Sports Medicine Doctor in Anchorage, AK

Whether you’re a professional athlete, play on a high school sports team, or are simply someone who likes to stay fit, injury is always a risk. The good news is that you can get help from experts to prevent sports injuries as well as diagnose and treat them as they occur. Our sports medicine team is here to help athletes and active patients with every need – from sprains and strains to ACL tears.

What is a sports medicine specialist? These are the physicians who specialize in treating injuries sustained during sports and exercise. This includes ankle, hip, shoulder, knee, wrist, and elbow injuries, along with a full range of orthopedic care options.

Sports medicine specialists see adult and pediatric patients for a full range of medical concerns. Some of the injuries treated by these doctors include:

• Any sports-related injury to the ankle, wrist, knee, shoulder, muscles, or other soft tissues
• Cartilage damage
• Exercise-induced trauma
• Fractures
• Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)
• Labral tears
• Overuse injuries
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Sprains
• Tendonitis
• Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
• Torn meniscus
• Torn tendon, ligament, or ACL

Sports Medicine at Alaska Fracture & Orthopedic Clinic

When you visit with a specialist in our practice, the first step is diagnosing your injury. This will involve a physical examination and may require different types of imaging, including X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This evaluation will allow our board-certified orthopedic surgeons and physiatrist to determine the nature of your injury and the right course of treatment.

Your sports medicine treatment plan could involve any number of things, including physical therapy, stretches, medicine, or surgery. Our goal is always to get you back on the field or the court as soon as possible and to provide the solutions you need to function at your best.

Because we know how important it is for athletes to get back in the game, we strive to use nonsurgical treatment options and avoid surgery whenever possible. For more serious injuries, surgical intervention may be the best medical option. When surgery is needed, our surgeons will perform the appropriate procedure using the latest methods, including arthroscopy. No matter the nature of the surgery, we will always try to ensure a full and quick rehabilitation for each athlete we see.

Our sports medicine providers are also proud to serve as team physicians for both high school and collegiate teams in the area.

Sports Knee Injuries

Knee injuries are among the most common injuries sustained from sports. The knee joint is particularly vulnerable to injury during high-impact activities due to its complex structure of bones, ligaments, tendons and cartilage. Common knee injuries include anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, meniscus tears, patellar tendonitis and dislocated kneecap.

Sports Wrist & Hand Injuries

When playing sports, injuries to the wrist and hand are particularly common because of the frequency with which they’re used. Sprains represent a group of musculoskeletal injuries caused by over-stretching or tearing of the ligaments in the wrist or hand. Tendinitis is an inflammation of one (or more) tendons in the wrist or hand from repetitive use. Fractures can occur in the wrist or hand when it receives a direct force greater than its structural capacity, resulting in bone breakage.

Sports Elbow Injuries

Elbow injuries are often the result of overuse or repetitive movements, such as those seen in tennis and golf. The most common elbow injuries include tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis), ulnar collateral ligament injuries, dislocation, fracture, bursitis, tendonitis and arthritis. Symptoms may include tenderness, swelling, pain or discomfort when gripping objects, decreased range of motion and/or difficulty moving the arm.

Sports Foot & Ankle Injuries

Foot and ankle injuries are a common occurrence in sports, especially those that involve running, jumping, and kicking. Depending on the severity of the injury, it can take anywhere from days to months for an athlete to fully recover. Common foot and ankle injuries include sprains, fractures, tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, plantar warts, Achilles tendon rupture, posterior tibial tendonitis, and ankle instability.

Sports Back & Spine Injuries

Spinal injury is a common and potentially serious consequence of physical activity, especially in sports. Many athletes can suffer from injuries to the cervical spine (neck), thoracic spine (upper back) and lumbar spine (lower back). Common spinal injuries often result from sudden or repeated impacts, poor posture, incorrect body mechanics, or lack of proper conditioning for an activity. While these injuries can be serious, they can also be prevented or minimized with proper preparation and safety protocols.

Sports Shoulder Injuries

Common shoulder injuries resulting from sports can range from strains or sprains to more serious conditions such as rotator cuff tears, labral tears and even dislocation due to high-impact sports. Overuse is often a contributing factor, with athletes partaking in repetitive motion activities such as baseball pitching or swimming at an intensive level. These injuries can sometimes require physical therapy or even surgery in order to recover fully.

Sports Hip Injuries

Hip injuries from sports are not only common, but can also be debilitating if left untreated. It’s important to know about the most common hip injuries so that you can take preventive measures or get treatment early on. Common sports-related hip injuries include muscle sprain or strain, tendonitis, labral tears, stress fractures and ligament sprains.

Broken Bones & Fractures

Sports-related injuries can range from minor scrapes and bruises to more severe, traumatic fractures and broken bones. A fracture is a break or crack in a bone caused by significant force or stress on the body. Broken bones, on the other hand, are complete breaks that cause the bone to split into two or more pieces. Common sports-related fractures include wrist and ankle fractures, as well as rib and hip fractures.

What type of sports injury do you have?

There are two types of sports injuries:

What type of sports injury do you have?

The RICE method (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) is a great way to reduce pain, inflammation, and swelling in the first 24 to 48 hours after an injury. However, if your pain persists for longer than 48 hours or you notice a loss of range of motion and strength, you should see a orthopedic or sports medicine doctor right away.

What types of sports injuries do sports medicine doctors treat?

Our sports medicine doctors treat a wide range of sports injuries, including:

• Strains
• Sprains
• Tendonitis
• Stress fractures
• Tennis elbow
• Runner’s knee
• Shin splints
• Plantar fasciitis
• Back and neck pain
• Shoulder injuries
• Knee injuries

How long will it take to heal my sports injury?

Healing times for sports injuries vary depending on the type and severity of the injury. However, starting orthopedic care early can help you recover faster. Our orthopedic & sports medicine doctors can give you an estimated healing time after your initial evaluation and physical examination.

How can you prevent future sports injuries?

Many sports injuries happen because people don’t warm up properly, stretch, or gradually increase their activity levels.

To prevent injuries:

• Warm up your muscles for 5-10 minutes before stretching. Stretching cold muscles can lead to injury.

• Start slowly and gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts. Rapidly increasing your activity levels can lead to stress fractures, muscle pulls, and tendon strains.

• If you pull a muscle or injure yourself, stop the activity and apply ice. If the pain persists, schedule an appointment with our sports medicine center right away.