Orthopedic Injuries and their meanings
Knee injuries and knee pain are among the most common orthopedic problems that we evaluate but there are other injuries that
can occur due to different types of sports. Below are a few examples of sports as well as some of the issues that can occur from
participating in these activities.
High-impact
- Running triathlons
- Basketball
- Tennis
- Soccer
Lower-impact
- Golf
- Cycling
- Skiing
These type of sports can put a toll on even the most fit and enthusiastic athlete over the years. This can lead to acute or
chronic injury, with cartilage damage as a result, robbing you of the enjoyment of an active lifestyle.
Elbow pain and ankle pain are often the result of chronic tendonitis or overuse. The stresses of throwing and overhead sports are often the culprit.
Muscle & tendon injuries (acute or chronic sprains, strains, pulls, inflammation) can keep you from
engaging in the activities you enjoy as they may heal frustratingly slowly. Sprains and strains of muscles, tendons and ligaments can be an unfortunate consequence of the sporting life, especially as we get older and less supple. Fortunately, there are innovative new injection techniques that offer a chance to speed recovery from injury. Less time on the sideline leads to a quicker return to the activities and lifestyle you love.
Articular (“hard”) cartilage injuries, while less common and more difficult to discern, can result in long-term activity restrictions as well.
Fortunately, improved diagnostic abilities and innovative new treatment techniques are revolutionizing the recovery from this once
lifestyle-threatening problem. Cartilage repair and restoration means minimizing the long-term possibility of pain and even arthritis after a successful return to your sport.
Sprains/Strains
Sprains and strains of muscles, tendons and ligaments can be an unfortunate consequence of the sporting life, especially as we get older and less supple. Fortunately, there are innovative new injection techniques that offer a chance to speed recovery from injury. Less time on the sideline leads to a quicker return to the activities and lifestyle you love. To learn more about arthritic joint symptoms and how we can help.
Dr. Kelly Cunningham
Sports can be rough on joints and cartilage, especially shoulders, knees, and hips. Kelly Cunningham, MD, has cared for many young and mature athletes whose joints take a beating day in and day out. He welcomes patients from Austin, Texas, and its surrounding communities to experience the cutting-edge technology and skill offered by his team at Austin Ortho + Biologics.
Dr. Cunningham works with each athlete to develop an individual treatment plan that emphasizes the least invasive treatments possible with a goal of minimal recuperation and downtime. He combines rigorous standards and quality of care with experience and insight, integrating the latest & best new techniques into the care of each patient.
His patients have included skilled athletes in football, basketball, baseball, and hockey, including members of the Dallas Cowboys at their Austin training camp, Austin Ice Bats hockey players, Southwestern University athletes, and many other college and high school athletes. He served for 15 years as a traveling team physician for the men’s alpine downhill US Olympic Ski Team, providing on-the-hill medical race coverage in North America and Europe, including qualifying races for the Winter Olympics.
As a sports medicine specialist, Dr. Cunningham also treats many seasoned weekend warriors such as runners, skiers (downhill, snowboard, and water), and tennis and golf enthusiasts.
After medical school and residency training in Dallas, he completed a sports medicine/knee fellowship with renowned orthopedic specialist Dr. Richard Steadman in Vail, Colorado, and underwent further shoulder training in England and Canada.
While with Dr. Steadman, the originator of the popular microfracture cartilage treatment technique, he developed a strong interest in the care of cartilage injuries and now has more than 20 years of experience with surgical microfracture, MACI and innovative European study surgical and non-surgical procedures. In recent years, he has traveled internationally to learn cutting-edge techniques as they’re developed for use in these acute and chronic problems, including PRP and stem cell grafts and injections.