Sports Medicine

Injuries like strains and sprains don’t only happen when playing sports. You could incur similar damage when exercising, playing with your children, or doing anything physically active. Call on former professional athlete and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon Kellie K. Middleton, MD, in Lawrenceville, Georgia, when you need treatment. Dr. Middleton combines conservative treatments like physical therapy with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and other injectables and excels at sports medicine surgery. Call her office to learn more or request an appointment online today.

What damage do sports injuries cause?

Sports injuries typically cause damage to your:

Muscles

Your low back muscles, calf muscles, the hamstrings in your thighs, and the rotator cuff muscles in your shoulders are the ones you’re most likely to strain or tear.

Tendons

Tendons attach your muscles to your bones. Typical tendon injuries include patellar tendinitis in your knee, Achilles tendinitis in your heel, and tennis or golfer’s elbow. You might also develop tenosynovitis, which is inflammation in the tendon sheath.

Ligaments

Ligaments connect the bones in your joints. Sprained ankles and wrists are frequent sports injuries. ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and MCL (medial collateral ligament) sprains in your knees are also common.

Bones

Fractures can happen when you fall or collide with something during practice or competition. There are numerous types of fractures, from simple, clean breaks where the bones are still in line to complex crush injuries and open (compound) fractures.

Joints

Joint dislocations can happen after a fall or collision if there’s enough force involved. Shoulder dislocations are particularly common in sports and often tear the muscles and tendons that make up your rotator cuff.

Cartilage

Cartilage is a tough tissue that protects your joints. Under severe strain, cartilage can tear, which causes pain and joint instability. The meniscus in your knee and labrum in your shoulder and hip are most likely to suffer a sports injury.

What treatments does sports medicine offer?

Initial sports medicine treatment involves resting the injured area, using ice packs to reduce swelling, and applying a bandage to strains and sprains. Anti-inflammatory medicines ease pain and inflammation.

Dr. Middleton might recommend physical therapy, activity modification, and support like a brace, splint, or sling. She also uses growth-boosting platelet-rich plasma (PRP), ReNu® stem cell therapy, and steroid injections if other treatments aren’t helping enough.

You might require surgery if you have a severe injury or your condition doesn’t improve with conservative treatments.

What sports medicine surgery might I need?

Sports medicine surgeries Dr. Middleton performs include:

• Tendon repair/reconstruction
• Rotator cuff repair
• Distal biceps repair
• Ligament repair/reconstruction
• Cartilage repair and removal

Dr. Middleton also specializes in partial and total joint replacement for severe injuries.

Call Kellie K. Middleton, MD, for expert sports medicine treatment, or book an appointment online today.