CONGRATULATIONS to Dr. Mulford and Dr. Skerker for being honored Top Doc by New Jersey Monthly and Castle Connolly Medical, and Dr. Rajesh Rao for receiving the Patients’ Choice recognition.
Most ligament and musculoskeletal injuries DON'T need surgical intervention. When properly managed, the majority of ligament sprains can be successfully managed by proper modification of activity, use of modalities (ice, heat, massage, electric stimulation, ultrasound), medications, and specific/focused rehabilitation.
Golf injuries usually occur in the lower back, elbows, shoulders, wrist and hands.
About 53% of amateur golfers and 30% of professional golfers play with an injured back every year.
The impact or stress of repetitive motion of the swing is hard on both muscles and joints.
Overuse golf injuries occur overtime and are caused by stress on the muscles in a particular area of the body.
Acute golf injuries occur suddenly due to powerful force or pressure applied during contact. These injuries require immediate medical attention and surgery when necessary.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome refers to pain occuring in the hand when the surrounding tendons, ligaments, and muscles compress the median nerve. The carpal tunnel, which is the passageway where the median nerve is located, is very narrow and the nerve can be irritated from multiple causes.
Symptoms
o Burning, tingling, and numbness in the palm of the hand and fingers
o Decreased grip strength
o Decreased sensitivity to hot and cold
Treatment
o Rest and ice
o Immobilization of the wrist
o Anti-inflammatory medication when necessary
o Cortisone injections when necessary
Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome will ensure your full recovery.
When the foot is turned inward or inverted an athletes’ ankle can be sprained. This can be caused by running on non-leveled surfaces, or can be due to landing on non-flat surfaces during competition.
Symptoms
o Swelling in the ankle because of the gathering of fluid in the tissues
o Pain in the region of the ankle when standing
o Painful to touch ankle region or to move foot in certain directions
o Redness and warmth in ankle due to increased in blood in the region
Treatment
o R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate) method immediately
o Ultrasound and Laser treatment
o Anti-inflammatory medication when necessary
Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for ankle sprains will ensure a full and speedy recovery.
Frozen shoulder is caused by the inflammation, scarring and shrinking of the shoulder capsule. Any type of injury to the joint may lead to a frozen shoulder. Athletes with diabetes are more susceptible to being effected by this injury.
Symptoms
o Aching shoulder pain
o Limited movement of the joint
o Pain during sleep especially when sleeping on injured side
Treatment
o Anti-inflammatory medication
o Cortisone injections when necessary
o Exercise program and therapy
Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for a frozen shoulder will ensure your full recovery.
Back muscle strains are a common injury in athletes and result from sudden movements or attempts to lift heavy objects with incorrect form. The muscles go into spasm and tighten up, causing pain and tension. Back pain is normally due to a build up of tension followed by a single incidence in which the athlete causes the back muscles to spasm.
Symptoms
o Sudden sharp pain in the back
o Swelling and bruising
o Pain with movement
Treatment
o Rest and heat
o Ultrasound and electrical stimulation
o Anti-inflammatory medication when necessary
Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment when suffering from a back strain will ensure your full recovery.
Glenohumeral arthritis affects four basic aspects of the shoulder joint: amount of movement allowed, stability, the strength of the surrounding muscles, and the smoothness in the joint. Over time these different aspects begin to wear down and give way to glenohumeral arthritis.
Symptoms
o Pain with movement
o Pain at night interfering with sleep
o Atrophy of shoulder muscles
o Tenderness and swelling of the joint
Treatment
o Rest and Ice
o Anti-inflammatory medication when necessary
o Steroid injection when necessary
o Viscosupplementation therapy when necessary
Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for glenohumeral arthritis will ensure your full recovery.
A herniated disc involves the bulging of a spinal disc due to compression or a rupture. The bulging disc pinches the spinal nerves causing pain. This irritation can be caused gradually or by instances of trauma or heavy impact, most prevalent in American football.
Symptoms
o Weaker feeling muscles
o Tingling and Numbness in limbs
o Shock pain, or electric shock
Treatment
o Rest and ice
o Anti-inflammatory medication when necessary
o Oral steroids when necessary
o Epidural injections of steroids when necessary
Consulting an ARM physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for a herniated disc will ensure a full and speedy recovery.
Medial Epicondylitis (pitcher’s or golfer’s elbow) is similar to tennis elbow except it involves a different muscles group. The flexors of the forearm are affected instead of the extensors involved in tennis elbow. The pain is therefore located on the inside of the elbow instead of the outside. Inflammation and tears might not only come from overuse, but also from lack of blood to the region making tendons frail and more susceptible to injury.
Symptoms
o Pain on the inside of elbow
o Pain increasing with flexing of wrist
o Pain radiating down the entire arm
Treatment
o R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) method
o Ultrasound and electric stimulation
o Anti-inflammatory medication when necessary
Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for medial epicondylitis (golfer's elbow) will ensure your full recovery.
A shoulder dislocation is extremely common and results from the shoulder joint being wrenched upward or backward, causing it to dislocate out of socket. This injury is most common in contact sports. About 95% of shoulder dislocations occur in the anterior inferior direction, resulting in severe pain and loss of motion of arm and shoulder.
Symptoms
o Lack of mobility of the shoulder
o Numbness throughout the arm
o Pain in shoulder radiating down the length of the arm
o Shoulder and arm feel frozen in place
Treatment
o Placement into sling or splint
o Immediate medical consultation
o Anti-inflammatory medication when necessary
Consulting an A.R.M. physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for Shoulder Dislocation will ensure your full recovery and get you back on your feet.
