Sports Medicine Podiatrist in Chicago, IL
Being a Certified Athletic Trainer and Podiatrist has allowed Dr. Schoene to work with many sports medicine patients for over 30 yrs
Dr. Lisa M. Schoene is a certified athletic trainer and a Sports Medicine Podiatrist in the Chicago and northern IL suburban area. has worked with all types of athletes since 1991, so she takes a special interest in sports medicine and rehabilitation.
Dr. Schoene has been involved in many sporting events in Chicago and the suburbs as well as nationally over the past 25 + years, covering events like the World Cup Games in Chicago. She was one of the distinguished Podiatrists to work at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, and she had treated many Olympic hopefuls at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado.
She is currently and has been the Podiatric Consultant to the DePaul Blue Demons Athletic Department for over 25 years. She has relationships with many Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists at many facilities and High Schools and Colleges in the Chicago area, to complete a well rounded team approach for evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of all athletes.
"My first visit was a very positive experience. I did not have to wait long, was well attended to, & questions answered as I mentioned my concerns. I appreciate the excellent expertise & friendly manner of Dr.Schoene. Very helpful visit!"
- K.C.
Dr. Schoene has treated many football and Lacrosse players over the years, as she was the Podiatric Consultant for the semi-pro team the Chicago Panthers, and the yearly Chicago Lacrosse Shoot-out national tournament.
She has additionally treated players and staff of the Chicago Bears organization. Because she has covered many marathons, triathlons, and other races, in addition to these other sports, she truly has extensive experience to treat all types of athletes who have acute or chronic injuries of the lower extremity.
She will conservatively evaluate and treat other lower extremity conditions at the knee, hip, and lower back.
As a Certified Athletic Trainer, she can thoroughly evaluate all athletes from head to toe, and combined with her Podiatric expertise, she understands how important the lower extremity and the foot become in diagnosing and predisposing athletes to many injuries up the chain.
She will complete a full thorough sport specific athletic screen, and the treatments and rehabilitation will be geared towards that specific sport.
She treats all types of athletes; runners, triathletes, skiers, skaters, soccer players, dancers, gymnasts, football and lacrosse players to name a few.
She always keeps in mind the movements of each sport and incorporates that into the treatment plan.
What is Sports Medicine?
Sports medicine focuses on treating patients who are injured as a result of physical activity. In many cases, the patients of a sports medicine doctor are serious or even professional athletes. However, sports medicine can benefit different types of patients as well.
A sports medicine doctor may work with individuals who have physically demanding jobs such as construction, landscaping, mining, or firefighting. Though some may debate whether dance is technically a sport, it's undoubtedly as physical as any organized sport and often requires treatment from a sports medicine specialist with experience in dance medicine. Personal trainers and fitness instructors often need help from a sports medicine doctor as well. Some doctors in this area specialize in treating children who may sustain injuries from actual sports and other types of highly physical play.
Sports medicine doctors may also advise you on proper nutrition, supplements, stretching, and exercise. In addition, they will work with you to restore full strength and functionality to the injured area to help you return to highly physical activities. Injury prevention is a significant part of sports medicine. These healthcare professionals work closely with active individuals to help them avoid injuries as much as possible.
"Image" by Meghan Holmes is licensed with The Unsplash License
What Schooling is Required for Sports Medicine?
Sports medicine isn't recognized as a specialty of its own, so sports medicine doctors must have a different type of medical degree. As a result, sports medicine doctors typically obtain either a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.).
A primary care sports medicine doctor will typically complete one to two years of fellowship training in sports medicine and pursue a Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in this area. An orthopedic sports medicine doctor completes a five-year orthopedic residency and one year of additional study in sports medicine. Orthopedic doctors can then get a CAQ from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery with Sports Medicine Subspecialty Board Certification.
Sports medicine podiatrists follow a different educational path. First, they pursue a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, and after completing podiatry college, these doctors can pursue a residency and fellowship program in sports medicine. In addition, the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine offers a sports medicine fellow designation.
