Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1450269
Health Matters: Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center | 11 We most frequently see concussions, fractures, joint injuries, sprains and strains, and overuse injuries, especially in children. These include things like damage to a baseball pitcher 's shoulder or elbow, the lower-body injuries that gymnasts can suffer from repeated landings, and a runner 's knee, Achilles tendinitis or shin splints. How are problems like these most commonly treated nonsurgically? Most of them can be treated in the doctor 's office with things like bracing, walking boots and casts. Platelet-rich plasma and other injections, such as hyaluronic acid, as well as aspiration (removing fluid), can relieve most tendon, muscle and joint injuries. We also work with and refer patients to physical therapists, in our offices as well as outside. It's important to determine the root cause of an injury or condition in order to prevent recurrences. This includes identifying and correcting any underlying physical deficits, such as weak muscles. We also help patients safely modify their activities without becoming sedentary, and we work on improving their sports mechanics, sometimes with the help of sports neuropsychologists and performance consultants. We make sure they have enough time for recovery before resuming their activities and assess whether they are getting adequate nutrition and hydration. Please talk a bit about your out-of-the-office roles as sideline sports physicians. If someone goes down on the field, we are trained to distinguish, say, a cardiac cause from a noncardiac one and initiate emergency treatment if needed. We can respond to concussions and spinal cord injuries in the same way. I serve as the team physician coordinator for the U.S. Soccer Federation Men's National Team and as the team physician for the Los Angeles Football Club. Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center sports medicine doctors provide sideline coverage for some local high schools' athletic teams, and we are the first call for pediatric injuries seen in the emergency room. These are among the ways we are involved with the community. For a physician referral to this program, call our Patient Engagement Center at 888-HEALING (432-5464). Dr. Byron O. Patterson