You felt something pop during a soccer match, or your shoulder has ached since the start of softball season. Most athletes in Milwaukee try to play through pain, hoping rest will be enough. Sometimes it is, but some injuries keep getting worse without the right care. Knowing when to see a sports medicine specialist can protect your season and your long term health. This guide covers the warning signs and what a visit involves.
Two Types of Sports Injuries
Sports injuries generally fall into two groups. Acute injuries happen suddenly, such as a sprained ankle, a dislocated shoulder or a torn ligament. Chronic injuries develop over time from repeated stress, such as tendon irritation in a pitcher's shoulder or a runner's sore knee.1 Both deserve attention, but they often show different warning signs.
Common examples include sprains, strains and other sports injuries, hamstring muscle injuries and overuse injuries that build gradually as training increases.
Warning Signs It Is Time to See a Specialist
Minor aches often improve with a few days of rest, ice, compression and elevation. You should seek medical care when you notice any of the following:1
- Severe pain, swelling or numbness
- You cannot put weight on the injured area
- A joint looks deformed or feels unstable, as if it might give way
- An old injury that hurts, swells or feels different than before
- Pain that does not improve after one to two weeks of rest
A knee that buckles after a pivot, for example, can signal an ACL tear, which is common in sports that involve cutting and jumping.2 Shoulder weakness when lifting your arm may point to rotator cuff tears, especially in throwing and overhead athletes.3 Any suspected head injury should be checked promptly, since concussions need their own careful evaluation.
Why a Sports Medicine Specialist Makes a Difference
General care is a good starting point for many problems, but a sports medicine specialist focuses on how injuries affect movement, performance and return to play. That perspective matters when you want to get back to your sport safely rather than just feeling better at rest.
When you see us, your care is guided by fellowship training in orthopaedic sports medicine at the University of South Florida and Florida Orthopaedic Institute, along with orthopaedic surgery residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Clinical interests include knee and shoulder injuries, ACL and meniscus injuries, rotator cuff tears, shoulder instability and cartilage restoration. That background includes work as a team physician for University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Athletics and as team physician for Cedarburg High School.
What to Expect at Your Sports Medicine Visit
Evaluation
Your visit begins with a conversation about how the injury happened, your sport, your position and your goals. A focused examination checks strength, motion and stability. Imaging is ordered when it will help guide your care.
A Treatment Plan Built for Athletes
Many sports injuries respond well to nonsurgical care, including activity changes, bracing and physical therapy. When surgery offers the best chance of returning to your activity, minimally invasive options such as ACL reconstruction or shoulder arthroscopic surgery may be discussed. Your plan includes guidance on when and how to return to training.
Sports Medicine Across the Milwaukee Area
Whether you play high school football, coach a youth league or run along the Oak Leaf Trail on weekends, getting care close to home makes follow through easier. You can be seen at our practice locations in Glendale, Wauwatosa and Cedarburg. Our overview of sports medicine conditions shows the wide range of injuries we treat.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sports Injuries
When should you see a doctor for a sports injury?
You should see a doctor if you have severe pain, swelling, numbness, trouble bearing weight or a joint that feels unstable. Pain that does not improve after a week or two of rest also deserves an evaluation.
What does a sports medicine doctor treat?
A sports medicine doctor treats injuries to bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons related to activity and exercise. Common examples include ACL tears, meniscus tears, rotator cuff injuries, sprains and overuse injuries.
Where can you find a sports medicine specialist in Milwaukee?
You can see a sports medicine specialist at our Glendale office in the Milwaukee area, as well as at our Wauwatosa and Cedarburg offices. Each office evaluates acute injuries and chronic sports related pain.
Should you use ice or heat on a new sports injury?
Ice is generally recommended for a new injury to help limit swelling and pain. If symptoms are severe or do not improve, an evaluation can confirm what is going on.
Can you keep playing with a sports injury?
Playing through pain can turn a minor injury into a more serious one. If pain changes how you move or keeps returning, it is safer to have it checked before you continue.
Get Back in the Game With Care in Milwaukee
The sooner an injury is understood, the sooner you can make a plan to return to the activities you love. If pain or instability is affecting your training, you can book a sports medicine visit at one of our Milwaukee area offices and get guidance tailored to your sport.
References
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Sports Injuries. National Institutes of Health. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sports-injuries
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries. OrthoInfo. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/anterior-cruciate-ligament-acl-injuries/
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Rotator Cuff Tears. OrthoInfo. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/rotator-cuff-tears/
Jake Bauwens, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon with Wisconsin Bone and Joint who focuses on sports medicine and injuries of the knee and shoulder. Dr. Bauwens earned an undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin Madison and a medical degree at Rush Medical College. Dr. Bauwens then completed an internship and orthopedic residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin, followed by a sports medicine fellowship at the University of South Florida and Florida Orthopaedic Institute. Dr. Bauwens sees patients at offices in Glendale, Wauwatosa and Cedarburg, serving communities across the Milwaukee area.
