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Category Archives: Sports Medicine

Sports Medicine Myths Part 1: You Can Do Physical Therapy on Your Own

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As an orthopedic specialist, it can be worrisome to hear a patient say, “Well, I tried doing some physical therapy on my own, but it didn’t work. So now I think I need surgery.” One of the most pervasive myths in sports medicine is that a do-it-yourself approach to physical therapy can work. While it’s certainly true that certain stretches or exercises can help you build strength after an injury, there is no replacement for professional physical therapy. (more…)

What Exactly Are Shin Splints?

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Leg pain is a fairly common occurrence for athletes—especially long distance runners. Running puts pressure on the joints, including the hips, knees and ankles, as well as on the feet and legs. Whenever pain develops in the lower legs it is often assumed to be shin splints, but shin splints are actually a specific problem that can develop in the shins, the bones that run along the front of the lower legs.

Shin splints are a sort of overuse injury that develop when inflammation builds up around the soft tissues of the lower leg. The injury can develop in two areas surrounding the shin. When they develop on the outer edge of the mid region of the leg, near the shinbone, they are called anterior shin splints. When they develop on the inside of the leg they are referred to as medial shin splints.

So, What Are Shin Splints?

There is some disagreement among experts as to what exactly causes shin splints to develop. The leading theories include:

  • Shin splints may be caused by small tears in muscle that has been pulled off the bone.
  • Inflammation in the tissue sheath that wraps around the shin bone.
  • Inflammation in the muscles surrounding the shin bone.

Many sport and exercise doctors believe that they are actually caused by a combination of several of these factors. What medical experts do agree on is that shin splints are unique to athletes, they are caused by regular physical activity, and whatever is the primary cause of the pain, the best way to treat shin splints seems to be clear.

Because they are caused by overuse, shin splints are pretty much reserved for regular athletes. They can happen to athletes of any age or expertise level, from youth soccer all the way to professional ball players.

Rest Is Best

Experts agree that the best way to treat shin splints is with a combination of rest, ice and stretching. It is recommended to stop running entirely when shin splints first develop, as they will grow worse over time. Secondly, ice the shins regularly to reduce inflammation in the legs. Doing basic Achilles stretches often helps to ease the pain of shin splints and stretch the muscles and tissues surrounding the shin bone.

If you are going to continue working out while struggling with shin splints, the best thing you can do is wrap the injury. Don’t wait too long before seeking the medical expertise of a sports medicine doctor. The sooner you can get treatment and address the pain, the sooner the pain of shin splints can go away.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

Common Gymnastics Injuries

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Gymnastics is a highly technical and demanding sport, which is associated with a high rate of injury. In fact, more than 80,000 gymnastics-related sports injuries are treated each year in the U.S. alone. While the majority of these injuries are overuse injuries resulting from hours and hours of repetitive motions, acute injuries due to falls or other accidents are also relatively common. Here, we will discuss some of the most common gymnastics-related injuries as well as how to avoid them.

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Symptoms of a Torn ACL

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The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of four ligaments located in the knee joint, and is responsible for providing stability during walking and other activities. A torn or sprained ACL is a highly common knee injury, which affects more than 200,000 people in the United States each year, out of which approximately half undergo knee surgery. About half of all cases are moreover accompanied by other damages to the structures of the knee.

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Non-surgical Treatments for Shoulder Pain

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Shoulder pain can be highly debilitating and limit you greatly in your daily activities. While some shoulder injuries may require surgery, there are several non-surgical treatment options that have been shown to be effective for improving shoulder pain.

As you would with other types of injuries, try to rest the affected shoulder and to use an ice pack to reduce any potential swelling or inflammation in the first couple of days after the injury. After this, if the pain still remains, see your doctor or a sports medicine expert or physical therapist as soon as possible since early intervention is always associated with better treatment outcomes.

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Do You Have an Ankle Fracture? What’s Next?

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In addition to being caused by serious events such as falling, being injured while playing sports or being in a car accident, fractured ankles are commonly caused by something so seemingly insignificant as twisting or rolling your ankle. While some fractures, especially those only involving one of the ankle bones (namely the tibia, fibula or talus), may not stop you from walking and carrying out your usual everyday tasks, others may have serious effects and prohibit you from even putting weight on the foot.

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