How to safely return to sports after injury
Daniel Elkin, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine. A big focus of his is helping athletes safely return to a sport after injury.
Dr. Elkin said the first step is managing the inflammatory response — and that starts immediately.
Managing injuries at home
“We will often see increased swelling and pain after injury, which is the body’s normal protective response,” he said. “ Resting the injured joint, using ice and starting an anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen, can help reduce the initial pain.”
The orthopedic surgeon said sometimes a brace, crutches or a sling can be helpful in immobilizing the joints, although he doesn’t recommend using those tools for longer than a week.
“Prolonged immobilization can actually cause more stiffness and pain,” he said.
When to see a doctor
Dr. Elkin said a patient needs to see a doctor if pain does not resolve after a week of rest, immobilization and use of medication.
“Care is needed if you have instability, extreme swelling, neurological symptoms or feel like you may have a fracture of the bone,” he said. “Or if you cannot bear weight or have lost the ability to use that part of your body.”
Dr. Elkin said the most common sports injuries he sees are ligament tears, tendon tears, cartilage injuries and fractures.
With any of those injuries, there are several things to keep in mind before returning to a sport.
“You should be mostly pain free. You should feel like you can protect yourself and perform the sport at a competitive level,” Dr. Elkin said. He also wants his patients to be confident they have healed enough to safely perform the sport.
In doubt? Talk to your orthopedic surgeon. If an athlete returns to a sport too quickly after an injury, there may be an increased risk of reinjury or injury to another body part, Dr. Elkin said, and that would only keep you off the field (or court) that much longer.
Orthopedic care
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