Every sport-related injury deserves careful attention, but some conditions require extended time and effort to achieve full recovery. For those leading an active lifestyle, this guide will help you prepare for sports injuries that may take months to heal. If you’re facing any of these challenges, the expert sports medicine team at Orthopaedic Medical Group of Tampa Bay is here to support your recovery.
The Gravity of Sports Injuries and the Importance of Preventive Care
The severity of your next sports injury can be unpredictable. You might escape with just a bruise, or you could face a more serious condition that temporarily limits the use of a limb. While practicing preventive care is essential, some injuries are unavoidable despite your best efforts.
1. Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears
A tear in your ACL typically happens during high-intensity sports like soccer or football, where agility levels are critical. As you’re required to move quickly, often switching directions abruptly or halting your speed at any given time, there’s always the risk of tearing the main ligaments in your knee. OMGTB offers the latest advancements in ACL surgery which helps you get back to activities faster.
2. Achilles Tendon Tears
The achilles tendon located by the heel, is also a common injury that can take some time to recover from. It is usually caused by an explosive injury such as jumping, or sprinting. When you encounter a foot and ankle injury such as this one, they can occasionally be treated with non-operative treatments, but will require surgery in most cases.
3. Hamstring Strains
The hamstring is a group of muscles on the back of your leg that allow you to flex your knee. High-intensity activities like running and jumping can strain these muscles, leading to pain and discomfort. Since the hamstrings bear a significant portion of your body weight during everyday movements, recovery from such strains can be a lengthy process.
4. Shin Splints
For sports like running and dancing, shin splints are a fairly common injury that happens in front of the lower leg. This injury is also known as medial tibial stress syndrome, and is caused by inflammation of the muscles, tendons and bone around the tibia, or “shin”. Initial treatment of this injury will include rest from activity, followed by physical therapy to stretch and strengthen the surrounding muscles.
5. Tennis Elbow
Another common sports injury which can take some time to heal is lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow. This injury, although not exclusive to tennis players, involves the strain, or tearing of the tendons around the outside of the elbow. It is classified as a type of tendonitis and may take some time to heal as it is difficult to fully rest this area during everyday activities.
How Sports Medicine Addresses These Injuries
Many sports-related injuries affect the limbs, often requiring specialized treatment for proper recovery. Sports medicine offers a variety of proven, effective solutions for tendon tears and joint injuries, including:
- Bracing: Used to stabilize the injured area, bracing prevents further damage by limiting movement, aiding in optimal recovery and rehabilitation.
- Physical Therapy: With a customized treatment plan and expert guidance, physical therapy helps restore strength and mobility, gently easing the body back to peak performance.
- Orthobiologics: Cutting-edge treatments, like PRP injections, leverage the body’s natural healing capabilities by using components from the patient’s own blood to effectively treat tears and injuries, a method favored by many athletes.
- Surgery: Reserved as a last option, surgery can provide a highly effective solution for severe sports injuries when other treatments are insufficient.
Recover from Sports Injuries with the Orthopaedic Medical Group of Tampa Bay
At Orthopaedic Medical Group of Tampa Bay, we provide comprehensive sports medicine services, including advanced orthobiologics, surgical care, and more, designed to treat all types of sports injuries. Contact your nearest office today to schedule a consultation.
