Sports Injuries

Our California surgeons are recognized for their experience with sports injuries.

They are trained in the latest arthroscopic surgery techniques for the shoulder, knee, wrist, ankle and foot. They have worked with collegiate and professional sports teams in football, basketball, soccer, gymnastics, hockey and lacrosse.

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Golden State Bone and Joint physicians are well-versed in both surgical and non-surgical treatment alternatives for a variety of sports injuries, including:

Burners and Stingers

Common injuries for athletes who participate in contact sports, burners and stingers occur when nerves in the neck and shoulder are stretched or compressed after an impact to the head. In most cases, these injuries are temporary, but in some cases, they can persist and cause pain. Treatment options for this type of injury typically include physical therapy. In addition, your doctor may recommend a special neck roll or other equipment to wear during future sports activities.

Muscle Contusion

A contusion is a type of bruise to a muscle within the body. They are the second leading cause of sports injury. While most contusions are minor and heal quickly, severe contusions result in deep tissue damage that can impact an athlete’s ability to compete.
A physical examination combined with diagnostic imaging is typically required to diagnose a severe contusion and ensure that no nerve damage has occurred. Rehabilitation may be prescribed to restore your range of motion in the affected area. Some cases, such as a significant fluid buildup after a contusion, may require immediate surgery.

Muscle Cramp

Most people have experienced muscle cramps, the sudden and intense pain that results when a muscle is locked in a spasm. While cramps occur most often in the thighs, calves and hamstrings, they are also common in other areas of the body. Athletes are prone to muscle cramps, especially near the end or after periods of extended exercise. If muscle cramps happen frequently and are severe, and stretching or other approaches are not working, it could be a sign of a more serious health condition, such as radiculopathy, stenosis, infection or disease.

Sports Concussion

A sports concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury, and most often occurs during contact sports. It can temporarily affect how the brain functions, even impacting balance, memory and speech. These symptoms usually resolve in about a week; however, once an athlete has a concussion, he or she is at a greater risk for future concussions. If you suspect that you’ve had a concussion, we can administer a neurological examination to assess the condition. If needed, an MRI examination can be ordered to help determine if there has been any bleeding or permanent damage to the brain.

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Sports Hernia (Athletic Pubalgia)

This term refers to any strain or tear of the soft tissues within the lower abdomen or groin. Athletes who play sports that require the planting of the feet and twisting the body are prone to sports hernias. These sports include football, soccer, hockey and wrestling among others. It can cause intense, chronic pain that may prevent you from participating.
When surgery is required to repair torn tissues, Golden State Bone and Joint Clinic doctors use minimally invasive surgical techniques to repair the hernia. In some cases, the inguinal nerve may be purposely cut to relieve pain.

Sprains, Strains and Soft Tissue Injuries

Sprains occur when the tissues that connect bones together (ligaments) are torn. Strains are tears within muscles. Ruptures are tears in the tendons that connect muscles to the bones. These “soft tissue” injuries can occur from an acute injury (such as a fall or blow to the body) or from overuse of a particular muscle activity (such as that experienced by a pitcher in baseball). Tendinitis and bursitis, a type of inflammation, are common forms of overuse injuries.

Our sports injuries doctors specialize in repairing soft tissue injuries. We can diagnose the extent of your injury and provide an objective recommendation. Depending on the severity of the injury, both operative and nonoperative treatment options will be considered. Nonoperative treatment includes physical therapy, and potentially orthobiologic treatment options. In some cases though surgery may be the first recommendation.

Stress Fractures

A stress fracture occurs when a bone breaks down from physical activity faster than the body is able to repair it, and results in a fracture. Stress fractures are frequently experienced by athletes who engage in intense physical activity, and non-athletes after a sudden increase in an activity they are not used to. Those who are on long-term medication regimens, as well as those with osteoporosis, are also at risk for stress fracture and other sports injuries.

Diagnostic imaging tests, such as X-ray and MRI are used to diagnose stress fractures. Treatment may include rest, the use of crutches and/or a brace or boot to take pressure off the fracture, and in rare cases, surgery. If surgery is needed, a type of internal fixation (such as a pin, screw, plate or rod) may be used to ensure the bone heals properly.

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Female Athlete Triad: Sports Injuries and Problems Caused by Extreme Exercise and Dieting

When female athletes go to extremes with diet and exercise, it can potentially result in a condition called female athlete triad, where three conditions exist—eating disorder (insufficient caloric intake), menstrual dysfunction (amenorrhea) and low bone density (a risk factor for osteoporosis).

Because the female athlete triad involves various body functions, it is likely that she will see several different doctors to treat the condition. Because the condition frequently involves stress fractures, the doctors at Golden State Bone and Joint Clinic may be part of a multidisciplinary team that each work in cooperation to restore female athletes to optimum health and avoid sports injuries.