What Are Some Examples of Sports Medicine?
Sports medicine treats injuries that involve the bones, muscles, and joints. A primary care sports medicine doctor might help with conditions such as:
- Dislocations.
- Fractures.
- Tendinitis.
- Sprains and strains.
- Ligament injuries.
- Cartilage injuries.
- Concussions.
- Exercise-induced asthma.
- Stress fractures.
- Knee and shoulder injuries.
A sports medicine doctor can also help with conditions that make it more challenging to maintain healthy bones, joints, and muscles, such as how people with diabetes often work with sports medicine doctors. Staying active is crucial for managing diabetes, yet this same condition increases the risk of injury during sports and exercise. A sports medicine physician can help patients navigate this tricky area and stay healthy.
Individuals with eating disorders may also seek treatment from a sports medicine doctor. For example, athletes who want to maintain a certain body type or gain weight, such as dancers or gymnasts, may develop an eating disorder due to their athletic activities. Others may develop an eating disorder independent of these activities but seek medical help for healthy recovery that will help them regain proper muscle mass and strength. Healthy eating is an essential component of preventing sports injuries.
Orthopedic sports medicine doctors are also orthopedic surgeons, which gives them a greater scope of treatment options. These sports medicine doctors may assist in the treatment of any common sports injury listed above as well as:
- Bone and joint infections.
- Gait abnormalities.
- Limb and spine deformities.
Sports medicine doctors may also work with other specialists who focus on sports medicine but do not carry a medical degree. In many cases, the best results come from working with a team of healthcare professionals who can assist with the overarching treatment plan set forth by your physician. Some other sports medicine specialists you might encounter include physical therapists, chiropractors, certified athletic trainers, and massage therapists.
How Do Athletes Benefit From Sports Medicine?
While a general practitioner can help with many of the issues that sports medicine doctors treat, there are some distinct benefits to seeking treatment from someone specializing in sports medicine. Working with a sports medicine doctor, you'll enjoy:
- Focused care: Sports medicine doctors are highly trained in the unique injuries that occur during physical activity. Those who specialize in a particular activity, like dance, understand how things like ballet shoes or the stress of plies will uniquely affect the bones, joints, and muscles.
- Preventive care: Sports medicine doctors can offer a plethora of suggestions for avoiding injuries. They're especially well-suited to helping athletes balance their need to stay active and continue pushing themselves with the need to allow wounds to heal correctly.
- Better performance: It's not enough for an injury to simply heal. Sports medicine doctors understand that athletes need to regain as much strength and flexibility as possible in the injured area. With their support and advice, athletes can find powerful ways to increase their abilities.
- Well-rounded advice: Sports medicine doctors focus on all the things that contribute to a healthy body, including nutrition. They can suggest the best supplements for athletic performance, demonstrate proper stretching techniques, and offer other advice explicitly targeted to physical activity challenges.
If you're looking for a sports medicine specialist, Dr. Schoene may offer just the experience and expertise you're after. Whether you're a professional athlete, recreational dancer, or simply someone who wants to stay physically fit, it's essential to have the correct information to treat and prevent injuries properly. Working with a specialist helps ensure that you can stay active, even if you've been hurt. From evaluation and diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation, Dr. Schoene can assist with every part of your care plan. Contact the office now to schedule your appointment.
Image by Peter Stevens | Licensed with CC BY 2.0
Sports Medicine & Podiatry
Although many people use their feet every day, they rarely think about it. They may not think about how to care for or protect their feet unless they begin to experience pain. Many individuals not only rely on their feet for daily activities but also for their profession and for generating income. Regardless of your profession, Dr. Schoene and Dr. Bever at Gurnee Podiatry & Sports Medicine can help you care for your feet to ensure optimal performance.
Podiatry involves the science and care of feet and ankles. Podiatrists are physicians who treat the lower extremity and all foot and ankle problems and conditions. Podiatrists can work in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, sports facilities, and integrative medicine facilities. These professionals can also perform a diverse range of functions depending on their education and training, including surgery, wound care, sports medicine, orthopedic and dermatology care.
