Sports Medicine
Treating sports injuries and conditions
Common sports injuries and sports conditions
Dr. Patel, OrthoIndy sports medicine physician, provides specialized care for injuries that happen during exercise or athletic activity.
Ankle Sprains
Ankle sprains are common injuries that occur to people of all ages and can range from mild to severe. An ankle sprain occurs when the ligaments that support the ankle stretch beyond their limits and tear. Ankle sprains can occur due to your foot twisting during a variety of activities including sports activities, falling down and walking or exercising on uneven surfaces.
Bicep Tendinitis
Biceps tendinitis is an inflammation or irritation of the upper biceps tendon. Biceps tendinitis is inflammation of the long head of the biceps tendon. Biceps tendinitis usually occurs along with other shoulder problems. In most cases, there is also damage to the rotator cuff tendon.
Patellar tendinitis
Patellar Tendinitis is an overuse injury to the tendon connecting your kneecap (patella) to your shinbone. Patellar tendinitis, also known as jumper’s knee, is most common in athletes whose sports involve frequent jumping such as basketball and volleyball.
However, even people who don’t participate in jumping sports can get patellar tendinitis. It is caused by repeated stress on the patellar tendon. The stress results in tiny tears in the tendon that cause pain from inflammation and weakening of the tendon.
Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis is a painful condition of the elbow caused by overuse. Tennis players rarely get tennis elbow with the newer rackets. Most cases of tennis elbow are work-related.
Tennis elbow is an inflammation of the tendons that join the forearm muscles on the outside of the elbow. The forearm muscles and tendons become damaged (tendinopathy) from overuse and lead to pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow.
Overuse Injuries
Unlike acute injuries, which result from a one-time injury, overuse injuries occur over a period of time. They are the result of subtle, smaller injuries (micro-trauma) to the tendons, muscles, bones or joints. Factors that cause overuse injuries are anything that causes too much stress on the tendons, muscles, bones or joints.
Typically this occurs in someone who begins a new workout activity or sport and attempts to do too much too soon. It can also occur when an individual does not allow the body enough time to recover between a certain exercise or activity. This does not allow the body to build back up the tissue that the activity breaks down.