Sports Injuries
Sports Injury Doctors in New York City
Spine-related sports injuries are injuries that happen when playing sports or exercising. Some are from accidents. Others can result from poor training practices or improper gear. Some people get injured when they are not in proper condition. It is estimated that over half of all sports injuries are back and spine related.
Types of Sports-Related Back Injuries
- Lower back injury: Injuries from sports that involve repetitive impact (e.g. running), twisting motions and hyperextension of the spine (e.g. golf, gymnastics), and weight-bearing (e.g. weightlifting) are common.
- Neck injury: Contact sports, such as football and mixed martial arts, frequently lead to cervical spine (neck) injuries.
- Upper back injury: Injuries of the thoracic spine (middle section of the spine near the rib cage) are less common, as this section of the spine is relatively immobile. Injuries in the upper back can include rib fractures, intercostal muscle strains (muscles that run between the ribs), and others.
Specific injuries that can result from sports include:
- Nerve injuries
- Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis
- Acute cervical spine (neck) sprains/strains
- Spinal disc injuries
- Cervical spine (neck) fractures and dislocations
- Spinal stenosis
Treatments for Sports-Related Back Injuries
Which treatment(s) are appropriate will depend on the specific injury, but may include comprehensive physical therapy, and sports medicine therapy aimed at restoring function to the injured area, decreasing pain, and increasing strength and flexibility. Your sports injury doctor/physical therapist may prescribe specific exercises to help you strengthen weak muscles.
If the injury is severe, such as a cervical fracture or spinal disc injury that does not respond to non-surgical treatment methods, surgery may be required to restore function.
New York’s Finest Sports Injury Doctors
Our sports & exercise injury specialists will review your complete medical history and your symptoms, perform a thorough physical exam, and order any necessary diagnostic tests (e.g. MRI, x-rays, CT scan, etc.).
Our multidisciplinary team includes expert spine surgeons, neurologists, pain management physicians, physical therapists, and others who take a patient-centered approach to care. Contact Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian at the Weill Cornell Medicine Center for Comprehensive Spine Care to make an appointment with one of our esteemed sport injury doctors in New York.
We’ve Got Your Back
For more information about our treatment options, contact our office today.