Physical Fitness and Sports Month: Commonly Asked Questions About Sports Injuries with Dr. Packer

Dr. Jonathan Packer is an orthopaedic surgeon with the University of Maryland Department of Orthopaedics and an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.  Dr. Packer specializes in sports medicine and is a Team Physician with the University of Maryland Terrapins.  Below he answers common questions about sports injuries. What are the most common sports-related injuries you see in your clinic? The most common sports related injuries are ankle sprains and contusions.  The most common knee injuries that I see are meniscus tears and knee ligament injuries, such as the MCL (meniscus collateral ligament) and ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). What can an athlete do after an injury to recover quicker? The treatment depends on the specific injury and the severity of the injury.  The athlete should have the injury evaluated by the team Athletic Trainer, who can then determine whether the injury requires an evaluation by a physician.  Low grade injuries typically respond well to rest and different treatments to reduce the inflammation (elevation, ice, anti-inflammatory medications – i.e. Ibuprofen or Naproxen). Why should an athlete use ice and not heat on an injury?  The initial treatment goals after an acute injury (first 48 hours) are to reduce inflammation and swelling.  Cryotherapy, such as ice, is an effective method of reducing the swelling and bleeding into the tissues.  Heat is used for chronic injuries to relax and loosen ti...
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