What is Sports Medicine?
Sports Medicine is the study, treatment, and care of injuries that result from physical or athletic movements of the body or accidents – many of which are the result of unnatural or repetitive twisting, over-extending, or bending of a particular part of the body, such as a joint, or musculoskeletal group.
Common Sports-Related Conditions:
Knee Sprains and Strains – Sudden stops or changing directions quickly can greatly impact a person’s knee health. The knee is a major player in almost all physical activity because of its purpose and function as a load-bearing joint which impacts balance and positioning of the body. The most common knee injuries affect the ACL or anterior cruciate ligament and MCL or medial collateral ligament. Muscle strains happen most often in the quadriceps and hamstrings – when these muscles experience a strain, or you ‘pull a muscle’, often times pain is also experienced in the associated joint. Learn more about sprains and strains here.
ACL Tears – An ACL injury is when this ligament becomes damaged or torn due to an accident or injury that involved sudden starts, stops, and impacts to the knee and includes pain, swelling, and stiffness or loss of mobility.
Meniscus Tears – Your meniscus is essentially cartilage padding between the thigh bone and shin bone and acts as a shock absorber during activity. Injuries to the meniscus are common, especially in athletics as the leg is susceptible to increased jolts, bending, and quick movements or hits.
Runners Knee – Runner’s knee is a term used to describe the conditions and injuries caused by repetitive impact and motion – such as those motions associated with running, jogging, or walking and are usually caused by muscular imbalance. Weaker muscle groups around the knee are affected by the movement or pulling of stronger muscle groups, which results in pain. Learn more about runner’s knee, also called patellofemoral pain syndrome here.
Elbow and Shoulder Injuries – Stiffness, pain, and decreased or limited mobility with or without pain can indicate an elbow or shoulder injury. Elbow and shoulder injuries usually need medical care and can sometimes get worse or cause long-term issues if proper and adequate treatment is not received by a trained and board-certified specialist, like James L. Carlisle, MD. Common elbow and shoulder injuries include:
- UCL injury
- Bicipital Tendonitis
- Rotator Cuff Tears
- Shoulder sprains and strains
- Bursitis
Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow – Tennis and Golfer’s elbow are common conditions that come from overuse of the forearm and elbow due to a wide range of sports, occupations, and activities.
Inflammatory Conditions (Tendonitis, Bursitis, Fasciitis) – Inflammatory conditions are common and are known to cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in just about any part of the body that moves. People who suffer from these conditions suffer from inflammation of the connective tissues in the body – such as the fibers that connect muscles to the bone or joints.
Contact Omega Rehabilitation and Spine today. James L. Carlisle, MD can evaluate and help plan effective treatment for occasional or chronic pain. If pain is a persistent or long-lasting problem in your everyday life, you shouldn’t wait a minute longer. Call today.