Patellofemoral Syndrome Patellofemoral syndrome is a knee injury, caused by the kneecap repeatedly moving against the leg bone – damaging tissue and causing pain. It can take up to six weeks for this type of injury to heal, while following our combination of special exercises, proper footwear and anti-inflammatory treatments to speed the process.

Shoulder Injury Dislocations, sprains/strains and tears make up to 20% of all sports injuries. Most shoulder injuries are caused by overuse – particularly with sports that require overhead movement, such as tennis, swimming, basketball and volleyball. Ask us about our preventative exercise programs for the off-season.

Tennis or Golf Elbow Repetitive use of the elbow in sports such as tennis and golf cause an injury called epicondylitis (or tennis elbow), which make up about 7% of all sports injuries. Repetitive movements cause tears in the elbow ligaments, resulting in pain on the inside or outside of the elbow. To properly heal, you may need a break from the sport – however we also can provide an exercise plan to strengthen the arm to prevent elbow injuries.

Hamstring Strain Often athletes will pull or strain one of the three muscles behind the knee, in the back of the leg – known as a hamstring strain. Pain results from small tears in the muscles or tendons, which is often the result of overuse or over-stretching. Hamstring injuries generally take a long time to heal and require rest, icing and anti-inflammatories. Be sure to inquire about exercise plans that can help prevent injury and/or speed recovery.

Sciatica This lower back pain can send pain down into the legs and is often caused by activities such as baseball, golf, biking and track/field. Sciatica is often caused by a lack of stretching prior to activity. With any back pain, immediate attention should be sought at our office.

Shin spilts Shin splints are often identified as shooting pains that travel down the front of the legs – often found with runners or those that increase intensity of activity too quickly. In some cases, shin splints may be the result of a stress fracture – so it’s important to be seen by one of our doctors for proper diagnosis. Be sure to ask for our preventative/recovery exercises to help eliminate pain and keep you in play.

Groin Pull The muscles in the inner thigh form your groin muscles, and when they are overused, over-extended or not properly streched can result in a groin pull. Most sports that require a side extension of the leg can cause this type of injury – but with proper warm-up stretching, groin pulls can be prevented.

Concussion Concussions are an injury to the brain caused by impact, which may or may not be accompanied by unconsciousness. Symptoms may vary by the extent of the injury – and include dizziness, nausea, headaches, difficulty concentrating, loss of balance and more. It’s important to be seen by a doctor and cleared to play after a concussion, as recent studies have demonstrated permanent damage occurs when not treated properly.

ACL Tear The anterior cruciate ligament (or ACL) can be strained or torn by an abrupt action, hard impact or abnormal twist. This type of injury is one of the most severe sports injuries, requiring immediate attention and surgery if the ligament is totally torn.

Hip Flexor Strain The muscles that mobilize your leg or knee in an upward motion are a group of muscles called your hip flexor. Injuries may occur when these muscles are weak, stiff or injured in a fall – and can be torn or overstretched. Be sure to ask for our exercise plan, designed to increase flexibility and hip flexor strength for all sports and activities at any age.