Overuse Injury Treatment
Overuse injuries bring more athletes to Inova Sports Medicine than any other injury. These types of injuries can occur in the workplace as well. Our sports medicine specialists treat the full spectrum of overuse injuries, making our program one of the most comprehensive in the region.
Treating overuse injuries at Inova Sports Medicine
Whether it’s pitching a baseball or bricklaying, repetitive motion over time causes injury to tendons, ligaments, joints and cartilage. At Inova Sports Medicine, our experts offer a wide range of services for overuse injuries. We understand the importance of treating overuse injuries as soon as possible so you can safely return to your work or sport.
At our center, you will find:
- Expert team: We are one of the only programs in the region with board-certified sports medicine physicians, giving us a depth of expertise in diagnosing and treating sports medicine conditions. You can also meet with one of our expert orthopaedic surgeons if we determine that surgery may be an appropriate treatment for you.
- Centralized services: You can receive all of the sports injury services in one place, from advanced imaging scans to treatment and rehabilitation. We make it easy to schedule appointments and get the care you need, including advanced ultrasound, injection therapy, minimally invasive surgery and physical therapy.
- Coordinated care: We work with coaches and athletic trainers to provide a coordinated, personalized rehabilitation plan.
- Specialized pediatric care: It is especially important to treat overuse injuries promptly in young athletes, as their bodies are still growing and developing. Proper treatment can prevent long-term health issues when they are older. Learn more about pediatric sports medicine.
Our overuse injury treatment team includes:
- Sports medicine physicians
- Orthopaedic surgeons
- Physical therapists
- Athletic trainers
Learn more about our customized care for patients of all ages:
Overuse injuries we treat
There are many different types of overuse injuries. They may be challenging to diagnose because the symptoms resemble those of other sports injuries. We will determine your specific evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation plan based on the extent of your injury, its location, and your sport or occupation.
The most common overuse injuries that we treat are:
- Baseball or golfer’s elbow: Typically caused by forceful, repetitive wrist and finger motion that damages the muscle insertions on the inside of your elbow. Read more about our elbow injury treatment options.
- Tennis elbow: Injury affecting the muscle insertion on the outside of your elbow that results from repetitive motion of the wrist or elbow.
- Runner’s knee: Common running injury that can cause pain and clicking and occurs from excessive force on the knee cap cartilage. Read more about knee injury treatment at Inova.
- Tendonitis: Occurs when tendons become inflamed from overuse or repeated impact. Common types include rotator cuff tendinitis (shoulder) and Achilles tendinitis (lower leg).
- Torn meniscus: Painful tear in the cartilage between the shinbone and thigh bone.
- Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD): Occurs when cartilage and/or bone separate from a joint and migrate into the joint space, causing pain and instability. This condition affects the elbow, knees, ankles, shoulders and hips
- Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury: Tear to the ligament that holds the lower arm bone (ulna) to the upper arm bone (humerus), resulting in pain and instability. Read more about our elbow injury treatment options.
- Little League elbow: Overuse injury to the growth plate on the inside of the elbow, commonly associated with throwing. Learn more our expertise in pediatric sports medicine.
- Spondylolisthesis: Slipping of a vertebra in the spine that can cause pain and inflammation.
Overuse injury prevention
While it is possible to prevent most overuse injuries, it can be difficult to change your routines and practices. At Inova, our sports medicine experts are here for your long-term health.
Our diagnostic and rehabilitation services help athletes, coaches and parents identify ways to improve performance and decrease injury risk. Read more about our outreach activities in the community.
Make an appointment
For more information or to make an appointment, please call 703-970-6464.