Sports medicine deals with treating and preventing sports-related injuries to keep people safe when pursuing their training goals. However, sports medicine Sarasota is not exclusive to athletes; it can benefit anyone who enjoys an active life. Below are common sports injuries that sports medicine specialists treat.

ACL injury

The anterior cruciate ligament is one of the strong bands of tissue that connects your thigh bone to the shinbone. A tear or sprain can occur on this ligament due to sudden stop of direction changes. ACL injuries are common in athletes who play sports such as basketball, soccer, downhill skiing, and football. When an ACL injury occurs, you may feel a popping sensation in the knee; your knee may also become painful, unstable, and swell. Sometimes rest and rehabilitation exercises are enough to help you regain strength and stability; other times, you may need surgery to replace a torn ligament

Ankle sprain

Ankle sprains occur when you twist, roll, or turn your ankle suddenly and awkwardly, causing the ligaments to stretch or tear. Ligaments are tough bands of tissue that stabilize joints, preventing excessive movement. Depending on the severity of the injury, self-are measures and over-the-counter medication may be all you need to treat a sprained ankle. But medical evaluation is still necessary to determine the extent of your injury and determine the appropriate treatment. Although anyone can sprain their ankle, they are common among people who play sports such as soccer, basketball, and tennis. 

Tennis elbow

Tennis elbow is a painful injury that occurs due to repetitive motion of the wrist and arm. Although this injury is common in athletes, it can also occur in people whose jobs require repetitive movements. For example, painters, carpenters, plumbers, and butchers are likely to develop tennis elbow. The pain primarily occurs outside of your elbow, but it can spread into your forearm and wrist, making it difficult to turn a doorknob, hold a coffee cup, shake hands or grip an object. Conservative treatments such as rest and over-the-counter pain killers may help, but surgery may be an option if your symptoms are disabling.

Rotator cuff injury

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons in your shoulder that keeps the head of your upper arm bone attached to the socket. An injury to the rotator cuff can cause a dull ache which usually worsens when you stretch your arm. Rotator cuff injuries are common in older people but may also occur earlier in people with jobs that require repeated overhead motions, such as painters and carpenters. 

Most of the time, people with rotator cuff injury only require physical therapy exercises to improve the strength and flexibility of the muscles surrounding the shoulder joint. Rotator cuff tears that occur due to a single injury require a medical evaluation to discuss the role of surgery. In severe cases, transfer of alternative tendons or joint replacement may be necessary.

Runner’s knee

Runner’s knee is an umbrella term for several conditions that cause pain around the kneecap or patella. As the name suggests, this injury mainly stems from running, but it may be due to other activities such as jumping, cycling, walking, and skiing. Rest, cold compression, and elevation can help manage the symptoms.

Consult your specialist at 360 Orthopedics to know how you can benefit from sports medicine.