Rotator Cuff Injuries
Treatment options depend on the severity of injury. You may benefit from rest and medications. Your healthcare provider may recommend injections or physical therapy. If those methods are not effective, surgery may be needed.
What are common sports injuries?
Participating in sports is a great way to keep your body strong and healthy. However, the repetitive strain and stress of training combined with the maximum effort exerted during competition increases your risk for a wide range of painful injuries.
You could develop wear-and-tear injuries like tendinitis or acute injuries like sprains or fractures.
For example, athletes of all abilities are vulnerable to:
- Muscle sprains and strains
- Ligament tears
- Tendinitis
- Bursitis
- Fractures
- Dislocation
- Rotator cuff injuries
Your weight-bearing joints are particularly at risk, especially if your sport requires running, jumping, or sudden changes of direction. High-impact sports like football and soccer also have an increased risk of injuries due to colliding with another player.
How are sports injuries treated?
The team at the University Pain and Spine Center begins with a comprehensive exam to assess your injury. Depending on your condition, they might order X-rays, MRIs, or arthroscopy to examine your internal structures and gather more detail about your injury.
Then, your doctor creates a customized treatment plan to heal your body and manage your pain. Your treatment plan could include:
- Anti-inflammatory medicine
- Regenerative therapies
- Spinal injections
- Joint injections
- Joint aspiration
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Ultrasonic tendon scar tissue removal
- Bracing and splinting
- Physical therapy
- Cold laser therapy
- Trigger point injections
You might also benefit from at-home therapies such as heat, ice, and elevation. In severe cases, your doctor might recommend surgery, including tissue grafts, to repair an injury.
Can I reduce my risk of sports injuries?
Yes, you can take steps to reduce your risk of injury. Working with a sports medicine expert is one of the best things you can do to protect yourself. Your doctor can help you identify muscle weaknesses or imbalances, as well as areas to improve your flexibility or balance.
Then, they work with you and a trainer to address these issues. You train smarter to reduce your risk of injury — an added benefit is that your performance also improves.
Additionally, you should always take time to warm up properly before training or competing. It’s also essential to cool down and stretch after your workout. If your sport requires protective gear, wear it, and make sure you have the right shoes for your sport.
You should never ignore an injury or pain. You can avoid unnecessary pain and get back to your sport quickly and safely with support from the team at the University Pain and Spine Center.
Call the practice or make an appointment online today for expert treatment for sports injuries.