Sports Medicine

Proper care and early intervention are essential after a sports injury. At Sporting Medicine in Charlotte, North Carolina, sports medicine specialist William Graham, MD, prevents, diagnoses, and treats exercise-related injuries with an onsite motion lab, neuromuscular retraining, and physical therapy services. Call Sporting Medicine today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about sports medicine.

What is sports medicine?

Sports medicine is an area of health care focused on injury diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Whether you’re a professional athlete, high school player, or weekend warrior, sports medicine can improve your athletic performance and prevent reinjury. 

As a sports medicine specialist, Dr. Graham uses the most advanced biomechanics tools to optimize your physical function.

What types of injuries can sports medicine treat?

Sports medicine treats all types of exercise-related injuries, such as:

Ankle sprains

An ankle sprain is an injury that stretches the ligaments supporting your ankle joint. When you roll your ankle, the force stretches the ligaments too far, damaging the tissue fibers. Some ankle sprains are minor and only need rest, ice, and elevation to heal. Others are severe and require surgical intervention. 

Plantar fasciitis

The plantar fascia is a fibrous band of tissue that stretches from the bottom of the toes to the heel. Plantar fasciitis occurs when this tissue inflames, causing heel pain and soreness in the midfoot.

Tennis and golfer’s elbow

Tennis and golfer’s elbow are sports injuries that affect the tendons outside and inside the forearm, respectively. Any activity that forces you to swing your arm at the elbow can inflame the tissues that support your forearm.

Knee injuries

The knee is a complex joint where the femur (thighbone) and tibia (shin bone) meet. The patella, commonly called the kneecap, protects the joint and allows the leg to extend. Damage to the joint or the cartilage that protects it can cause knee pain and instability.

How are injuries diagnosed in sports medicine?

If you have a sports injury, Dr. Graham performs a complete physical exam and medical history review to diagnose your condition. He may also use X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasounds, and computed tomography (CT) scans to determine the severity of your injury. 

At Sporting Medicine, Dr. Graham has an in-house motion lab that analyzes various athletic movements, such as your gait when you run or the way you pivot when playing sports. He may recommend an elite biomechanical evaluation to prevent, treat, and diagnose sports injuries.

What are the best sports medicine treatments?

As a sports medicine specialist, Dr. Graham uses the most advanced treatments to repair sports injuries, including:

• Physical therapy
• Regenerative medicine
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
• Corticosteroid injections
• Neuromuscular retraining
• Casting and bracing
• Fracture care
• Suturing

Call Sporting Medicine today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about sports medicine.