Sports Injuries

Shoulder injuries cover a large number of sports injuries from dislocations, misalignment, strains on muscles and sprains of ligaments.
The shoulder is the weakest joint of the body and is subject to a great deal of force during athletic activities.
Shoulder injury treatment starts with rest and icing to help with pain and swelling relief. Any pain persisting for more than two weeks should be evaluated by a Sports Medicine specialist for diagnostic imaging and treatment.

Tennis and Golfer’s elbow is usually seen with athletes performing a great deal of gripping activities. It can also be known as medial or lateral epicondylitis. Due to the repetitive action, the tendons of the forearm can become inflamed and make any wrist or hand motions extremely painful. Early treatment options for Tennis or Golf elbow involve rest and icing the inflamed area. Anti-inflammatories and a brace along with stretching exercises are the next step. If all the above treatments fail, a surgical procedure called a tenotomy is often performed to pierce the tendon and promote healing.

The hamstring muscle is located on the back of the thigh. Unfortunately, the hamstring muscles can be tight and are susceptible to strain. Poor stretching techniques or lack of stretching can be the cause of a hamstring tear/strain. Often, with a hamstring tear they will experience bruising in the back of the thigh or the knee. Rest and icing are the common early treatment techniques followed by gentle stretching and strengthening. If the pain persists more than two weeks, the athlete could try physical therapy to use ultrasound or other methods to promote healing the pulled muscle.

Sciatica is back pain that also travels down the back of the leg or even to the feet. This radiating pain can additionally be associated with numbness, burning and tingling down the leg. Sometimes, rest, stretching the back and hamstrings and laying on your stomach can help alleviate the symptoms. If pain, numbness or tingling persists for more than two weeks, seek out a medical professional for evaluation and treatment.

Athletes with shin splints complain of pain in the lower leg bone, or the tibia. Shin splints are most often found in athletes who are runners or participate in activities with a great deal of running, such as soccer. Shin splints are best prevented and/or treated with rest, icing and gradually increasing running activities. Seek medical attention if pain worsens or does not subside.

A groin pull is also called a groin strain. The groin muscles run from the upper-inner thigh to the inner thigh right above the knee. The injured athlete might notice difficulty with lateral movements, getting in and out of cars, as well as tenderness or bruising in the groin or inner thigh.
Groin pull treatment includes rest and icing for 15 to 20 minutes periodically during the first 72 hours. After the first three days, the athlete could use heat for 15 to 20 minutes periodically, followed by gentle, proper groin stretching and range of motion exercises.

A concussion can be defined as injury to the brain, due a blow to the head where the brain is jarred or shaken. Concussions are serious injuries that should not be taken lightly. An athlete who experiences a concussion should seek out a certified athletic trainer or a physician with experience treating concussions. Common concussion symptoms can include: headache, confusion, dizziness, nausea/or vomiting, slurred speech, sensitivity to light, delayed responses to questions.

Common concussion treatments include rest, reduced activities requiring mental or physical stress and slowly increasing physical activities, as long as symptoms do not return.

Athletes diagnosed with a concussion should never return to their sport without being medically cleared by a health care professional.

The ACL, anterior cruciate ligament, is one of the major stabilizing ligaments of the knee. The most common cause of sports injuries for an ACL strain is slowing down and trying to cut, pivot or change directions. Ligaments on the inside of the knee are often torn with the ACL injury, making it a devastating event.
Complaints of instability when walking or turning corners, as well as increased swelling in the knee would be common ACL tear symptoms. Seek medical advice for appropriate imaging studies. A slight ACL strain or tear can be healed without surgery using rest and ice. A complete ACL tear would require surgery with aggressive physical therapy.

The hip flexors are muscles found on the upper-front side of your thigh. Hip flexors can be weak in individuals who sit a great deal at work or can become weak and stiff in individuals who have poor sitting posture. Sports injuries to this muscle group can be caused by sprinting, running inclines and activities with quick turns and sudden starts.
A hip flexor strain is best treated by rest and icing for 15 to 20 minutes at a time for the first 48 to 72 hours. After the first three recovery days, the injured athlete could apply heat for 15 to 20 minutes followed by lying down and performing gentle heel slides and hip flexor stretches. If the pain, symptoms and limited activity remain after two weeks, the individual should seek out medical advice for pain and swelling control and instruction in specific hip exercises.