sports medicine. Dr. Trinh’s training includes regenerative medicine and ortho-biologics like platelet-rich plasma that heal the body naturally through the body’s own cells and growth factors. Speaking with a sports medicine physician can help you decide if PRP can help with your orthopedic issues.
How sports medicine serves the community and local sports
Sports medicine physicians are ideal physicians for athletes and other physically active individuals. They are an excellent resource for individuals who wish to become active or begin an exercise program. Most sports medicine physicians have experience working as a team physician for local teams, sports clubs, high school teams, and collegiate athletics. Sports medicine physicians can counsel patients on correct body mechanics and other important aspects of injury prevention.
Pre-participation exams are also important for all local athletes to undergo. The goal of these important exams is to optimize your health and readiness for sports. The exams can also detect any needed treatment for preexisting issues or newly discovered musculoskeletal conditions that may interfere with your sport or physical activity.
Dr. Trinh believes strongly that athletes thrive and recover best in a team environment. To foster and encourage this, Dr. Trinh communicates with school athletic trainers, nurses, teachers, and any other individuals who need to be involved with athlete care at the direction of patient families. Dr. Trinh and his orthopedic surgeon colleagues provide medical services and sports coverage to various schools within Ellis County.
Is sports medicine right for me?
Sports medicine physicians can provide valuable medical care to a wide range of patients. Whether you have an acute injury, chronic injury, are navigating best treatment options for an injury, or simply want to prevent injuries, sports medicine physicians can help. Anyone who is physically active and who wants to safely maintain that active lifestyle should look into having a sports medicine physician as part of their medical care team.
Physician is an employee of HealthTexas Provider Network, a member of Baylor Scott & White Health.