How Do Sports Medicine Podiatrists Prevent Injury?
One of the main functions of sports medicine podiatrists is to prevent injury to professional athletes' feet and ankles. Prevention strategies are discussed with all athletes and the more an athlete knows about prevention the better. There are several ways that a sports medicine podiatrist can help prevent an injury. We'll start with a thorough evaluation of the current injury and do a full biomechanical foot and gait evaluation along with a strength and flexibility exam. Typically, our providers then evaluate all sports shoes and get a good health history which includes questions about diet, sleep, and daily stress.
Preventative Therapy & Exercises
The treatment plan can entail a detailed exercise and flexibility routine. These treatment plans can also include fitting for specific shoes, orthotics, or other assistive devices. Orthotics are inserts that are worn in your shoe to correct or support foot and ankle structures. Assistive devices refer to specific equipment like ankle braces. The overall purpose of these additional prescribed devices or inserts is to provide relief from existing pain or discomfort.
Another important aspect of injury prevention is proper techniques. Considering that you utilize your feet constantly and often in unique and high-impact ways, it is critical that the position of your feet and ankles are optimized. Sports medicine podiatrists can assess your stances during practice, games, or performances to correct any potentially risky positioning this is important in many sports, especially dance, baseball, hockey, skating, and even cycling.
Overuse Injury Care
Most people are aware that injuries are possible, but they tend to think of acute injuries, such as fractures. It's important to remember that injuries can also include wear and tear that happens with time and repeated use These are called overuse injuries and are more common than traumatic injuries. These types of injuries can also reduce the functionality of your feet or cause pain. Unfortunately, athletes are at an increased risk for overuse injuries due to; improper shoes, training errors, poor terrain, weakness in muscles, inflexibilities, and improperly aligned feet (over pronation). Considering how you use your feet and ankles, and how often, can prevent injury and improve your foot health.
What Else Do Sports Medicine Podiatrists Do?
Sports medicine podiatrists work closely with athletes and other members of the care team to ensure the health of the athletes. In addition to injury prevention, these professionals can treat injuries and provide consultation services.
If an athlete has an injury or medical condition of the foot or ankle that requires attention, podiatrists are responsible for assessing and determining the optimal treatment strategy. Although this can involve surgery, preventative treatment can include taping, wound care, or pain management. The advantage of working with professionals who are experienced in sports medicine is that they'll factor in your career needs. This may mean considering game and travel schedules when devising treatment strategies.
Custom, Informed Treatment Plans
A sports medicine podiatrist not only considers injuries when evaluating your health. They also have to be hyper-aware of your medical history and existing conditions. For example, diabetes and arthritis are conditions that can affect the functionality and health of your feet and ankles some athletes can have these conditions, and when they exist, it is important for the whole team including the coaches to be aware of this. We can work with other members of your medical team to ensure that these conditions are controlled as much as possible. We'll also use this information to inform our decision-making process when treating wounds and injuries, as well as when we think about preventative measures.
For professional athletes, taking care of their feet and ankles is essential for maintaining the career that they are passionate about. While caring for your feet can seem and even be daunting, we are experienced in sports medicine podiatry. This allows us to work closely with you to discuss your needs and evaluate any risks you may be exposed to.
We'll coordinate with your care team to formulate a care plan that will ensure that your risk of injury is reduced. If an injury does occur, we'll ensure that it's addressed at the optimal time and in a way that will allow you to recover your performance. We realize that teamwork is critical to your professional life and your healthcare.
Sports Therapy & Podiatry in Chicago, IL
In addition to working with your team's healthcare professionals, we also have a wide range of providers available to you. These include physical therapists, massage therapists, and acupuncturists. If you have any questions about how to prevent foot injury, please come see Dr. Schoene and Dr. Bever and visit us at Gurnee Podiatry & Sports Medicine Associates. We have two locations to better serve you.