Our Services / Sports Medicine

What is sports medicine?

Sports medicine provides specialized treatment of injuries suffered while training for or playing a sport or during exercise. The injuries covered by sports medicine aren’t limited to athletes. But the repetitive physical activities of sports make the onset of these injuries more likely. Prompt treatment is necessary to make a full recovery and return to peak performance.

Dr. Ellsworth has exceptional sports medicine expertise. He uses the most advanced methods to evaluate, diagnose, and treat sports-related injuries in physically active people of all ages and abilities. Common sports injuries include:

• Sprains and strains
• Fractures and dislocations
• Ligament tears
• Tendinitis
• Cartilage injuries
• Rotator cuff tears
• Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
• Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis)

From professional athletes to casual weekend joggers, Dr. Ellsworth helps people get back to their most loved activities.

What treatments are used in sports medicine?

Treatments Dr. Ellsworth uses with sports medicine patients include:

Physical therapy

For many patients, the best treatment is physical therapy. Your body heals through movement, especially under the guidance of an expert. Physical therapy improves your range of motion, decreases pain, and increases strength in the injured area.

Medications

Over-the-counter or prescription medications reduce pain, inflammation, and muscle spasms.

Steroid injections

Steroid injections into the injured tissues can help with pain that isn’t responding to medication and physical therapy. Dr. Ellsworth uses ultrasound-guided injections so he can view the procedure in real-time. This ensures that your treatment is both safe and effective.

Stem cells and PRP

Stem cell and PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections use natural substances to promote tissue healing. Injections can help repair badly damaged or worn tissues.

Severe injuries like fractures are likely to require surgery early on. Dr. Ellsworth might also suggest surgery if your current treatments aren’t working.

What sports medicine surgery might I need?

Dr. Ellsworth recommends surgery when it’s the only solution to your condition. He might need to reconstruct a tendon or ligament. Or he can repair a fractured bone or joint.

In many cases, Dr. Ellsworth uses minimally invasive arthroscopic surgical techniques. He needs to make only a few small cuts in the injured area with this method. He then inserts a miniaturized camera on a flexible tube (the arthroscope) into an incision.

Dr. Ellsworth completes the surgery using the images sent back from the arthroscope without directly viewing the surgery site. Because there’s minimal tissue damage, you experience less pain after your operation and recover faster.

If you need an expert in sports medicine to help your rehabilitation from injury, call the Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance today or book an appointment online.