Sports Injuries

What are the early warning signs of a sports injury?

While some sports injuries aren’t obvious at first, other more serious or complex injuries may show early warning signs, including:

• Joint tenderness and pain
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Decreased range of motion or stiffness
• Pain in the muscles surrounding an affected joint

If you experience any of these issues after playing sports or completing an athletic event, see the sports injury specialists at New Jersey Pain Management for an evaluation.

When should I seek treatment for a sports injury?

You should seek treatment from the team if you experience any early warning signs of an injury or notice any of the following issues during or after athletic activity:

• Muscle stiffness or soreness
• Knots in your muscles
• Feeling of instability in your joints
• Pain that lingers for more than one week

These issues may signal a chronic problem or an overuse injury. Common chronic and overuse injuries include:

• Iliotibial (IT) band tendinitis
• Golfer’s elbow or tennis elbow
• Muscle strain
• Ligament sprain
• Bursitis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Rotator cuff tears
• Tendinitis in the shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, ankle, or foot
• Shoulder impingement
• Labral tears in the shoulder or hip

In order to determine the cause of your pain, the team begins within a consultation to discuss your injury, how it happened, and any potential pain triggers.

How is a sports injury diagnosed?

After your consultation, the team completes a thorough physical exam to assess your injury and surrounding anatomical structures that may be involved. The team measures your range of motion, muscle strength and flexibility, and nerve function. If you’re showing signs of bruising or swelling, the team also evaluates the severity of tissue damage in the area.

Orthopedic tests may be included to assess the function of the involved joints or muscles. These tests involve pressing on potentially sore areas and moving the injured area in specific ways to evaluate the stability of the area. If necessary, the team refers you for X-rays or an MRI.

How is a sports injury treated?

After your exam, the team explains your diagnosis and outlines a treatment plan to help you recover. Depending on your injury, the team may recommend rest and cold therapy along with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications.

More serious injuries may require further treatment, including rehab, injection therapy, or regenerative medicine.

To schedule an evaluation of your sports injury, call or book online at New Jersey Pain Management.