Dr. John L. Putnam - What Is Sports Medicine?
<p>John Putnam, MD is one of the country's top ranked physicians, specializing in orthopaedic surgery. As an board certified orthopaedic surgeon for 40+ years, Dr. Putnam currently practices in Springfield, Missouri with admitting privileges at CoxHealth. Dr. Putnam is very experienced, specializing primarily... more
What is sports medicine?
A sports medicine physician has specialized training in both the prevention and treatment of illness and injury. The most common injuries treated by sports medicine physicians include rotator cuff tears, meniscus tears, and tennis elbow.
Rotator Cuff Tears. A rotator cuff tear can occur in people who repeatedly perform the same shoulder motions. This injury is a tear in the tissues connecting muscle to bone around the shoulder joint. If you have a torn rotator cuff, arthroscopic surgery can fix the tear. This is typically an outpatient procedure and is the least invasive method to repair a torn rotator cuff.
Meniscus Tears. A common knee injury is a meniscus tear, which can prevent the knee from working properly. Meniscus tears are usually caused by twisting or turning quickly, with the foot planted while the knee is bent. This injury can occur when you lift something heavy or play sports. The treatment may include physical therapy or surgery to repair the meniscus.
Tennis Elbow. This condition, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is caused by the overuse of the elbow. Playing tennis or racquetball can cause this painful condition, other sports are responsible for it as well. The treatment for tennis elbow includes rest, pain relievers, and physical therapy.
