What are sports injuries?
Sports injuries occur during sports and other physical activities. Because your knees play a central role in running and jumping, they’re particularly prone to sports injuries.
The team at Wolfson Orthopedics offers expert care for many common sports injuries, including:
Ligament injuries
Each knee contains four main ligaments that provide stability and support. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) cross one another to form an X in the middle of your knee. The ACL is the most commonly torn ligament in the knee, especially among athletes in high-demand sports like soccer and basketball.
Two collateral ligaments, the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) may tear as a result of a blow to the knee that pushes the joint sideways.
Meniscus injuries
The menisci are two c-shaped pads of cartilage that absorb shock in your knee joint. Meniscus tears often occur during sports, especially when twisting, pivoting, or getting tackled.
Tendon injuries
The main tendons in your knee include the quadriceps and patellar tendons. These tendons can get stretched and torn during running and jumping sports, such as track and field.
Cartilage injuries
When most people talk about torn cartilage in their knee, they’re probably referring to the meniscus. You also have articular cartilage, which protects the ends of your bones in the knee joint. Articular cartilage may wear down as a result of overuse or a chronic condition like arthritis.
Who gets sports injuries?
Sports injuries affect active people of all ages, from children to professional athletes. You may be at higher risk of getting a sports injury if you:
- Play contact sports, such as football
- Don’t warm up or cool down properly
- Begin a new activity or increase exercise intensity
In addition to diagnosing and treating sports injuries, the team at Wolfson Orthopedics advises you on how to prevent injuries in the future.
How are sports injuries diagnosed and treated?
First, your Wolfson Orthopedics provider carefully evaluates your condition and asks you to describe how the injury occurred. They may take tests, such as an X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.
Then, they develop a personalized treatment plan for your specific sports injury. The team at Wolfson Orthopedics always explores nonsurgical treatments first, such as:
- Physical therapy
- Activity modification
- Medications
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
- Stem cell injections
When surgery is necessary, the team at Wolfson Orthopedics uses minimally invasive techniques, such as arthroscopy, whenever possible. For expert sports injury care, call or book an appointment online today.
