Injuries, Symptoms & Treatments

Sports Medicine

We love treating athletes because we are athletes

Sports medicine is a subspecialty of orthopedics that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries suffered during athletic activity. The goal of treatment is to heal and rehabilitate the injury so patients can return to their favorite activities quickly, whether it's Little League, recreational play or a high school, college or professional sport.

 

Due to frequent use, wear-and-tear and risk of a fall or accident associated with sports activities, athletes are often susceptible to orthopedic injuries, including a stress fracture, chronic pain, or a tearing or stretching or internal structures. Different activities place different parts of the body at a higher risk for damage. It is therefore important to take necessary precautions to protect yourself while playing sports. Treatment for these conditions may involve surgery, orthotics, physical therapy and rest.

 

As with a sports team, there are many physicians who work together to help the patient regain maximum use of the injured limb or joint. "Players" on the team are typically the physician, orthopedic surgeon, rehabilitation specialist, athletic trainer and physical therapist - and the patient as well. Dr. Bellapianta has specialized training in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of sports injuries, and can help athletes return to their favorite activities as quickly as possible through the most advanced, minimally invasive treatments available.

Search our site for conditions and treatments we provide

Use the convenient search tool to find information on orthpedic conditions and treatments offered by our practice.. his assures that the information you are researching has been confirmed by Dr. Bellapianta as well as The American Academy of Orthpaedic Surgeons.

Diseases/Conditions of Sports Medicine

ACL Tears
Compartment Syndrome
Fractures
Heat Exhaustion
Muscle Contusions
Muscle Cramps
Shin Splints
Sprains & Strains
Stress Fractures
Rotator Cuff Injury
ACL Tears

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries

 

One of the most common knee injuries is an anterior cruciate ligament sprain or tear.

Athletes who participate in high demand sports like soccer, football, and basketball are more likely to injure their anterior cruciate ligaments.

 

If you have injured your anterior cruciate ligament, you may require surgery to regain full function of your knee. This will depend on several factors, such as the severity of your injury and your activity level.

 

Anatomy

 

Three bones meet to form your knee joint: your thighbone (femur), shinbone (tibia), and kneecap (patella). Your kneecap sits in front of the joint to provide some protection.

 

Bones are connected to other bones by ligaments. There are four primary ligaments in your knee. They act like strong ropes to hold the bones together and keep your knee stable.

 

Collateral Ligaments

These are found on the sides of your knee. The medial collateral ligament is on the inside and the lateral collateral ligament is on the outside. They control the sideways motion of your knee and brace it against unusual movement.

 

Cruciate Ligaments

These are found inside your knee joint. They cross each other to form an "X" with the anterior cruciate ligament in front and the posterior cruciate ligament in back. The cruciate ligaments control the back and forth motion of your knee.

The anterior cruciate ligament runs diagonally in the middle of the knee. It prevents the tibia from sliding out in front of the femur, as well as provides rotational stability to the knee.

 

 

Description

 

About half of all injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament occur along with damage to other structures in the knee, such as articular cartilage, meniscus, or other ligaments.

 

Injured ligaments are considered "sprains" and are graded on a severity scale:

 

  • Grade 1 Sprains. The ligament is mildly damaged in a Grade 1 Sprain. It has been slightly stretched, but is still able to help keep the knee joint stable.
  • Grade 2 Sprains. A Grade 2 Sprain stretches the ligament to the point where it becomes loose. This is often referred to as a partial tear of the ligament.
  • Grade 3 Sprains. This type of sprain is most commonly referred to as a complete tear of the ligament. The ligament has been split into two pieces, and the knee joint is unstable.

 

Partial tears of the anterior cruciate ligament are rare; most ACL injuries are complete or near complete tears.

 

 

Cause

 

The anterior cruciate ligament can be injured in several ways:

 

  • Changing direction rapidly
  • Stopping suddenly
  • Slowing down while running
  • Landing from a jump incorrectly
  • Direct contact or collision, such as a football tackle

 

Several studies have shown that female athletes have a higher incidence of ACL injury than male athletes in certain sports. It has been proposed that this is due to differences in physical conditioning, muscular strength, and neuromuscular control. Other suggested causes include differences in pelvis and lower extremity (leg) alignment, increased looseness in ligaments, and the effects of estrogen on ligament properties.

 

 

Symptoms

 

When you injure your anterior cruciate ligament, you might hear a "popping" noise and you may feel your knee give out from under you. Other typical symptoms include:

 

  • Pain with swelling. Within 24 hours, your knee will swell. If ignored, the swelling and pain may resolve on its own. However, if you attempt to return to sports, your knee will probably be unstable and you risk causing further damage to the cushioning cartilage (meniscus) of your knee.
  • Loss of full range of motion
  • Tenderness along the joint line
  • Discomfort while walking

Content by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 

Compartment Syndrome
Fractures
Heat Exhaustion
Muscle Contusions
Muscle Cramps
Shin Splints
Sprains & Strains
Stress Fractures
Rotator Cuff Injury

ACL Tear

This injury is a tearing of the ACL ligament in the knee joint. The ACL ligament is one of the bands of tissue that connects the femur to the tibia. An ACL tear can be painful. It can cause the knee to become unstable.

Shin Splints

This is pain you feel in the front of one or both of your lower legs. It can be a problem for runners, dancers, gymnasts and other active people.

Stress Fractures

Stress fractures are one or more tiny cracks in a bone. These fractures are common in the legs and feet.

Rotator Cuff

Injury

The rotator cuff muscles and tendons hold your upper arm bone in your shoulder socket. A hard fall, repetitive arm motions or problems with the structure of your shoulder can injure the rotator cuff.

Common Treatments of Sports Medicine

Medications
Diagnostic Imaging
Therapy Injections
Physical Therapy
Surgery
Medications

Medications

Over-the-counter medications can be used to control pain and inflammation. These medications, called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Acetaminophen can also be effective in controlling pain.

Prescription medications also are available. A doctor will take account the type of condition/injury, its severity, and the patient's general physical health before prescribing a medication. Patients with stomach ulcers, asthma, kidney disease, or liver disease, for example, may not be able to safely take anti-inflammatory medications. For patients with inflammatory conditions, the doctor (typically a rheumatoligist) may prescribe medications that modify the body's immune response.

Content by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 

Diagnostic Imaging
Therapy Injections
Physical Therapy
Surgery

ACL Repair

This procedure repairs your knee after a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament This ligament is in the center of the knee. It helps anchor the femur to the tibia.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy can help control pain, recover from injury or disease and help you get better after surgery. It can also help keep you healthy as you get older.

Ankle Fracture Surgery

This surgery fixes an unstable break in your ankle. The break could be in the small bone of your lower leg, called the "fibula" or the larger bone, called the "tibia." Sometimes, they're both broken.

Rotator Cuff Repair

This surgery repairs a tear of the rotator cuff in your shoulder. The rotator cuff is group of muscles and tendons. It holds the head of the humerus in the shoulder socket.

Experience the latest in orthopedic care 

We offer the latest in non-invasive treatments including Regenerative Cell and Platelet Rich Injections.