Crozer-Keystone’s sports medicine specialists are well-versed in treating conditions that include:
Concussions
Recent evidence links the rate and severity of concussions suffered by youth playing sports with long-lasting brain damage that can follow children into adulthood. The Sports Concussion Management Center at the Healthplex® Sports Medicine Institute is devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of concussion.
Learn more about our Sports Concussion Management Center.
Sprains & strains
A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament that can happen during a fall, unusual twisting or a sudden impact during an activity. Symptoms include pain, swelling and difficulty moving the joint—there may also be a “pop” or sensation of tearing when the injury occurs.
A strain is a stretched or torn muscle or tendon caused either suddenly or over time, usually from playing sports or overuse during daily activities. Strain symptoms include pain, muscle spasms, swelling and trouble moving the affected area.
Crozer-Keystone's specialists will diagnose the source of pain based on a physical examination and the circumstances of the injury. For all types of injury, Crozer-Keystone’s doctors will recommend rest, ice, wearing a bandage or device to compress the area, medications to manage the pain, and, usually, physical therapy.
Fractures
“Fracture” is the term for a broken or cracked bone, and a fracture can be complete or partial. Fractures generally occur when there’s a high impact or a trauma to the bone, such as a collision with a piece of equipment, a fall, or a forceful or unnatural movement.
Symptoms of a fracture are an out-of-place or misshapen limb or joint; swelling, bruising or bleeding; intense pain; numbness and tingling; and limited mobility or inability to move the affected limb. Fractures require immediate emergency medical care.
Your Crozer-Keystone sports medicine physician will use an X-ray to assess the injury. Treatment starts with setting the bone back in place and immobilizing the fractured area with a cast or splint.
Fractures usually take four to six weeks to heal, and once the cast or splint is removed, some physical rehabilitation is usually necessary to continue to heal the bone and begin to rebuild muscle.
Stress fractures
Stress fractures are overuse injuries that occur when muscles become fatigued and can no longer absorb added shock—typically when the intensity or amount of exercise is increased too rapidly, or an athlete or active adult is working with unfamiliar equipment or playing on an unfamiliar surface.
The pressure causes a tiny crack to appear in the bone, most often the weight-bearing bones of the lower leg and foot. Though stress fractures affect people of all ages, they tend to happen more frequently to women and those who participate in sports such as tennis, track and field, gymnastics and basketball.
The primary symptom of a stress fracture is pain that feels more intense with activity but subsides during rest.
Crozer-Keystone's specialists can diagnose stress fractures by evaluating a patient’s risk factors and using X-rays, CT scans and MRIs. Managing stress fractures requires rest for at least six to eight weeks, avoiding re-injury and sometimes using shoe inserts or applying braces.
Arthritis
Arthritis occurs when the smooth cartilage covering the ends of bones wears away over time—in many cases by repetitive motion.
Symptoms of arthritis include dull, aching pain aggravated by physical activity; the inability to bend or straighten the affected joint; and a feeling of weakness or a “buckling” sensation.
Crozer-Keystone's specialists recommend rest and anti-inflammatory medications (such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen) or corticosteroids as a first step in treating arthritis.
Other treatments include physical therapy to increase range of motion, using an assistive device such as a brace or cane, and applying heat, ice, bandages or liniments to minimize pain and inflammation.
Joint pain & injury
Crozer-Keystone’s sports medicine specialists are trained to diagnose and treat pain of the hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, head and neck, upper and lower back, pelvis, hip, leg, knee, ankle and foot.
Diagnosis involves exploring a patient’s medical history; evaluating pain, strength and motion; and using X-rays and other imaging tests to view the affected areas.
Treatment usually requires rest, ice, compression and elevation to relieve pain, reduce swelling and speed healing. Doctors may also suggest pain relievers such as non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs or injections; applying a splint or brace; or rehabilitation exercises.
Why do people visit sports medicine specialists?
Most people see a sports medicine specialist to treat an injury such as a fracture, cut or wound, strain (an injury of a muscle or tendon) or sprain (the stretching or tearing of a ligament).
Boys and men are twice as likely as girls and women to suffer a sports injury. And while many people think that sports and fitness injuries happen to school or college-age athletes, a large number occur in adults over the age of 25.
Crozer-Keystone's sports medicine specialists are familiar with all sports and fitness injuries, and treat all of our patients’ unique problems. An individual plan of care is developed after a skilled hands-on evaluation and appropriate diagnostic testing is performed (such as X-rays, an MRI, etc.).
Can sports injuries be prevented?
Absolutely! Crozer-Keystone's sports medicine specialists are skilled at teaching athletes how to prevent injuries. Even athletes who’ve never had physical problems related to their workouts or sports participation can benefit from learning prevention techniques.
You can prevent injuries from occurring by maintaining flexibility, warming up properly, correcting strength deficits and using workout equipment wisely. Sports medicine specialists can help prescribe a training plan designed specifically for your needs.
If you’ve suffered a previous injury, make sure you tell our specialists. They’ll educate you to prevent future injuries.
What else do sports medicine specialists do besides treat & help prevent injuries?
Sports medicine specialists can advise athletes on their nutritional needs and address health problems that can affect physical performance, such as arthritis, osteoporosis, exercise-induced asthma, heart problems and eating disorders.
During recovery from an injury, sports medicine specialists oversee patient progress and coordinate the rehabilitation process to restore function and overall health.
I'm a “weekend athlete.” Can sports medicine specialists help someone like me?
Yes. Emergency Room and sports medicine physicians see many “weekend warriors” who don’t exercise much during the workweek then participate in vigorous exercise on the weekend.
Because this scenario often leads to injury, sports medicine specialists can help weekend athletes develop a moderate, balanced exercise plan to help prevent injuries and encourage overall fitness and health.
What if I need surgery for a sports injury?
Sometimes a surgical procedure becomes a necessary part of treatment. Crozer-Keystone's team of orthopedic surgeons is expertly trained to address sports injuries.
Depending on your condition, surgical solutions may include arthroscopic surgery, ligament reconstruction or surgical treatment of overuse syndromes.
