Blog Archive
As board-certified orthopedists who specialize in sports medicine, our Sports Medicine Oregon team in Tigard and Wilsonville, Oregon, strives to help athletes and active people of all ages stay injury-free and in the game. And when sports injuries do happen, we know that prompt care is key to: Faster injury...
You recently learned that the bony bump emerging at the outer base of your big toe is a bunion. It hasn’t been too bothersome yet, but it’s irritated by tighter footwear — and throbs when you’ve been on your feet a while. That can be a problem, whether you’re athletic...
Most shoulder injuries can be traced to an acute trauma or some type of repetitive stress (overuse). But one form of shoulder pain, stiffness, and dysfunction — frozen shoulder — is often idiopathic, meaning it usually comes on for no particular reason. At Sports Medicine Oregon, our board-certified orthopedists know...
Anytime you use your arms — whether you’re swimming laps, shooting hoops, painting your living room, pulling a sweater over your head, or shoveling snow — it’s your shoulder joints that facilitate the full range of motion your arms require to perform the task at hand. As with every joint...
You might expect your hips to ache after a half-marathon event, a high-intensity circuit workout, a few sets of deep squats on “leg day,” or a competitive tennis match — but you certainly don’t expect to experience hip discomfort after a restful night of sleep. So, why are you dealing...
You’ve had a hammertoe deformity for a while now, but you were never too concerned about the claw-like bend in your toe’s middle joint because it never hurt — and you could still move your toe with ease and press it flat with your finger. But recently, you’ve noticed that...
Knee pain is a common complaint among seasoned athletes, regular exercisers, and weekend warriors alike — especially with advancing age. Whether it appears whenever you bear weight, only flares during or after intense activity, or bothers you almost constantly, chronic knee pain can leave you sitting on the sidelines. If...
Millions of people sustain concussion injuries each year in the United States. While some happen in automobile collisions or fall accidents, most — up to three million cases — occur on the sports field or during recreational activities. Concussions are a common sports injury, particularly among youth athletes. Luckily, with...
ACL trauma is one of the most common knee injuries: Every year in the United States, as many as 200,000 people — mostly athletes who are in the game — sprain or tear their ACL. Most ACL tears happen in one of the following ways: In a sudden twisting motion...
Millions of people sustain a bone fracture injury every year in the United States. While many broken bones happen traumatically — on the sports field, in a car collision, or during an accidental fall — many others emerge silently, as a result of bone-weakening osteoporosis, or ongoing repetitive use damage. ...
Hammertoe is a structural foot deformity that causes a claw-like bend in the middle toe joint, preventing the affected digit from lying flat and straight. As one of the most common forefoot problems, experts estimate that hammertoe deformities represent about 20% of all foot issues treated by podiatrists and orthopedists. ...
Whether you lived with chronic wrist and hand pain for months or years before you finally received an official diagnosis, you’re probably more than ready to explore more targeted treatment solutions now that you know you’re dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). If your CTS symptoms are persistent, severe, or...
Over 100 rheumatic diseases cause joint inflammation, stiffness, and pain. Collectively, these conditions are known as arthritis. Close to 59 million adults in the United States — or one in four Americans — have been diagnosed with some type of arthritis, and many more experience chronic joint aches that haven’t...
It began as minor pain in the ball of your foot that quickly got better with rest, or when you removed your shoes and lightly massaged the base of your toes. But the pain never went away completely, and in fact, it always seemed to return — gradually worsening —...
It doesn’t take a significant degree of trauma — or a loss of consciousness — to sustain a concussion, as millions of people in the United States find out each year after they’ve been hurt in a car crash, jostled by an accidental fall, or injured in the game. As...
Playing sports or engaging in athletic pursuits is a great way to stay active — but it also increases your risk of sustaining a sports-related injury. Any part of your body can get hurt in the game, but it’s your high-use, weight-bearing joints — especially your knees — that are...
Your median nerve runs down the length of your arm and into your palm, allowing you to move and feel your forearm, wrist, hand, and fingers. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) occurs when this all-important nerve becomes compressed within its narrow passageway inside your wrist — an area known as the...
If cold weather is something you “feel in your bones,” you’re not alone — winter is a time of increased joint pain and stiffness for many people, especially those who live with osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), gout, or some other form of arthritis. While experts don’t know exactly why...
