Sports Injuries
-
- Tweet
South Coast Sports and Spine Medicine
Tariq Hilal, DO
Sports and Spine Physician located in Orange and Los Angeles County, Los Alamitos, CA
Sports injuries aren't just painful; they keep you away from the activities you love. If you're out of action because of a sports injury, expert sports medicine physician Tariq Hilal, DO, of South Coast Sports and Spine Medicine in Los Alamitos, California, can help. Dr. Hilal has extensive experience working with professional sports teams and uses this expertise to help patients of all abilities. To benefit from his exceptional skills, call South Coast Sports and Spine Medicine or book an appointment online today.
Sports Injuries Q & A
What are sports injuries?
Sports injuries sometimes occur if you're playing sports or when you're training and exercising. They cause damage to your:
- Bones
- Joints
- Muscles
- Tendons
- Ligaments
- Cartilage
- Nerves
Sports injuries can also affect the intervertebral discs in your spine.
Sports injuries are often acute, like sprains and dislocations that occur suddenly. You can also develop a sports injury from repetitive strain or overuse, where numerous tiny injuries to the bones or tissues build up over time and lead to chronic inflammation.
What sports injuries might I sustain?
Common sports injuries you could sustain include:
Strained or torn muscles
Calves, thighs, hamstrings, triceps, biceps, and back muscles are particularly prone to strains and tears.
Strained or torn tendons
Common tendon injuries include Achilles tendon strains in your lower leg and rotator cuff tears in your shoulder.
Sprained or ruptured ligaments
The ligaments in your joints attach bones to other bones. Common sports injuries of the ligaments include ankle sprains and ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) or MCL (medial collateral ligament) sprains in the knee joint.
Tendinitis
Tendinitis is the chronic inflammation of the tendons. Common examples of tendinitis include tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis), and Achilles tendinitis.
Cartilage tears
The meniscus cartilage in your knee and the labral cartilage in your shoulder and hip can tear, affecting joint function and stability.
Other types of sports injuries include fractures (broken bones) and dislocations, which often require urgent medical care.
What treatments can help with sports injuries?
Dr. Hilal works with you to ensure you receive whichever treatments are most suited to your injury and fitness levels. The first step is identifying and assessing the injury, which Dr. Hilal can do on-site using sophisticated diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound.
Physical therapy is typically vital for a successful recovery from sports injuries, and many patients may need little else. Other potential treatments for sports injuries include:
- Therapeutic massage
- Electric stimulation
- Hot and cold packs
- Therapeutic ultrasound
- Orthotics, splints, or braces
- Trigger point injections
- Prolotherapy
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
- Epidural steroid injections
- Facet joint injections
- Nerve blocks
- Radiofrequency ablation
Dr. Hilal was the team physician for high school football teams in New York City and an assistant team physician for the CUNY Mariners, an NCAA football team in New York City. He also served as an assistant to the NBA's Phoenix Suns spine consultant, Dr. Christopher Huston.
With such extensive sports medicine experience, Dr. Hilal can offer elite athlete-level care to the general population for the majority of non-surgical sports and spinal injuries.
If you suffer a sports injury, you can benefit from Dr. Hilal's expertise. Call South Coast Sports and Spine Medicine today to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.
