Sports Injuries Specialist

While an active lifestyle has many health benefits, injuries like sprains, strains, and joint dislocations can be a problem. If you suffer a sports injury, the pain medicine specialists at Alliance Spine Associates, LLC in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, can help. They combine conservative treatments with advanced interventions like steroid injections, and they also excel in performing surgery if you need it. Call their office or book an appointment online today for expert rehabilitation of your sports injuries.

What are sports injuries?

Sports injuries damage the bones, joints, connective tissues, cartilage, and nerves. They can happen when you’re competing, playing for fun, or training. You can also get sports injuries from other activities, like fitness classes or strenuous hobbies, even on the job. Common sports injuries include:

Tendon injuries

Tendons secure muscles to bones, and under enough stress, they stretch or tear, causing a strain. Tendons can also develop inflammation (tendinitis) from overuse. Common tendon injuries include Achilles tendinitis in your ankle, lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow), and rotator cuff tears in the shoulder.

Ligament injuries

Ligaments connect bones in your joints and keep the joint stable. They can stretch or tear, resulting in an injury called a sprain. Common ligament injuries include sprains and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears affecting the knees and medial collateral ligament (MCL) tears in the knees.

Fractures and dislocations

Fractures are breaks in your bones. In addition to cracks, simple breaks, and compound fractures (where the bones are exposed), athletes can suffer from stress fractures. These develop gradually when tiny cracks in the bone multiply over time. Dislocations happen when the bones in your joints come apart under force.

What causes sports injuries?

Often, a sports injury is due to overenthusiasm. You might stretch too far for a tackle on the football field or while returning a serve in tennis. You might push yourself too hard in competition or training and go beyond your current fitness level.

Problems with equipment can also cause sports injuries. Wearing the wrong kind of footwear doesn’t give your feet and legs the support they need. Old or worn footwear and protective gear can also increase your risk of sports injuries. Failing to warm up or cool down properly before and after exercise is another common problem.

Other causes of sports injuries include trips, falls, and collisions.

How are sports injuries treated?

The Alliance Spine Associates, LLC team offers various treatments for sports injuries. The ones they recommend for you will depend on the injury you suffer, your age, general health, and fitness level. Treatments available include:

• Physical therapy
• Medication
• Strapping, splinting, and bracing
• Orthopedic surgeries
• Trigger point injections
• Epidural steroid injections
• Radiofrequency ablation

For most conditions, conservative treatments successfully reduce pain and restore function. More severe injuries might require surgery. For example, ruptured ligaments can’t reattach themselves to the bone.

It’s vital not to rush back into training before the injury heals, or you could risk long-term pain and weakness.

Call Alliance Spine Associates, LLC or book an appointment online today to receive expert sports injury treatment.