Sports Injury Clinic in Houston, TX
According to Stanford Children’s Health, 3.5 million children and teens need sports injury treatment in Houston every year. Of those, almost 800,000 children and teens are treated in the hospital, and many will go on to experience ongoing complications and pain from their injury for months, perhaps even years.
If you, your child, or teen has been injured while playing sports, exercising, or even injured at school or on playground equipment, there is help available. If you are experiencing a sports-related injury, contact the sports injury clinic in Houston at Orthopaedic Associates to schedule a consult at one of our 5 areas in Houston Orthopaedic Surgery Offices to discuss your symptoms and learn more about sports injury treatment options.
What Are the Most Common Types of Sports Injuries?
Sports injuries cover a very wide range of injuries, but some of the most common include:
- Broken bones
- Stress fractures
- Knee injuries
- Ankle injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Neck injuries
- Elbow injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Dislocations
What Causes Sports Injuries?
In many cases, the sport itself is the cause of the injury – being tackled during a game of football, for instance, can cause a wide range of injuries, particularly if proper protective gear is not being worn. Some of the most common causes of sports-related injuries in children include the following:
- Player to player contact
- Slip and fall
- Throwing injuries
- Contact with bat/ball
- Pivoting-related tears and ruptures
- Overuse injuries
What Sports See the Most Injuries?
All sports carry with them the potential for injuries, even something as seemingly innocuous as running/jogging. However, some of the most injury-prone sports include:
- Basketball
- Baseball
- Softball
- Football
- Ice hockey
- Skating (inline and roller)
- Skateboarding
- Bicycling
- Skiing/snowboarding
- Soccer
In addition to sports, play equipment can also be dangerous. Playground equipment like swings, slides, and monkey bars, as well as trampolines, can all lead to serious injuries.
How Are Sports Injuries Diagnosed?
The first step in diagnosing any injury is a full physical examination. An orthopedic specialist will examine your child or teen and explore the symptoms they are experiencing. X-rays are usually required as well, and the orthopedist may also require a CT scan or MRI to get a better image of soft tissues that may be injured, such as tendons and ligaments.
Sports Injury Treatment In Houston
Sports injury treatment varies based on the type of injury in question. Once the orthopedist has examined your child, they will create a customized treatment plan based on the injury, your child’s condition, and other factors. In many cases, treatment will begin with non-surgical options, such as using braces, massage therapy, and other options to treat the underlying condition while also managing symptoms.
In fact, the most common Sports injury treatment option within sports medicine is RICE – rest, ice, compression, and elevation. At sports injury center, the player will be required to rest and take time off of sports. Ice packs will be used to take care of pain and swelling and should be applied (wrapped in a towel to prevent direct skin contact) for 15 to 20 minutes each session. This should be repeated up to four times a day for multiple days.
Compression involves the use of things like splints or braces, or even a compression sleeve or elastic wrap to help hold the injured area immobile while it heals. Finally, elevating the injury above the level of the heart can help to reduce swelling and combat pain.
In some cases, the injury may be severe enough that surgery is required. This is common with compound fractures, as well as with damaged joints.
Finding the Right Sports Injury Treatment Option
Sports injuries can be very serious. Sports Injury treatment can be very serious for children and teens and should deserve compassionate and expert care. Contact Orthopaedic Associates here in Houston today to schedule a consultation and learn more about the potential treatment for you or your child’s sports-related injury here in the Houston area.
