Sports Medicine Specialist

Due to the fast-paced movements and quick changes in direction in many of the most popular sports, injuries of all kinds are common in athletes.

Common sports-related injuries can affect all areas of your body, especially your knees, ankles, elbows, and back. These injuries include:

• Fractures
• Rotator-cuff tears
• Joint dislocations
• Swollen muscles
• Shoulder dysfunction

Many of these conditions cause intense pain soon after the injury and require medical intervention to ensure proper healing.

Dr. Hughes will usually recommend nonsurgical treatments to begin with to prevent inflammation and alleviate your pain, including rest and ice or heat therapy. He might also suggest physical therapy to strengthen your muscles and reduce the severity of pain.

When these treatments aren’t effective, and you have difficulty with daily activities at home or on the job, Dr. Hughes will recommend more advanced treatments like platelet-rich-plasma injections to repair damaged tissue or stem cell therapy to encourage the growth of new, healthy tissue and address your pain and other symptoms.

If these nonsurgical options still don’t provide relief, Dr. Hughes will then recommend minimally invasive surgery, including arthroscopic techniques or a total joint replacement.

An important sports medicine service Dr. Hughes provides is expert guidance on injury prevention. He offers resources that help enhance your performance and protect your body from common sports-related injuries.

To prevent overuse injuries, fractures, and muscle pain, you should learn the correct postures and form for playing your sport. If you’re just starting out in the game, you also need to give your body time to adapt to the increase in activity levels.

Routine medical evaluations help ensure you’re in great physical condition to participate in your favorite sports. Dr. Hughes can also offer suggestions for muscle-strengthening exercises you can do daily to keep your body healthy and flexible. He can also suggest training exercises to improve your cardiovascular, muscle, and bone health.

You need to keep hydrated during strenuous activity, so drinking plenty of water throughout the game is essential. This is especially important during hot weather.

To discuss other sports-injury prevention measures and to learn about sports medicine treatments, schedule an appointment today using the online booking feature or by calling the San Mateo office.