Your shoulder is a highly mobile ball-and-socket joint that’s a lot like a golf ball sitting on a tee. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder joint, keeping the ball of your upper arm bone firmly within its shallow socket; the entire joint...
As the strongest and the second most versatile joints in your body, your hips are inherently resilient. Unfortunately, these key load-bearing joints are also vulnerable to a myriad of painful problems, including: Degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) Joint inflammation (rheumatoid arthritis) Acute traumatic injuries (impingement; labral tear) Repetitive use injuries (hip bursitis) Besides supporting...
The most bothersome aspect of living with a hammertoe deformity may be the foot pain and walking issues it can cause — but the most worrisome thing about it is arguably its potential for progression and worsening foot problems that have the capacity to change your gait or limit your physical activity. ...
After a good night’s sleep, you expect your body to feel rested, restored, and ready to start a new day. What you don’t expect is to wake up with a sore shoulder joint — and you especially don’t expect to face this same perplexing problem as you greet each day. ...
More than two in five adults (43.5%) with arthritis say that persistent joint pain and stiffness has the power to make daily tasks more difficult, limit their activities, or restrict their mobility. But it doesn’t have to be this way: You have the power to keep arthritis symptoms in check. ...
You’ve probably heard the common cliché about pushing your physical capacity to the max, even if it means pushing through the discomfort of a sports injury: No pain, no gain. While it may be tempting to “walk it off” and stay in the game when you sustain an injury on the...
A swollen joint occurs when a surge of fluid accumulates within a joint and/or its surrounding soft tissues, making the affected body part look larger and puffier than normal — and often causing some degree of pain or discomfort in the process. Also known as joint effusion, this common problem...
The ankle is a complex, lubricated (synovial) hinge joint that connects the bones of your lower leg (fibula and tibia) with your ankle bone (talus) and foot. Supported and stabilized by various tendons and ligaments, this important weight-bearing joint plays a key role in everything from normal mobility and proper...
Your hips have the distinction of being the strongest joints in your body as well as the second most versatile set of joints — only your shoulder joints have a greater degree of mobility. Although these important load-bearing joints are inherently resilient, they’re also vulnerable to a variety of painful...
It’s not surprising that knee injuries are among the most common sports injuries we diagnose and treat here at Sports Medicine Oregon in Tigard and Wilsonville, Oregon. As the body’s most versatile weight-bearing joints, your knees are made to perform well under pressure — but they’re also prone to a...
As the two most mobile and versatile joints in your body, your shoulders give your arms and upper back the wide range of motion they need to shoot a basket, swing a golf club, swim the butterfly stroke — and pitch a baseball. But this impressive mobility comes with a...
Bursae are closed, fluid-filled sacs that act as gliding surfaces between skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, muscles, and other tissues. More than 150 of these friction-reducing “cushions” are located throughout your body, including near and around your joints. Major bursae are situated next to the tendons in your large joints (shoulders,...
The unnatural position of a hammertoe deformity can cause persistent foot discomfort that makes it difficult to walk and leaves you vulnerable to developing painful corns and calluses. Luckily, there’s a lot you can do to relieve bothersome hammertoe symptoms, ranging from conservative measures to surgery. As board-certified orthopedic surgeons who specialize...
If you have carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), you’re probably very familiar with the intermittent tingling, itchy numbness, and burning pain it can cause in your wrist, hand, and fingers. You may even experience ongoing wrist or hand discomfort that weakens your grip and makes it hard to open a jar...
Your shoulder has a wider and more varied range of motion than any other joint in your body. This impressive functionality comes with a cost, however: The most mobile joint is also one of the least stable, and this inherent mobility-stability compromise means that the shoulder is far more vulnerable...
Kids who play organized sports stand to gain a myriad of benefits, ranging from increased physical fitness to improved self-discipline and better sportsmanship. Getting in the game also helps young athletes learn what it means to be part of a team. Despite its substantial benefits, playing sports also carries a...
Published Article by Tim R. Beals, DO, Rui W. Soares, MD, Karen K. Briggs, MPH, Hannah K. Day, MS, Marc J. Philippon, MD, The American Journal of Sports Medicine View Article Here → Abstract Background: The role of hip arthroscopy in the treatment of patients with borderline hip dysplasia is...
