*Sponsored content by Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center.
By Judi McGuire
For The Tribube
Have you or someone you know experienced bone, muscle or joint pain? If you answered, “yes,” then you are already aware that musculoskeletal conditions and pain can affect people of all ages and can potentially keep you from enjoying life. The good news is that Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center, with five locations: Birmingham, Gardendale, Hoover, Pelham, and Trussville, is dedicated to helping patients return to an active, pain-free lifestyle as safely and quickly as possible.
Dr. James R. Andrews co-founded the practice. He began his orthopaedic sports medicine career in 1973 in Columbus, Georgia, when the field of sports medicine was limited in scope. Dr. Andrews relocated his practice to Birmingham in 1986. He was at the forefront of newly emerging ideas and discoveries in the field of orthopaedics. Within the course of thirty years, Dr. Andrews became known as the patriarch of modern sports medicine.
In 1986, Dr. Andrews also co-founded the American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) with the mission of improving the understanding, prevention, and treatment of sports-related injuries. ASMI continues to be the company’s primary research and education partner. The same year ASMI was founded, a sports medicine fellowship program was established. The program has become one of the country’s largest and most respected of its kind. The goal is to provide training, mentorship and research experience to nine of the nation’s most excellent and brightest young doctors. An impressive 419 sports medicine and orthopaedic surgeon recipients have been trained in Birmingham through this fellowship program – more than any other accredited, sports medicine fellowship program in the United States.
The Mission Statement for Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center is impressive, “To provide the best orthopaedic care possible using the latest clinical and surgical technologies. And we’re determined to keep improving patient care through new orthopaedic research and education.” Also, they emphasize prevention, “working with patients as well as national, regional and state sports governing bodies to influence athletic regulations to reduce musculoskeletal injuries positively.”
Because of their joint research partnership with the American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI), virtually all their orthopaedic treatments and procedures are at the forefront of the latest state-of-the-art medicine. Their dedication to a specific healthcare need is reflected in the detail given to evaluate a condition and ensure the patient thoroughly understands the diagnosis, and specific course of treatment.
Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center is committed to offering patients the latest and best treatment options to help them lead contented more positive and productive lives. The practice provides wide-range sports medicine and orthopaedic treatments for sports and non-sports related acute injuries and chronic conditions. While believing in aggressive treatment, the patient’s participation in the treatment plan is vital.
The Trussville clinic, which opened in January 2018 is staffed by two passionate physicians: Dr. Chris Carter and Dr. Cherie Miner. Both physicians are non-surgical orthopaedic and sports medicine physicians who work closely with a variety of healthcare professionals including athletic trainers, physical therapists, ad orthopaedic surgeons. The physician’s extensive education and training enables them to treat everything: sprains, strains, overuse injuries, tendinitis, bursitis, and arthritis. Also, the physicians treat acute injuries, from a tear or a fracture to concussion management. During a patient’s initial office visit, which includes an x-ray, Drs. Carter and Miner diagnose the injury or chronic condition and recommend a treatment plan. Since many injuries do not require surgery, their goal is to treat injuries and chronic and conditions with a conservative treatment plan, order appropriate testing and refer patients to an orthopedic surgeon when indicated. The most common conservative treatment options include bracing, injections, physical therapy and/or rest. When conservative treatment options don’t deliver desired results, the doctors internally refer the patient to the appropriate Andrews Sports Medicine surgeon for a surgical consult.
Dr. Carter is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. He completed a fellowship at the American Sports Medicine Institute and Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center. Shortly after that, he earned his Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine. Dr. Carter is experienced in the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound and can perform various injections, including visco-supplementation and platelet-rich plasma, as well as steroid injections. His skills allow him to provide care to an athlete of all levels as well as to non-athlete patients.
Does your child play sports? You are not alone many adolescents participate in various sports. It is no surprise that children and adolescents are at risk for injuries because most sports are not adapted to the motor skills of their specific age group. Sports injuries in children can affect both growing bone and soft tissues and can result in growth damage, with subsequent lifelong consequences. Yes, we want our children to be safe while participating in their favorite sport, but unfortunately, accidents do occur. At Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center, Dr. Miner has a special interest and expertise in evaluating pediatric and adolescent injuries.
Dr. Miner has specialized training and more than ten years of experience in the non-surgical treatment of all orthopedic injuries. She chose this specialty because she enjoys educating young athletes on injury prevention. Dr. Miner specializes in fractures, dislocations, muscle, tendon and ligament injuries, as well as pain related to arthritis. Dr. Miner has published articles in journals, as well as published multiple chapters in academic medical textbooks.
A non-surgical orthopaedic & sports medicine physician takes care of medical and orthopedic problems in athletic individuals of all ages.
Dr. Miner said, “I think having training in pediatrics helps me be able to work with these kids and help them feel confident that they’re going to get better, then help them be confident when they get back on the field. I’m doing more than just fixing their broken arm or their torn ACL, because kids will be apprehensive when they first try to start back to activity after an injury.”
Dr. Miner is the team physician for several local high schools: Hewitt-Trussville, Mortimer Jordan, Oneonta, Springville, Pinson Valley, and St. Clair. Dr. Carter is the team physician for Clay-Chalkville High School’s athletics program. Both highly skilled physicians enjoy spending time on the sidelines keeping our student-athletes safe and healthy.
Dr. Andrews has been an advocate for children’s health and safety for many years. He developed the STOP (Sports Trauma and Overuse Prevention) Sports Injuries Program while serving as Chairman of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) in early 2007. Members of the Society’s Board of Directors, including Dr. Andrews, decided that the issue of overuse injuries in young athletes was becoming a critical issue for its members to address. The comprehensive public outreach program focuses on the importance of sports safety-specifically relating to overuse and trauma injuries. The initiative not only raises awareness and provides education on injury reduction but also highlights how playing safe and smart can enhance and extend a child’s athletic career, improve teamwork, reduce obesity rates and create a lifelong love of exercise and healthy activity.
In summary, in the Birmingham area, thousands of people injure themselves every year. These injuries can range from minor to life-threatening. Every day, countless athletes, weekend-warriors, and active people sprain or strain an ankle, break a bone, or hurt a shoulder. Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center understands how to deliver quick, quality and cost-effective care. Also, they provide this high-quality care from experts who are board certified or fellowship-trained in orthopaedic medicine, who understand orthopedic injuries, and most importantly, know how to care for and treat those injuries. They specialize in diagnosing and treating injuries and conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system (bone, joint, ligament, tendon, tissue, and cartilage). Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center share compassion with their patients to do everything possible with excellence and care to achieve their goals and maintain a healthy lifestyle.