"The trouble with athletes," says Dr. Allan Tissenbaum of the Orthopedic Group at Uniontown Hospital, "is that they're often not willing to admit they're hurt, or they don't give themselves a chance to recover."
As a nationally ranked sprinter, Dr. Tissenbaum understands the mentality. "A lot of athletes are scared their physician will tell them not to do the activity anymore. We've learned to suggest different courses of action."
In order to diagnose sports injuries, orthopedists like Dr. Tissenbaum begin with an examination, which includes taking a complete history. "We need to know the cause of the injury. What sport do you do? What's changed? Are you trying to increase your mileage? Do you have new shoes? Are you using a heavier racquet? Then we can recommend a remedy."
For the most common injuries, like acute sprains, cutting back a bit is often recommended. Other remedies might include anti-inflammatory drugs, stretching, physical therapy or help from a trainer.
"Sprains, strains and tendonitis are usually due to overuse," adds Dr. Tissenbaum. "If ignored, overuse can lead to longer recovery times and bigger, more acute problems."
Acute Problems
Acute problems are significant injuries that may require surgery. "Meniscus tears, or cartilage tears at the knee, are the most common injury requiring surgery," states Dr. Tissenbaum. "And anyone who has symptoms of a torn ACL needs to have surgery. ACLs are the main stabilizing ligament in the knee and have no ability to repair themselves."
Although MRIs are often used to confirm an injury, the real symptoms are hard to ignore. "If there is constant swelling, and if your knees are buckling, chances are you need surgery." Dr. Tissenbaum adds, "If not repaired, the knee will continue to deteriorate."
Treatments"If a meniscus tear is small," Dr. Tissenbaum says, "we'll often remove the torn part and reset it. If the tear is larger, we'll need to repair it."
In the case of ACL surgery, Dr. Tissenbaum states that a new ACL needs to be created. "You can't just take torn ends and reconnect them. We need to take a tendon around the knee to create a new ligament and secure it to the knee."
Dr. Tissenbaum notes that many of these procedures are now done arthroscopically. "Arthroscopy has been a great thing for sports injuries," he states. "There is minimal tissue disruption and faster recovery. Plus it helps us visualize and address problems we couldn't see before. And the success rate is a real winner. A lot of patients who have ACL surgery are back to their sport within 3 to 4 months. And most are walking within 2 to 3 weeks."
For prevention, Dr. Tissenbaum promotes a "get strong and get stretched" approach. "Stretching and strengthening can prevent injuries. In fact, strength training has been shown to decrease injury and increase performance."
And to anyone who is thinking of starting a sport, Dr. Tissenbaum advises, "Set realistic goals. All training is a balance between staying fit and strong, and not getting hurt."