Whether you’re an elite athlete or a recreational sports enthusiast, you know that you carry a risk of injury every time you step on the field, skate across the ice, burst onto the court, or otherwise get in the game. Meniscus tears have the dubious distinction of being one of...
At Sports Medicine Oregon in Tigard and Wilsonville, Oregon, we evaluate and treat acute joint injuries on a routine basis — some are sports-related mishaps or the result of an accidental fall, while others are a slowly developing product of repetitive stress or strain. For many people who arrive at...
ACL injuries are common in the sports world, but you can also sustain this type of injury from a car accident or other trauma. Our board-certified orthopedic surgeons at Sports Medicine Oregon frequently perform ACL reconstruction on patients who need surgical repair. Not all ACL tears require surgery to heal....
What Is Hip Osteoarthritis? The hip is one of the most important joints in the body. Its primary purpose is to bear and support the weight of the body during physical activity. A two-part “ball and socket” joint, the hip is the connection between the thighbone and the pelvis. The...
Trigger Finger Surgery The human hand is made up of bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints. When it works correctly, the hand is capable of performing many functions, such as gripping, lifting, aligning, opening, closing, and placing objects. Each hand normally has four fingers and one thumb. The fingers consist...
What Is Wrist Tendonitis? The wrist joint, which connects the hand to the forearm, plays an important role in the overall function of the hand and arm. Damage to the wrist can severely impact an individual’s ability to perform daily tasks. Like any joint, the wrist relies on tendons—strong cords...
Ankle Symptom The ankle joint consists of three bones: the tibia, fibula, and talus. The tibia and fibula are the two long bones of the lower leg. The tibia is located on the inner side of the leg and ankle, and the fibula is located on the outer side. The...
What Is Arthritis? The term “arthritis” simply means inflammation of the joints. In most cases, this inflammation occurs after the cartilage in the joint has been damaged. Cartilage is the flexible connective tissue that protects the joints by absorbing the shock and pressure imposed by movement. A decrease in the...
A stress fracture usually occurs when a bone is subjected to repetitive strain or impact. For example, when a runner's foot strikes a hard surface, the vibration from that impact travels up the leg to the hip. After a time, the hip bone (which is actually he head of the...
What Is A Locked Knee? The knee is one of the most complex joints in the human body. It connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia), and also includes a smaller bone, the fibula, which is located next to the tibia, and the knee cap (patella). Tendons...
What Is A Jones Fracture? When a break occurs in the bone that runs along the outside of the foot, from the baby or pinkie toe to the ankle, it may be a Jones fracture. Named after Sir Robert Jones, the first orthopedic surgeon who reported and treated the injury,...
What Is A Frozen Shoulder? The term “frozen shoulder” refers to pain, stiffness, and loss of normal range of motion in the shoulder joint. While the cause of frozen shoulder is not fully understood, it is believed that most cases are related to overuse or acute injuries of the shoulder....
3/20/20 Update: SMO has now incorporated HIPAA secure TeleMedicine video conference visits with our patients. Instead of canceling or postponing your visit, you can still meet with our providers via video conference if you are more comfortable with that than an in person visit. On site, healthy patients are still...
What Is A Patellar Tendon Tear? Patellar Tendon Tear Symptoms, Treatment And Recovery Patellar tendon ruptures can occur during athletic competition and as a result of accidents around the home. These injuries may arise from sudden, traumatic incidents or from chronic overuse. Unfortunately, many individuals experience weakness and knee instability...
What Does A Hip Labral Tear Feel Like? Hip Labral Tear Symptoms, Treatment And Recovery Hip labral tears are a fairly common injury, both on the playing field and as a result of chronic conditions. Torn hip labrums are frequently seen in sports that require sharp cutting movements such as...
What Is A Heel Spur? Heel Spur Symptoms, Treatment And Recovery The average American takes more than 5,000 steps every single day. Over the course of our lifetimes, these small steps add up to tens of thousands of miles, and this mileage can wear on our feet, resulting in various injuries and...
Should I Have Shoulder Replacement Surgery? Shoulder Replacement Recovery, Rehab And More Although not as often discussed as hip or knee replacements, shoulder replacement surgery is a fairly common procedure in the world of modern orthopedics. In fact, more than 50,000 individuals in the United States now undergo shoulder replacement...
What Is Hip Impingement? Hip Impingement Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment Femoroacetabular impingement — also known as FAI or simply as hip impingement — is a common condition affecting competitive athletes and active older adults alike. With appropriate proactive treatment, many individuals with FAI are able to return to the playing...
Everything You Need To Know About Total Knee Replacement Surgery In the United States, approximately 12 percent of adults experience mobility limitations as a result of arthritis in the knee, leading to reduced independence and a lower overall quality of life. Fortunately, the spectrum of treatment options is wider and...
How To Tell If Your Hand Is Broken — Broken Hand, Finger, And Wrist Symptoms And Treatment According to recent estimates published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research, approximately one-quarter of all sports injuries involve the hands or wrists. Hand fractures and broken fingers are currently on the rise due...
Whether you’re on the playing field or in the house, the occasional bump, bruise, sprain or pang is inevitable. These injuries may be sudden or the result of overuse and gradual wear and tear. Fortunately, less severe aches and pains may not require professional medical attention. In fact, many common...
Common Ankle Injuries: How To Treat A Sprained Ankle Around the house, on the playing field, or somewhere in between, many of us will suffer a sprained ankle or two in our lifetime. In fact, it’s been estimated that approximately 28,000 Americans sprain an ankle each day. Interestingly enough, while...
At Sports Medicine Oregon, we’ve worked tirelessly over the years to make sure the members of the Portland Timbers remain healthy and competitive throughout the grueling MLS season. Our very own Dr. Edelson is Chief Medical Officer and Head Team Physician for the Portland Timbers. Additionally, Dr. Greenleaf and Dr....
Common Achilles Injuries, Treatments, And Prevention The Achilles tendon is the strongest tendon in the human body, capable of supporting loads up to 10 times our body weight! This reliable tendon, however, is susceptible to acute and overuse injury.Approximately one million athletes suffer some type of Achilles tendon injury annually...
What Is Carpal Tunnel? Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Causes, Treatment, And Prevention Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common nerve conditions in the United States, currently affecting nearly five million workers around the country. Unfortunately, with the advent of the “digital age” and the rise of computer usage,...
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU NEED A HIP REPLACEMENT? Today, hip replacement surgery is one of the most common elective surgeries in the United States, with more than 400,000 replacements performed annually. While the contemporary replacement surgery was popularized in the 1960s, we’ve seen a revolution in techniques over the past...
Common Shoulder Injuries: What You Need To Know About Superior Labral Tears Over the past few years, we’ve seen a sudden increase in baseball and softball participation around the country. In fact, according to the MLB, more than 25 million Americans participated in baseball and softball in 2017. Unfortunately, due...
How Do You Know If You Tore Your Meniscus? The average person takes more than 5,0001 steps every single day. Over the days, months, and years, these strides add up to thousands upon thousands of leagues quite literally under your knees. As you might imagine, this mileage can erode your joints,...
Prevention Is The Best Sports Medicine WHAT IS SPORTS MEDICINE? The human body is capable of incredible achievements, however, as we all know, we all have our own unique limitations (even if we don’t like to admit this). As the old adage goes, prevention is the best medicine. With this...
Recovering From Arthroscopic Surgery WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER ARTHROSCOPIC KNEE SURGERY Arthroscopy is a very useful form of surgery that is used for the treatment of a number of problems. It is important to remember that every surgery may cause some limitations during the recovery period. The amount of damage,...
THE PROCEDURE You are having a bicep tenodesis. Bicep tenodesis is surgical repair of an injured or degenerative tendon through the use of sutures and fixative devices anchoring the tendon to bone. The repair will be done with a combination of arthroscopic portals (small incisions) to look inside the shoulder...
THE PROCEDURE You are having a rotator cuff repair. Surgical correction seeks to repair the cuff tear using anchors and sutures. There are cases in which the tear is either too large or too complicated to be done through the arthroscope and a larger incision is necessary. An acromioplasty, removing...
ACL Reconstruction ACL RECONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE You are having an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Surgical repair seeks to correct mechanical instability of the knee joint. One incision is made in the front of your knee from which tendons are harvested. These tendons are used to serve as the new ACL....