Sports Medicine

If you injure yourself while playing sports or working out, visit board-certified orthopedic surgeon Timothy Kavanaugh, MD, and the team at AZ Ortho in Scottsdale, Arizona. The team offers a variety of sports medicine treatments to help you recover from a sports injury and get you back to the fitness activities you love and enjoy. To learn more about sports medicine, call AZ Ortho or book an appointment online today.

What is sports medicine?

Sports medicine involves a custom-designed program of preventive medicine and pain management treatments to restore your flexibility and mobility. A sports medicine program is often necessary following an accident, injury, surgery, or illness. 

When might I need sports medicine?

Some of the most common injuries that you might need sports medicine include:

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury

The ACL is one of the major ligaments in your knee, connecting your thigh bone to the shinbone and stabilizing the knee joint. When you injure the ligament, the knee can’t properly support your weight. 

Rotator cuff injuries

Rotator cuff injuries are a common reason for sports medicine treatment. The rotator cuff keeps the joint in place, making it possible to move the shoulder and arm in a variety of ways. A rotator cuff injury can develop due to overuse — when the muscles and tendons surrounding the shoulder joint are repeatedly stretched too far. 

Strains or sprains

A muscle strain or sprain can happen to anyone. Strains occur when you overstretch the muscles or tendons, while sprains develop due to ligament damage. 

Meniscus tears

Your knees contain two wedge-shaped discs of cartilage called menisci. These pads provide cushioning between the shinbone and thighbone but also help absorb shock. Meniscus tears happen when the meniscus tears due to activities that involve forcefully twisting or rotating the knee joint, such as heavy lifting or making sudden turns and stops.  

Dislocations 

A dislocation happens when your bone slips out of a joint, immobilizing the area and making it very painful to move the joint.

Fractures

A fracture is a break in the bone. A closed (simple) fracture is a bone break that still has the skin intact, while an open (compound) fracture pierces the skin and reveals the underlying bone. 

Bursitis 

Bursitis is inflammation of the bursae — the fluid-filled sacs that act as a cushion to prevent friction between the soft tissue and bones. Repetitive activities may irritate your bursae and cause pain. 

Tendonitis 

Tendonitis develops from overuse, when one or more of your tendons become inflamed and irritated. Your tendons are thick bands of tissue that attach muscles to bones. Many athletes develop tendonitis, including swimmers, golfers, tennis and baseball players. 

What does sports medicine involve?

The first step is a physical assessment of your discomfort level and mobility restrictions. In some cases, X-rays or other imaging tests may be ordered to ensure a proper diagnosis of the underlying issue. Once a proper diagnosis is made, the AZ Ortho team develops a custom sports medicine treatment plan. 

The team may recommend:

• Physical therapy
• Pain management techniques
• Taping 
• Splinting
• Bracing 
• Corticosteroid injections
• PRP injections

Sports medicine also helps you prevent future injuries by instructing you on proper technique, like how to warm up and cool down.

To see if you can benefit from sports medicine treatments, call AZ Ortho or book an appointment online today.