SPORTS MEDICINE
Let’s Get Back to Practice
Sports medicine is a branch of medical practice used to treat and prevent injuries related to sports and exercise. Whether you’re a young athlete with a sprained ankle or you came out of retirement to play in that pick-up game and your shoulder just hasn’t been the same since, DOC’s sports medicine specialists are here to get you back to doing what you love.
Common Injuries Treated
DOC’s sports medicine specialists treat a wide array of injuries and conditions caused by physical activity or sports. In addition to treating acute injuries such as a fracture or sprain, DOC also offers treatment for chronic injuries which worsen over time and are often the result of overuse or overtraining. Some of the most common sports or exercise-related injuries treated at DOC include:
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), one of the four major ligaments in the knee, controls forward movement and rotation of the shin bone. Of the ligaments in the knee, the ACL is the most commonly injured as it can easily be torn or stretched during physical activities that require sudden twisting motions or changes in direction, such as soccer, skiing, and basketball. Common symptoms of an ACL injury include severe pain and rapid swelling in the knee, loss of range of motion, and instability when weight is placed on the knee.
Sprained Ankle
Rolling, turning, or twisting the ankle in the wrong direction can tear or stretch the ligaments that hold the bones in the ankle together, resulting in a sprained ankle. Symptoms associated with a sprained ankle vary, depending on the severity of the sprain. Oftentimes, those symptoms include: Ankle pain that worsens when applying weight to the ankle, swelling, bruising, limited range of motion, and ankle instability. In many cases, a popping sound can be heard at the actual occurrence of the injury.
Shin Splint
A shin splint occurs when the muscles, tendons, and bone tissue around the tibia become inflamed. Oftentimes, this injury develops when one increases the frequency or intensity of their physical activity. The most common symptom associated with shin splints is sharp or throbbing pain that runs along the border of the tibia.
Stress Fracture
Stress fractures, one of the most common sports-related injuries, are tiny breaks in the bone that occur when the bone is overused or undergoes repetitive stress. Stress fractures are common amongst those who participate in sports that require repetitive motion or activities that cause the bone to undergo repetitive stress, such as running. Common symptoms of stress fractures include pain and swelling near the bone as well as extreme tenderness when the bone is touched.
Rotator Cuff Tear
The group of muscles and tendons surrounding the shoulder joint make up what is known as the rotator cuff. Acute tears in the rotator cuff occur suddenly during a one-time traumatic event, such as extending the arm out to brace for a fall. Tears can also occur slowly over time as a result of the tendon wearing down. Tears that occur over time are referred to as a degenerative tear and are commonly seen in people who participate in sports or activities that require repetitive overhead motions such as baseball or tennis. Both types of tears commonly cause pain that intensifies when lying on the affected shoulder or when lifting or lowering the arm. Typically, this pain is more intense and immediate when an acute tear occurs.
Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)
Tennis elbow is inflammation or sometimes micro-tearing of the tendons that accompany the forearm muscles near the outside of the elbow. Also known as lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow is primarily caused by overuse and participation in activities that demand repetitive and forceful use of the forearm muscle. Symptoms associated with tennis elbow include mild pain that worsens gradually with time as well as difficulty gripping objects and burning sensations near the outer region of the elbow.
Unstable Kneecap
The term “unstable kneecap” is used to describe a kneecap that has slipped out of this groove within the knee causing it to become loose or even dislocated. This injury can occur if the groove in the knee is uneven; it can also be the result of a direct hit to the knee. Regardless of the cause, an unstable kneecap can be recognized by the following symptoms: Buckling in the knee, inability to place weight on the knee, pain when sitting, swelling, stiffness, and cracking sounds that occur when moving the knee.
Meniscal Tear
A torn meniscus, one of the most common knee injuries, typically occurs during participation in physical activities or sports that involve twisting or rotating the knee with extreme force. In most cases, symptoms of a meniscus tear include pain, swelling, stiffness, and a limited range of motion when moving the knee.
Shoulder Separation
A separated shoulder occurs when the ligaments that hold the collarbone and shoulder blade together become injured. This injury is most commonly the result of a direct fall or forceful hit to the shoulder and can range in severity. In mild cases, the ligaments are stretched; more severe separations occur when ligaments are actually torn. Depending on the severity of the injury, a shoulder separation can cause pain, bruising, swelling, weakness in the arm or shoulder, and a limited range of motion in the shoulder.
Back Injuries
Injuries to the back and spine are common amongst athletes and vary depending on the type of sport or activity one participates in. The most common sport-related back injuries include neck injuries, lower back sprains and strains, and fractures to the spine. Neck injuries are more common amongst athletes who participate in contact sports, such as football. Sprains and strains in the back are commonly the result of lifting too much weight. Athletes participating in sports that require repetitive extension movements, such as gymnastics or volleyball, are more likely to endure a spine fracture. In any of these cases, one should seek medical attention if back pain worsens progressively, begins to cause weakness, or causes bladder or bowel changes.
