SPORTS MEDICINE

Sports injuries happen…but not just on the playing field, and not just to professional athletes. Sports injuries happen to ordinary people as well as athletes of all levels, and while these injuries usually occur when playing a sport, they can also occur unexpectedly during your daily activities. A sports injury can happen when you’re playing with your kids, or when you’ve stepped the wrong way on the stairs. Whatever the cause of your injury, our goal is to get you back to your activities, sports, and lifestyle without limitation or restriction.
 
At Orthopedic Associates of Dutchess County, we treat all types of sports injuries from cervical spine sprains (stretching of the neck ligaments and muscles) to turf toe (tearing of the joint in the big toe).

Knees
Cartilage and ligament tears are the most common types of knee injury. Cartilage acts as a cushion to the knee and ligaments help stabilize the joint when it's being stressed. Cartilage or ligament tears normally occur when you have a twisting fall and pressure is applied to the knee. This is especially prevalent in hard contact sports like football or in baseball when rounding the bases, but can occur in non-sports situations as well.



Shoulders
The most common shoulder injury is the stretching or tearing of the rotator cuff (the tendons that elevate the arm) and labrum (the shoulder cartilage). This is particularly prevalent with overhead throwing athletes like pitchers and quarterbacks.
 
In most cases, sports injuries can be treated through medications, physical therapy and bracing. Some injuries however, like certain types of ligament and cartilage tears, require surgery in order for the person to return to competition. The most common orthopedic procedure for sports injuries to the knee and shoulder joints is arthroscopy. It is normally a same day surgery and can be performed in an out-patient facility. As a minimally invasive procedure, the recovery time is significantly less than other surgeries, so there is little "down time" for the athlete waiting to get back in the game.