Sports Medicine Doctors in El Paso, Texas

Athletes push their bodies to the limit on a daily basis. Every time they train, their bodies are at risk for injury. Sprains, pulls, tears, and dislocations can all take place during sporting events. Not only will an injury put an athlete out of commission for the rest of the game, it may eventually require medical assistance and even surgery. Thankfully, there’s an entire branch of medicine dedicated to injuries often associated with sports. Sports medicine doctors can diagnose and treat a wide variety of issues. Sun City Orthopaedic & Hand Surgery Specialists has been treating sports-related injuries in the El Paso area since 2012. Whether you require rehabilitation assistance or surgery, we can help.

Understanding Common Sports Injuries

Sports injuries tend to occur when athletes fail to stretch correctly before practicing or participating in a competition. Injuries can also occur if the athlete turns too quickly or takes a wrong step.

• Foot

• Stress fractures occur when athletes place constant, repetitive stress on their feet and ankles. Those who participate in basketball, gymnastics, and dance are at higher risk for stress fractures. Stress fractures differ from normal fractures. Where fractures translate to a broken bone, stress fractures are small cracks in the bone itself.

• Ankle

• Sprained ankles are the most common injuries relating to sports. They often occur when the foot turns inward, stretching the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. In some cases, the ligament may tear.

• Shoulder

• Rotator cuff injuries take place when an athlete participates in repetitive, overhead motions. This injury is commonly associated with swimming and tennis. It can manifest through aches and shoulder pain. If you’re suffering from a weak shoulder with reduced range of motion and stiffness, it could be a rotator cuff injury.

• Elbow

• Tennis Elbow (also known as epicondylitis) takes place when an athlete participates in a sport that requires repetitive elbow use. This motion can lead to irritation and tears in the elbow’s tendons.

• Knee

• The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) resides within the knee. It can tear if you change direction rapidly or land from a jump incorrectly. Basketball and football players are often at risk for this injury.

Treat Your Wound With the RICE Method: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation

If you’ve suffered from an injury while exercising or participating in a sport, make sure to remember RICE. This acronym, which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, is used by athletes and trainers all across the United States in order to quickly tend to any sports-related injury. Say you hurt your knee while playing basketball. Make sure to sit down as quickly as possible. Place ice on the injured area and compress it as well. You can compress your leg with an elastic bandage but make sure to not wrap it too tightly. This will decrease swelling. If possible, elevate your leg by placing it on pillows while you sit or lie down. This will help to further reduce the swelling. In most cases, the RICE method will help your knee issue subside. If, however, you still feel pain after two or three days, then it may be time to speak to a medical professional.

Differentiating Between a Simple Injury and One that Requires Surgery

There are many sports-related injuries that will require the use of surgery in order to treat them completely. Athletes who are suffering from damaged cartilage, torn ligaments, or dislocated bones won’t be able to heal fully by making use of the RICE method. These issues often require surgical means in order for the issue to be tended too quickly. Thankfully, most sports injuries can be treated via arthroscopy. This process makes use of a miniature camera and minute tools to repair or remove torn ligaments in the joints. Recovery time is much shorter as well.

More drastic sports-related injuries, such as bone fractures, will require the use of casts in order to help the bone heal fully. Although bone fractures are some of the least common sports injuries, they can still occur. Stress fractures, for instance, occur when the muscles are overused to the point in which they can no longer absorb impacts. This causes the bone to absorb the pressure, resulting in a stress fracture.

Sun City Orthopaedic & Hand Surgery Specialists Treats Sport Related Injuries

Even the most careful athletes can face sports injuries. If you’re in the El Paso area and you’ve suffered from a sports-related injury, contact our sports medicine doctors today. A sports injury can put you out of commission for the season if it’s not tended to on time. Instead of sitting on the bench, let our team of board certified professionals take care of your injury quickly and succinctly. Before long, you’ll be back on the field doing what you love.