For athletes of all ages, being active can be a fulfilling and healthy part of life. But, for competitive athletes and weekend warriors alike, an active lifestyle also comes with risks.
Each year, more than 8 million sports and recreation-related injuries are reported in the U.S. A sports-related injury can quickly derail your lifestyle, causing pain and preventing you from participating in the activities you enjoy.
At CommonSpirit Health, our comprehensive sports medicine services are designed to identify sports injuries and provide effective treatments that can help you return to play as safely and quickly as possible.
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Common sports injuries
Orthopedic injuries can be caused by sudden movement or stress, or by overuse of the body’s joints. Among the most commonly treated sports injuries and conditions are:
- Ankle fractures
- Ankle tendon injuries
- Biceps tendon Injury
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Chondromalacia (runner’s knee)
- Foot fracture
- Hand and finger tendon injuries
- Hand fractures
- Hip impingement
- Hip labral tear
- Knee ligament Injuries, including ACL tear, MCL tear, LCL tear and PCL tear
- Meniscus tear
- Patellar tendinitis
- Rotator cuff tear
- Ruptured Achilles tendon
- Shoulder dislocation
- Shoulder labral tear
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome
- Tennis elbow/tendinitis
- Trigger finger
Recognizing when to seek treatment
Aches and pains are often an unavoidable part of any sport. But, that doesn’t mean that pain or stiffness should be taken lightly. An injury that’s left untreated often requires a longer recovery time and may even lead to permanent damage.
It’s important that you seek professional help when you experience:
- Ongoing pain
- Inability to apply weight on affected area
- Lack of mobility
- Popping, grinding or cracking sound when in use
- Swelling
- Throbbing
- Weakness
Diagnosing your injury
Our orthopedic specialists are skilled in diagnosing the severity of sports-related injuries. This often begins with a review of your medical history and discussion about the details of any injury or trauma you may have experienced. After reviewing all your symptoms and performing a complete examination, additional tests such as X-rays may be necessary to assess the extent of your injury. Learn more about imaging.
The right treatment for the job
For many injuries, the first step in recovery is through rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE). When further treatment is needed, the sports injury experts at CommonSpirit Health can provide a wide range of effective options, including:
- Arthroscopy, which uses a small incision and tiny camera to diagnose and treat joint problems
- Cast immobilization
- Functional cast or brace
- Manipulation under anesthesia
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines
- Physical therapy
- Steroid injections
- Surgical treatment
- Targeted exercise
- Traction, which helps stretch and relieve pressure on the spine
