Sports

Sports medicine

Despite what its name implies, sports medicine is not limited to the athletic field. The branch of orthopedics consists of the treatment of injuries derived from physical activity. These injuries can occur due to overuse, overexertion, traumatic collision, or overextension of the ligaments and cartilage of the joints. Sports injuries can occur anywhere on the body; however, most sports injuries occur in the major joints, including the shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle.

Minimally invasive rotator cuff surgery

A common shoulder injury associated with sports is a rotator cuff tear. Made up of a group of four different muscles and tendons, the rotator cuff coordinates the movement of the arm at the shoulder. A tear to these muscles from a traumatic impact, repetitive motion, or strong pull can lead to severe pain and loss of mobility in the shoulder.

Depending on the severity of the injury, a rotator cuff tear can be repaired using surgical or non-surgical methods. If pain is not relieved by nonsurgical efforts and surgery is required, rotator cuff tears can be repaired using arthroscopic techniques. A minimally invasive procedure, arthroscopic surgery involves two small incisions for the insertion of a fiber optic camera and specialized surgical tools. Arthroscopic surgery generally results in successful rotator cuff repair and a shorter, less painful recovery time.

ACL repair surgery for knee pain

A commonly performed sports medicine procedure is repair of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) located within the knee. The ACL provides rotational stability to the knee, and ligament tears occur due to excessive rotation, sudden changes in direction, wrong landing, or traumatic collision. Symptoms of an ACL tear include a clicking sound and the inability to put weight on the knee joint, followed by pain and swelling.

Non-surgical treatment options are available after an ACL tear; however, a torn ACL will not heal on its own and surgery is necessary to return to an active lifestyle. Advances in knee surgery techniques now allow a torn ACL to be repaired using an arthroscopic procedure. Arthroscopic surgery techniques allow for a quicker recovery time, although an athlete will need at least six months before returning to sports.

torn meniscus surgery for knee pain

The meniscus consists of two pieces of cartilage located between the thighbone and the shin that act as shock absorbers and “shock absorbers” between the two bones. Sports-related meniscus tears are the result of excess stress on the knee joint from a traumatic collision, squatting, or excessive rotation, and often accompany other knee injuries, such as a torn knee. of the ACL.

It is still possible to walk after a meniscus tear and athletes can continue to play through the injury. However, the knee will gradually become stiff and swollen over a few days. Non-surgical treatment approaches include the RICE protocol of rest, ice, compression, and elevation. If the severity of the injury requires surgery, arthroscopic techniques using a fiberoptic camera and miniature instruments will allow minimally invasive repair of the meniscus.

shin guard repair

Shin shin splints are a common sports-related injury, as the condition is due to exercise-related overuse. Shin shin cramps, or medial tibial strain syndrome, develop when excessive, repetitive physical activity causes muscle fatigue, causing additional force to be applied to the tissue that attaches the muscles to the shin.

Shin shin cramps are treated with rest and refraining from physical activity. Rarely do leg cramps require surgery; however, persistent pain may indicate the development of multiple microfractures in the tibia. Microfractures are serious and may require a doctor’s evaluation.

Achilles tendon repair surgery

The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body and connects the muscles at the back of the lower leg to the heel bone. The Achilles tendon is essential for mobility, as it is used for walking, running, and jumping. Tears can occur when the Achilles tendon is overstretched and cannot withstand the high forces placed on it during physical activity. Pain and swelling accompany an Achilles tendon tear, as well as the inability to bend the foot downward.

Surgery is probably the only option to repair a completely torn Achilles tendon for patients who want to return to playing sports. Surgically repaired Achilles tendons are more likely to return to near-normal performance and are less likely to be re-injured.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *