As the temperature rises, more men are getting outside to play their favorite sports. Whether you’re an avid golfer or on a softball league, nothing can stop you in your tracks faster than a sports injury. When injuries occur, proper treatment and personal motivation are key to your recovery.

“As doctors, we never have to motivate athletes to get better,” says Jonathan Wigderson, DO, an orthopedic surgeon with Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital. “We’re usually asking them to slow down to allow their injury to heal.”

From basketball to cycling, Dr. Wigderson says every sport comes with a risk for injury. Fortunately, Adventist Midwest Health has a variety of resources to help athletes prevent injuries and recover from them if they do occur. Below, he outlines two of the most common summer sports injuries:

Ankle sprains
Ankle sprains are especially common in basketball players and runners. One wrong move, like stepping on another player’s foot or running on uneven ground, can result in the stretching or tearing of ligaments. “During a sprain, you’re pulling the stabilizing component of the joint,” Dr. Wigderson says. “If treated properly, most ankle sprains heal on their own without surgery.” For many common sports injuries, including sprains, proper home treatment starts with using the R.I.C.E. method:

• Rest
• Ice
• Compression
• Elevation

“During an injury, inflammation often occurs which increases swelling, pain and stiffness,” Dr. Wigderson says. The R.I.C.E. method slows down that process in a gentle way while allowing the body to heal. However, athletes should still see a doctor if they experience:

• No improvement after a week of using the R.I.C.E. method
• Worsening of symptoms after a few days
• Severe pain
• Numbness or tingling
• Deformity

Knee injuries
Summer sports can also leave men susceptible to anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, injuries, especially if they play basketball or soccer. The ACL is one of the four ligaments in the knee that provides stability. Sports that require an athlete to pivot or twist their knee are common causes of ACL tears. Weekend warriors, or those who are only active on the weekend, are especially vulnerable because their bodies aren’t conditioned regularly.

Preventing ACL injuries starts before you step on the field. Training programs that demonstrate the proper technique of your sport can reduce the stress on your ACL and prevent tears. For athletes who still get injured, Adventist Midwest Health has state-of-the-art technology to surgically repair a torn ACL. “Studies also show that surgical knee reconstruction can prevent early degeneration in the joint,” Dr. Wigderson says.

Don't ignore a sports injury
No matter what the injury, men are known for playing through the pain. Dr. Wigderson says the worst thing someone can do is ignore a sports injury. “Many people have old injuries that occasionally flare up; they usually know what the injury is but put off fixing it,” he says. “People in this situation should seek treatment to avoid making their injury worse.” If left untreated, injuries can lead to arthritis in the joint or require joint replacement surgery down the road.

Learn how Adventist Midwest Health’s Total Joint Orthopedic Program can help athletes get back in action.

On the road to recovery
For many athletes, the road to recovery can seem like rush-hour traffic – slow and frustrating. However, Dr. Wigderson says you shouldn’t speed though your recovery. “Take things slow and gradually build up your strength,” he says. “The combination of this, your patience and keeping up with a physical therapy program are key to getting you back to your full activity level.”

For more information or to find a physician, call us at 866-533-7968.