Sports Medicine
Sports Medicine
The musculoskeletal injuries that occur while you’re exercising or playing sports are typically called sports injuries. Injuries of this type affect the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and other soft tissues.
Athletes and non-athletes may be able to discover pain relief and increase mobility through the sports medicine program at Carondelet Health Network and Carondelet Medical Group in Tucson, AZ.
We offer comprehensive sports injury care, including care for knee, hip, shoulder, foot and ankle pain.
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Knee Pain
Get moving again with a variety of treatment options for chronic knee pain available at Carondelet. -
Hip Pain
Experiencing hip pain? Get the expert treatment and care you need at Carondelet. -
Shoulder Pain
We’re here to diagnose and treat you quickly, so you can get back to moving comfortably.
Recover Faster from Sports Injuries
Our team of doctors, nurses, physical therapists, rehabilitation providers, sports and orthopedic physicians work together to help get you back in the game and restore your quality of life. We offer:
- Assessments and therapies to restore and enhance movement and agility
- Nonsurgical treatment options, such as medication or physical therapy, depending on your condition or injury
- Minimally invasive surgical treatment procedures, if necessary
- Comprehensive, customized orthopedic rehabilitation services
Sports medicine and orthopedics at Carondelet Health Network and Carondelet Medical Group may be able to help you recover from injuries and return to the activities you love. We’ll develop a customized care plan, whether it’s a torn ligament, sprain or another injury. Our goal is to help you return to sports ready to finish strong.
About Carondelet’s Sports and Orthopedic Physicians
Our orthopedic and sports medicine physicians have experience treating and preventing sports- and exercise-related injuries. They may also be called sports medicine physicians, sports injury doctors or sports orthopedic surgeons.
Although sports medicine and sports orthopedic physicians treat musculoskeletal conditions, sports medicine providers focus on nonsurgical treatment. On the other hand, sports orthopedic surgeons are trained in surgical treatments.
Most Common Sports Injuries
Almost any body part can be injured, but the ankles and knees are particularly prone to injury. There are two kinds of sports injuries, namely:
Acute traumatic injuries- This injury happens after a blow or force, such as getting tackled in football or wiping out while skateboarding.
Overuse injuries- Also called chronic injuries, this injury happens over time from repetitive training. These injuries may not be serious initially, but if left untreated, they may become a serious problem.
The knee is composed of bones, cartilage, ligaments and tendons. The knee joint relies on the ligaments for stability, which makes the ligaments prone to injury. Any contact with the knee or hard muscle contraction, such as not training properly or too much or not wearing or using the proper footwear or safety equipment, can injure the knee.
Sprains are injured ligaments and are graded on a severity scale:
- Grade 1 Sprains – when a ligament is mildly damaged and/or slightly stretched, but can still stabilize the knee
- Grade 2 Sprains – when a ligament is stretched to the point it becomes loose: a partial tear to the ligament
- Grade 3 Sprains – when a ligament has been torn in half or pulled directly off the bone; a complete tear of the ligament and the knee joint is unstable
Common Sports Injuries
Sprains are not the only injury one can get when playing sports or exercising. Here are some of the most common sports injuries:
- Sprains and strains – both involve stretching and tearing, but sprains occur on ligaments and strains occur on muscle tissues or fibers
- Knee pain – usually caused by sprain, strain or tendonitis and is common in contact sports
- Swollen joints – includes bursitis (inflammation of the bursa), tendonitis (inflammation of the tendon) and tennis elbow (inflammation of the tendon around the elbow joint)
- Achilles tendon injuries – a common injury among runners, Achilles tendon injuries are caused by damage or tightness of the Achilles tendon
- Pain along the shin bone – caused by the inflammation in the tissues surrounding the shin bone
- Rotator cuff injuries – when the rotator cuff breaks down
- Fractures (broken bones) occur during high-impact activities caused by tiny cracks in the bone because of repeated stress
- Dislocations – may be caused by a sudden fall or impact.
Coping With Sports Injuries
Accidents happen, and if you feel that you have a minor injury, you do not usually need to see a sports medicine physician and can do the following to ease the pain:
- Rest the affected part for 48-72 hours
- Regularly apply an ice pack to the affected area during the first 48-72 hours to reduce swelling
- Use over-the-counter pain killers such as ibuprofen to relieve pain
When you think your injury is more than a minor injury, the abovementioned does not ease your pain, or the pain worsens, consult a sports medicine physician or go to the nearest sports medicine hospital if you experience:
- Severe pain
- Swollen, injured area
- Limping
- Unable to move the injured area
- Pain is not getting better with rest, gets worse or lasts for a week or more
- Unconsciousness
- Difficulty staying awake or being sleepy after the injury
- Seizures
- Slurred speech
- Blurred or double vision
- Difficulty understanding what people say
- Vomiting
The following treatments may be recommended by sports medicine physicians and sports orthopedic surgeons for sports- and exercise-related injuries:
- Immobilization
- Physiotherapy
- Corticosteroid injections
- Surgery
The best way to deal with injuries is to know how to prevent them. Reduce the risk of getting injured by following these tips:
- Warm up properly before exercise and stretch after exercise
- Don’t push your limit
- Use the right equipment
- Receive proper advice from a coach
About Orthopedic Sports Medicine at Carondelet
“When can I play again?” may be the question patients ask right after an injury, and the answer varies depending on the injury and the course of treatment your sports injury doctor recommends.
Sports medicine and orthopedic rehabilitation may help patients stay fit while recovering. Our sports medicine and orthopedic rehabilitation in Tucson, AZ may include physical therapy, manual therapy and other ways to relieve pain and promote healing.
If the injury is more severe, or if you experience numbness, deformity, the inability to bear weight or move the joint, or persistent aches and pains, get medical attention. Your doctor may need to immobilize the injury or may recommend physical therapy.
Some sports injuries require surgery to repair the damage. Schedule an appointment with a sports medicine provider today.
Whether you’re suffering from osteoarthritis, an injury or any other orthopedic condition, Carondelet Health Network and Carondelet Medical Group are here for you and are ready to help you connect with the doctors and health professionals who can provide the safe care you deserve. Learn more about our orthopedic programs here.