Where on your body have you experienced injury, or are you feeling pain? Understanding common injuries in our bodies will help us better understand and address these problems with your physician.

Head Injury

Playing sports increases a person's risk of falls and collisions with other players and objects. These can often cause concussions or brain injuries. You may experience symptoms immediately or it may take days/weeks to feel the effects of your injury. Common symptoms include but are not limited to:

  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Confusion
  • Memory issues
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Nausea
  • Sensitivity to light or noise

Neck & Back Injury

Up to 20% of all sports injuries involve the back or neck. Conditions and injuries that affect the spine can be serious and need immediate attention. Spine issues range from joint diseases, traumatic injuries, to congenital issues and pressure problems. Neck and back pain are the most common symptoms of a spine injury, but others might include numbness, weakness or tingling in the arms or legs.

Shoulder & Elbow Injury

Baseball, softball and volleyball players have the highest percentage of shoulder and elbow-related injuries. A high percentage of competitive swimmers also sustain shoulder injuries at some point during their careers. There are many factors that place an athlete at risk for a shoulder injury.  Extrinsic factors (those that are external to the athlete) are the number of hours spent playing and practicing a sport, the intensity of those practices and the types of activity being performed. Intrinsic factors (those that are internal to the athlete) are mostly related to anatomy and level of training. Age, growth, muscle tightness, muscle weakness, poor conditioning, joint hypermobility, can all play a role in the injury.

Hand & Wrist Injury

Approximately 25% of all sports-related injuries involve the hand or wrist. If managed properly, most athletes can expect their injury to heal without any significant surgery. Some common traumatic injuries in athletes include joint dislocations, sprains, muscle strains, broken bones, tendon inflammation, and ligament tears. The most common fracture injury in the athletic population occurs in the fingers. Some issues can be treated at home, but you should always get checked out by a hand doctor first so they can determine the proper treatment.

Hip Injury

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint that helps to facilitate leg movement and rotation. Damage to the hip joint or any of the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tendons can lead to hip pain, soreness, and stiffness. Athletes can experience a variety of hip conditions and treatment recommendations are based on the specific needs of each patient.

Knee Injury

Knee injuries are extremely common, especially in soccer and basketball. There are many factors that place an athlete at risk for a knee injury. Extrinsic factors (those that are external to the athlete) are the type of playing surface, shoe wear, being hit by another player, etc. Intrinsic factors (those that are internal to the athlete) are mostly related to anatomy and level of training. Muscle tightness, muscle weakness, poor conditioning, joint hypermobility, hip, knee and foot alignment can all play a role in the injury. For example, it is believed that women are at higher risk for injury because they are more likely to have a wider pelvis, hyper pronated feet, and more flexible joints. In addition, some research shows that as women approach puberty, they may have slower neuromuscular responses and weakening of the muscles that help to protect the knee.

Foot & Ankle Injury

Injuries to the foot and ankle are very common in many sports. They can be caused by traumatic injuries, arthritis, overuse and a range of other factors.

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