Sports Medicine

What is sports medicine?

Sports medicine focuses on helping injured athletes recover and resume their normal activities as soon as possible with no loss of function.

The sports medicine experts at Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Institute offer a comprehensive range of services to anyone who exercises regularly or leads a physically active life, as well as children, adolescents, and adults who take part in sports.

In addition to treating your injuries, sports medicine specialists also offer advice on maintaining optimal fitness and correct training techniques and help you avoid injuries as much as possible.

What conditions does sports medicine treat?

The Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Institute team treats many different types of sports injuries, from fractures and dislocations to sprains and strains. Some common sports injuries include:

• Achilles tendinitis
• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears
• Medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries
• Patellofemoral pain syndrome
• Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
• Golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis)
• Rotator cuff tears
• Skier’s thumb
• Meniscal tears
• SLAP (superior labrum from anterior to posterior) tears
• Hamstring injuries
• Dislocated shoulder
• Tendon injuries
• Sprained ankles
• Shin splints
• Shoulder instability

Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Institute uses state-of-the-art imaging technologies like CT scans, MRIs, and digital X-rays to assess your injuries before preparing a suitable treatment plan.

What treatments does sports medicine use?

In many cases, conservative treatments can be highly effective in sports medicine. These typically include:

• Rest and activity modification
• Applying ice packs
• Using a splint or brace
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Physical therapy
• Regenerative medicine therapies
• Custom orthotics

For those patients who fail to improve, steroid injections into the affected joint or tissues can be helpful in relieving inflammation and pain. However, a few patients find their symptoms persist despite these measures, in which case surgery might be advisable.

Some sports injuries, such as severe fractures, require surgery at an early stage.

What surgery might I need for a sports injury?

The surgery you require depends on the injury you sustain and the severity of the damage. Potential sports medicine surgeries include:

Fracture repair

Fractured bones that aren't in alignment or where there are complex or multiple breaks require surgery to realign the bones. Your Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Institute surgeon may also need to fix the bones using screws and plates.

Ligament and tendon reconstruction

Ligaments and tendons that detach completely from the bone or tear all the way through are unable to heal without surgery. Simple tears might be repairable by stitching the severed ends together, but in many cases, your surgeon has to use a graft to reconstruct the tissues.

Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive way of viewing the inside of your joints and completing a range of repairs. Your surgeon can also remove damaged tissues or cartilage.

If you suffer an injury when playing sports or exercising, get the expert help you need to make a successful return by calling Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Institute today or booking an appointment online.