Sports Medicine Doctors: Should You See a Specialist?

Robin West, MD, can still recall one of her first patients. The youth athlete had torn a ligament in his knee. “He and his dad wanted to know how soon he could get back to the football playoffs,” recalled West, an orthopedic surgeon and fellowship-trained sports medicine specialist, and the Chair of Inova Sports Medicine.…

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Concussion Recovery: When Should You See a Doctor?

When should you or your child see a doctor after a concussion? The answer may surprise you. Melissa Womble, PhD, a neuropsychologist and director of the Inova Sports Medicine Concussion Program, helped clear up some concussion confusion. Myth: If you have signs of concussion, you should head straight to the ER. Reality: Not necessarily. If…

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Allergies in Youth Athletics

Danny Nguyen, MD, is a primary care physician board certified in family medicine. He practices at Inova Medical Group’s primary care practice at the Inova HealthPlex in Ashburn, VA. He has special interests in pediatric and adolescent health, athletic injuries, diabetes management, and preventive medicine. With the springtime and outdoor athletic season in full swing, you may be…

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Nationals Team Doctor Robin West, MD, Gears Up for Opening Day

Robin West, MD, is board-certified in orthopaedic surgery and orthopaedic sports medicine. She is Chairman of Inova Sports Medicine, Lead Team Physician for the Washington Nationals. Baseball fans across the country marked opening day (March 29) on their calendars. Behind the scenes, as Lead Team Physician for the Washington Nationals, I have been busy preparing…

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Athletic Trainers: Your Ally in Youth Sports

Sean Burfeind, MS, LAT, ATC, OPA-C, is a residency-trained, board-certified and licensed athletic trainer. He serves as a clinical athletic trainer at Inova Sports Medicine. If you’re a parent to a youth athlete, you’ve probably crossed paths with an athletic trainer. Yet you might still be wondering: What exactly does an athletic trainer do? It’s…

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Mind Games: Concussions, CTE and Sports

Melissa Womble, PhD, is a neuropsychologist with specialized training in concussion management. She is the director of the Inova Sports Medicine Comprehensive Concussion Center.   The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) recently reported on a study that analyzed the brains of deceased former high-school, college and professional football players. In the sample of…

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