Specialized Care for Sports Injury Recovery

Competitive athletes deal with intense stress on their bodies, but weekend warriors and anyone who enjoys an active life can suffer a sports injury. An experienced board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Obi Osuji, MD, FAAOS, and his team at Signature Orthopedics in Mesquite, Texas, specialize in nonsurgical and surgical treatments designed to restore optimal performance and get you back in the game as quickly as possible. Call Signature Orthopedics today or book an appointment online to receive exceptional medical care for a sports injury.

Sports Injury Q&A

Sports injuries can occur when you take a direct hit or make a sudden movement, like pivoting or stopping while running. Many sports injuries are simply accidents, while others are caused by using improper technique or failing to warm up before training or competition.

However, overuse injuries are the most common sports injuries. An overuse injury develops when you repeat the same movements and don’t give your body enough time to rest and heal between activities. The ongoing stress leads to tears and inflammation.

Dr. Osuji and his Signature Orthopedics team treat every type of sports injury, frequently helping people with:

  • Ligament tears (especially in the knee)
  • Meniscus tears (knees)
  • Rotator cuff injuries
  • Shoulder impingement
  • Labral tears (shoulder)
  • Achilles tendon injuries
  • Ankle sprains
  • Biceps tears
  • Shin splints
  • Hamstring strain
  • Tennis and golfer’s elbow
  • Tendinitis 

You’re more likely to suffer a sports injury if you play high-impact sports like football, basketball, hockey, soccer, tennis, and long-distance running.

Sports injuries cause symptoms including:

  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Bruising
  • Blistering
  • Tenderness
  • Joint stiffness
  • Difficulty walking
  • Bone or joint that’s visibly out of place
  • Weakness in an injured arm or leg
  • Inability to bear weight (on a leg, knee, ankle, or foot)

Immediate pain, bruising, and swelling are the hallmark symptoms of a fracture or sprain. In other injuries, your pain can get worse over time.

When an injury causes severe or worsening pain, you should seek an immediate evaluation at Signature Orthopedics. If you keep using injured tissues, you can cause further harm and slow down healing.

Most sports injuries are successfully treated with conservative therapies, like rest, immobilizing the injured body part, and taking anti-inflammatory medication. Dr. Osuji could also suggest steroid injections or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.

You also start physical therapy and rehabilitation as soon as possible. Your physical therapy could begin with passive exercises to promote blood circulation and maintain mobility, then include strengthening exercises and sport-specific rehab.

Dr. Osuji could discuss surgery if your pain continues despite conservative treatments. However, a complex or open fracture usually needs immediate surgery. A ruptured ligament might also require immediate reconstructive surgery to ensure you regain full strength.

Call Signature Orthopedics today or book an appointment online when you need help with a sports injury.