A Continuum of Care for Your Sports Medicine Needs
The Rules of R.I.C.E.
When you initially sustain a sports injury, it’s typically a good idea to begin a tried and true treatment approach—the R.I.C.E. method. It’s simple and easy to follow.
Rest the injured area to protect it and prevent making the injury worse.
Ice the injury with a cold pack or a bag of crushed ice or frozen vegetables. Alternate applying the ice for about 15 minutes and then removing it for at least 20 minutes.
Compress the injury using an elastic bandage or wrap. This will help relieve swelling and stabilize the limb to prevent further injury.
Elevate the limb using a pillow or other support to reduce swelling.
Whether you enjoy an afternoon round of golf each Sunday or a daily morning jog with your neighbor, chances are you have incurred a sports-related injury at some point. Fortunately, residents of the Cape can turn to Cape Cod Healthcare for their sports injury needs, as we offer a continuum of sports medicine services from advanced diagnostic capabilities and conservative treatments to comprehensive physical therapy and state-of-the-art surgical interventions.
Common Conditions
“Among the more common locations for a sports injury to occur are the knee and shoulder,” says Andrew Smith, MD, orthopedic surgeon on staff at Cape Cod Hospital, who is fellowship trained in sports medicine. Of the two injury-prone locations, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and rotator cuff tears seem to be the most predominant of all sports injuries seen on the Cape.
About the ACL
The ACL connects the bone in the upper leg (femur) to the bone in the lower leg (tibia). Common symptoms of an ACL injury include instability or buckling in the knee when weight is placed on it, swelling in the knee, and hearing or feeling a pop in the knee at the time of injury.
Depending on the severity of your ACL tear, your physician may recommend a combination of medication, physical therapy, and surgery. If you need surgical intervention, rest assured you’ll get the best care possible at Cape Cod Healthcare.
“As with many other surgeries to correct sport injuries, we repair torn ACLs using arthroscopy,” says Robert B. Wilsterman, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon on staff at Falmouth Hospital. “These minimally invasive techniques allow patients to recover and get back on the playing field faster than traditional open surgeries.”
“During my sports medicine fellowship,” says Dr. Smith, “we perfected advanced techniques in sports medicine, which is fortunate because we see a lot of ACL injuries on Cape Cod.”
Shoulder Concerns
Typically, shoulder injuries are caused by overuse of the joint in a sport, although injury can sometimes follow repetitive use in a daily task. Scraping and rubbing in the shoulder can cause inflammation in the tendons of the rotator cuff, which results in pain and stiffness.
“Almost 90 percent of my surgery is performed arthroscopically, including all ACLs and the majority of cartilage and other ligament injuries, as well as shoulder problems that require surgery,” says John Willis, MD, FAAOS, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon on staff at Cape Cod Hospital who is fellowship trained in sports medicine. “By using arthroscopy we significantly reduce scarring and damage to the surrounding muscles, which makes recovery quicker and more complete.”
Do you have a sports injury? Call Cape Cod Healthcare’s Information Line at (877) CAPE COD to help you get back in the game.
Reaching Out
Through the years, the sports medicine physicians of Cape Cod Healthcare have taken time to extend their services and expertise to area high schools and other athletic teams and endeavors.
Donald O’Malley, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician on staff at Falmouth Hospital, volunteers as team physician for the Falmouth Commodores and medical director for the Falmouth Road Race and Falmouth Mile. John Willis, MD, FAAOS, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at Cape Cod Hospital is a consultant for the PGA and works with the Cape Cod Baseball League.
In addition, Dr. Willis and Andrew Smith, MD, orthopedic surgeon on staff at Cape Cod Hospital, work with athletic trainers from local high schools including Sandwich, Barnstable, Dennis-Yarmouth, and Nauset Regional. Robert B. Wilsterman, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon on staff at Falmouth Hospital, serves as the medical director of the athletic training program at Bourne High School.