Shoulder and Elbow Injury Care for athletes

At New York Sports Spine Pain Medicine (NYSSPM), we specialize in diagnosing and treating shoulder and elbow injuries commonly experienced by athletes. Our Queens-based clinic offers personalized, non-surgical solutions to help you recover swiftly and safely, enabling a return to your active lifestyle.

Athletes are susceptible to various shoulder injuries due to the physical demands of their sports. Understanding these injuries is crucial for effective treatment and prevention.

• Rotator Cuff Tears: The rotator cuff comprises muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder joint. Tears can result from repetitive overhead motions in sports like baseball, swimming, and tennis, leading to pain, weakness, and limited range of motion.
  
• Shoulder Dislocations: A dislocation occurs when the upper arm bone (humerus) exits the shoulder socket, often due to a fall or direct impact in contact sports such as football or rugby. This injury causes intense pain, visible deformity, and restricted movement.
  
• Shoulder Labral Tears: The labrum is a ring of cartilage that deepens the shoulder socket. Tears can result from forceful, twisting motions in sports like basketball or volleyball, causing shoulder instability, pain, and sensations of catching or clicking.
  
• Shoulder Impingement: This condition occurs when shoulder muscles and tendons are pinched during movement, often caused by repetitive overhead activities in sports like swimming or tennis. It leads to pain, especially when lifting the arm, and can result in inflammation if left untreated.
  
• Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursa, a fluid-filled sac that reduces friction in the shoulder joint, can be triggered by repetitive motions in sports such as weightlifting or pitching. It causes pain and swelling around the shoulder.
  
  

Elbow injuries are prevalent among athletes due to repetitive motions and high-impact activities.

• Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis): This condition involves inflammation of the tendons on the outside of the elbow, often caused by repetitive arm movements in sports like tennis or racquetball. It results in pain on the outer elbow, weakness, and difficulty gripping objects.
  
• Elbow Fractures: Fractures involve breaks in any of the bones forming the elbow joint and are often caused by direct trauma from falls or collisions in contact sports. Symptoms include intense pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the arm.
  
• Elbow Dislocations: A dislocation occurs when the bones of the elbow are forced out of alignment, typically due to a high-impact injury like a fall during gymnastics or skateboarding. This injury causes immediate pain, swelling, and deformity, requiring urgent medical attention to realign the joint.
  
• Olecranon Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursa at the tip of the elbow, often due to repetitive pressure or trauma in sports like wrestling or football, results in pain, swelling, and tenderness at the back of the elbow.

• Ligament Sprains and Strains: These injuries involve overstretching or tearing of the elbow ligaments, common in high-impact sports like football or hockey. Symptoms include pain, swelling, and limited mobility.
  

At New York Sports Spine Pain Medicine (NYSSPM), we offer a comprehensive range of non-surgical treatments tailored to address shoulder and elbow injuries, facilitating effective recovery and a prompt return to daily activities.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Physiatry): Our physiatrists specialize in restoring function and mobility through personalized rehabilitation programs. For shoulder and elbow injuries, this includes:

• Comprehensive Evaluations: Conducting thorough assessments to identify the specific causes of pain, such as rotator cuff tears, tendonitis, or bursitis.
• Customized Exercise Plans: Developing targeted exercises to strengthen muscles, improve flexibility, and enhance joint stability, thereby supporting recovery and preventing future injuries.
• Pain Management Techniques: Utilizing modalities like heat therapy, manual therapy, and, when necessary, image-guided injections such as corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and alleviate discomfort.
• Assistive Devices: Recommending braces or slings to support the joint and facilitate healing, enabling patients to resume their activities safely.

Interventional Pain Management: To alleviate pain and reduce inflammation, we employ advanced, minimally invasive techniques such as:

• Ultrasound-Guided Joint Injections: Delivering precise corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections into affected joints to decrease inflammation and enhance mobility.
• Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: Utilizing the patient's own platelets to promote healing in damaged tendons and ligaments, particularly beneficial for conditions like rotator cuff injuries and tennis elbow.
• Nerve Blocks: Temporarily disrupting specific nerve pathways to provide relief from chronic pain, aiding in rehabilitation efforts.

Physical Therapy: Our licensed physical therapists develop individualized exercise programs aimed at:

• Manual Therapy: Applying hands-on techniques to mobilize joints and soft tissues, reducing pain and improving function.
• Therapeutic Modalities: Utilizing treatments such as ultrasound therapy, electrical stimulation, and cryotherapy to facilitate tissue healing and pain relief.

By integrating these specialized treatments, NYSSPM is dedicated to helping patients recover from shoulder and elbow injuries, restoring their performance levels, and preventing future occurrences.

• Expertise in Sports Medicine: Our team has extensive experience treating athletes across various disciplines, understanding the unique demands of sports-related injuries.
• Comprehensive, Personalized Care: We provide individualized treatment plans that address your specific needs and goals, ensuring optimal recovery.
• State-of-the-Art Facility: Our Queens clinic is equipped with advanced technology to deliver the highest standard of care.

Don’t let a shoulder or elbow injury sideline you. 

Our dedicated team is here to support you on your journey back to peak performance. Schedule an appointment with New York Sports Spine Pain Medicine today to begin your personalized treatment plan.