RI SPORTS MEDICINE AND ORTHOPEDIC PHYSICAL THERAPY

RI Sports medicine and orthopedic physical therapy services address physical problems caused by injuries to the bones, muscles, ligaments or tendons in the body.

The following is a list of common Sports Injuries that the Northern Rhode Island Physical Therapy team take care off on a regular basis:

ACL Knee Injury:
This injury is a tearing of the anterior cruciate ligament in your knee. This will make your knee feel unstable or “loose” hindering your ability to participate in sports and everyday activities.

Muscle Strain:
A stretching or tearing of the muscle or tendon when sudden or severe forces are applied to the muscle.

Sprain:
A stretching or tearing of ligaments, the tough fibrous band that connects one bone to another in your joints. The most common location for a sprain is your ankle.

Rotator Cuff (thrower’s shoulder):
The rotator cuff is made up of the muscles and tendons in your shoulder. A rotator cuff injury includes any type of irritation or damage to these muscles or tendons. Causes of this injury may include falling, lifting and repetitive arm activities especially those done overhead such as throwing a baseball.

Tendonitis:
Inflammation or irritation of a tendon, any one of the thick fibrous cords that attach muscles to bones. This condition which presents as pain and tenderness is usually caused by overuse of a weak or tight muscle. Some of the more common areas where this occurs is the elbow (Tennis, or Golfer’s elbow) and the lower leg (Patella tendonitis and Achilles tendonitis).

Torn meniscus:
A torn meniscus is an injury to one or more of the two “C” shaped pieces of cartilage in each of your knee joints. Any activity that causes you to forcefully twist or rotate your knee especially when weightbearing can lead to this injury.

Bursitis:
A painful condition that affects the small fluid filled sacs called “bursae” that act as cushions between your bones and the tendons and muscles near your joints. Bursitis occurs when the bursae become inflamed. The most common location is in the hips, elbow and shoulders.

Plantar fasciitis:
This is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It involves inflammation of a thick band of tissue called the plantar fascia which runs across the bottom of your foot connecting your heel bone to your toes.

Shin Splints:
This term refers to pain along the shin bone (tibia), the large bone in the front of your leg. The pain is caused by an overload on the shin bone and the connective tissues that attach your muscles to the bone.

Frozen Shoulder:
Frozen shoulder also known as adhesive capsulitis is a condition characterized by stiffness, pain and gradual loss of motion in the shoulder joint.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage way located on the palm side of your wrist. This tunnel protects a main nerve to your hand and 9 tendons that bend your fingers. Pressure placed on the nerve can produce pain, numbness and weakness in the hand over time.

Osteoarthritis:
This is the most common form of arthritis also known as degenerative joint disease. It occurs when the smooth cartilage between joint surfaces wears down overtime.

Stress Fractures:
Stress fractures are tiny cracks in a bone caused by the repetitive applilcation of force, often by overuse–such as repeatedly jumping up and down or running long distances. Stress fractures also can aise from normal use of a bone that’s been weakened by a condition such as osteoporosis. Stress fractures are most common in the weight-bearing bones of the lower leg and foot.

Take the first step to recovery by calling Northern Rhode Island’s Physical Therapy’s Greenville, RI, office (401) 949-0380 or the Lincoln, RI office, (401) 333-3211