What are the most common sports injuries?
The team at Performance Pain and Sports Medicine provides complete care for all types of sports injuries, including:
Sprains and strains
Ligament sprains and muscle strains are two of the most common ways to injure yourself during physical activity. Sprains and strains occur when ligament, tendon, or muscle tissue stretches beyond its means and tears. These injuries range in severity from a mild stretch to a complete tear.
Knee pain
Knee pain can arise from many problems, including a sprained or torn ligament like the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or injured cartilage, such as a meniscus tear. Without proper treatment, sports injuries that affect the knee may increase your risk for arthritis.
Foot and ankle pain
Ankle sprains, Achilles tendinitis, and stress fractures are among the most common sports injuries to affect the foot and ankle. These injuries are especially common in runners, soccer players, and dancers.
Shoulder pain
Rotator cuff tears are a frequent cause of shoulder pain, especially among athletes who use overhead throwing motions, like baseball and softball players and weightlifters. Other common shoulder injuries include dislocations, which may lead to instability.
What are the signs and symptoms of a sports injury?
The signs and symptoms you experience vary depending on the specific type of sports injury you have. In some cases, the pain and symptoms begin immediately after acute trauma, like a fall or tackle. At other times, you may feel a mild ache and joint stiffness that worsens over time.
Joint pain, swelling, and restricted range of motion are common symptoms of sports injuries. Call Performance Pain and Sports Medicine at the earliest signs of a sports injury. Continuing to participate in your sport may cause further damage.
How are sports injuries diagnosed and treated?
Your provider at Performance Pain and Sports Medicine spends one-on-one time with you to ensure an accurate diagnosis and effective, timely treatment. They begin with a physical exam and medical history review. They may also take one or more tests, such as an X-ray or ultrasound, to confirm a diagnosis and evaluate the extent of your sports injury.
Then, they create a personalized treatment plan that may include:
- Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE)
- Pain-relieving medications
- Physical therapy
- Immobilization in a cast or brace
- Joint injections
- Prolotherapy
- Regenerative medicine, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell therapy
- Alternative therapies like acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage
- Tenex minimally invasive procedure for chronic tendon pain
They also recommend ways you can prevent sports injuries in the future, such as stretching and strengthening exercises.
If you or a loved one has a sports injury, call Performance Pain and Sports Medicine, or book an appointment online today.