A herniated disc involves the bulging of a spinal disc due to compression or a rupture. The bulging disc pinches the spinal nerves causing pain. This irritation can be caused gradually or by instances of trauma or heavy impact, most prevalent in American football.
Symptoms
o Weaker feeling muscles
o Tingling and Numbness in limbs
o Shock pain, or electric shock
Treatment
o Rest and ice
o Anti-inflammatory medication when necessary
o Oral steroids when necessary
o Epidural injections of steroids when necessary
Consulting an ARM physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for a herniated disc will ensure a full and speedy recovery.
Wrist sprain are common injuries, and normally are the result of falling and bracing the body for impact. When a wrist sprain occurs it stretches the ligaments of the wrist, causing pain and swelling.
Three different levels of wrist sprains can occur. Grade 1 is a mild injury with minor stretching of the ligaments, but not tearing or fringing on the tissues. Grade 2 involves partial tears or minor tears in the ligaments. Grade 3 is a severe sprain normally resulting in complete tears of the ligaments in the wrist.
Symptoms
o Pain in wrist with movement
o Swelling in or around the joint
o Burning and warm sensation in the wrist
Treatment
o R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate) method
o Anti-inflammatory medications when necessary
o Bracing
o Immobilization
Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for wrist sprains will ensure a full recovery and minimal complications.
Rotator cuff injuries are common throughout sports. They are normally due to overuse in overhead arm movement and can be quite painful. An aching pain can flare up when arms are used over the head or directly to the side of the body.
Symptoms
o Pain associated with arm movement especially overhead arm movement
o Pain in shoulder when slept on at night
o Tenderness over general area
Treatment
o Rest and ice are very important
o Anti-inflammatory medication when necessary
o Continuous movement of the arm with rest periods to avoid reduction of mobility
Prolonged Rotator Cuff inflammation may result into a tear. There are two kinds of Rotator Cuff Tears: Chronic and Acute.
Symptoms of Chronic Rotator Cuff Tear
o Occurs on dominant side
o Weakness throughout range of motion
o Eventual loss of mobility
Treatment of Chronic Rotator Cuff Tear
o Ice
o Steroid injection when necessary
o Shoulder exercises prescribed by physician
Symptoms of Acute Tear
o Sudden tearing feeling in shoulder
o Radiating pain down arm
o Limited mobility
o Tenderness in specific area of the Rotator Cuff
o Abduction of arm not possible
Treatment of Acute Tear
o Ice to reduce swelling
o Medications when necessary
o Surgery and Resting of arm in sling if necessary
Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for Rotator Cuff inflammation will ensure your full recovery and avoid progression of inflammation into a chronic tear.
Impingement Syndrome refers to the tendons over the shoulder becoming inflamed by rubbing in the narrow gap named the Subacromial Space. This irritation thickens these tendons, causing pain and complications.
Symptoms
o Pain located in the front and side of the shoulder during forceful overhead motions
o Pain at the back and front of the joint during abduction or ER (external rotation)
Treatment
o Rest and ice
o Slow return to sport
o Anti-inflammatory medication when necessary
o Injection of steroids when necessary
Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for Shoulder Impingement Syndrome will ensure your full recovery.
Stress fractures, while not the most common, still affect many athletes across different sports. Common stress fractures are due to constant use of muscle groups, which leads to higher bone stress once these muscles are exhausted. Stress fractures can also be caused by changes on the surfaces of the playing field.
Symptoms
o Pain during distance running
o Tenderness near or around injury location
o Swelling near or around injury location
Treatment
o Rest for up to 8 weeks
o Continue exercise in aquatic environment
Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for a stress fracture will ensure a full recovery.
Tennis Elbow is an overuse injury obtained from repetitive use of the forearm and arm muscles. The tendons begin to fray due to the impact of the ball and racket causing inflammation.
Symptoms
o Pain on outside of elbow
o Gripping and Lifting objects becomes difficult
o Sometimes radiating pain down arm
Treatment
o Resting the elbow joint
o R.I.C.E. method
o Wrapping the forearm right below the elbow joint will enhance recovery
o Anti-inflammatory medication may also be prescribed as necessary
Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for Tennis Elbow will ensure your full recovery.
Tenosynovitis (De Quervain's Tendonitis) occurs when the tendons located near the base of the thumb are irritated or restricted. Pain can be felt on the side of the wrist closest to the thumb. Tenosynovitis involves the sheath that encompasses the tendon. The swollen tendon presses on the tendon sheath restricting movement and causing pain.
Symptoms
o Swelling on thumb side of the wrist
o Catching/snapping sensation felt when moving the thumb
o Numbness on back of thumb or index finger
Treatment
o Rest and ice
o Splinting when necessary
o Ultrasound
o Cortisone injections when necessary
Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for tenosynovitis (De Quervain’s tendinitis) will ensure your full recovery.
Wrist Tendinitis, Also known as tenosynovitis, occurs when the tendons in the wrist are irritated or restricted due to the crossing over bone or other tendons. Wrist Tendinitis involves the sheath that encompasses the actual tendon. Pain can be felt in the wrist and surrounding areas where the tendon sheath is inflamed. The swollen tendon presses on the tendon sheath forcing it to become thicker and hindering the sliding of the tendons.
Symptoms
o Swelling
o Catching/snapping sensation with movement
o Numbness in fingers
Treatment
o Rest and ice
o Splinting when necessary
o Ultrasound
o Cortisone injections when necessary
Consulting an A.R.M. sports physician for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for wrist tendinitis will ensure a full recovery and minimal complications.
