Go the Distance: Injuries don’t have to sideline runners, cyclists

(October 2, 2013) Whether you’re a competitive athlete or a weekend warrior, injuries happen. Over time, the repetitive motion involved in running and biking can lead to overuse injuries in your muscles and joints, causing chronic pain and discomfort. The good news is that most repetitive injuries can be treated effectively, allowing a quick return to pre-injury performance.

“The vast majority of repetitive use injuries caused by running and cycling issues can often be treated with modification of a person’s training regimen with only a minimal amount of time missed from activities that patients want to participate in,” says Matthew Levine, MD, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine at Inova Fairfax Hospital.

Sports medicine specialists at Inova Fairfax Hospital provide a full complement of services for athletes of all skill levels, including consultation, state-of-the-art diagnostic exams, sport-specific rehabilitation and advanced surgical techniques when needed.

Back on Track
For runners, common injuries include runner’s knee, or pain centering on the kneecap; iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS), which involves pain and inflammation on the outside of the knee; Achilles tendinitis, or pain and swelling of the tendon just above the heel; and ankle sprain. Runners are also prone to high-impact injuries such as stress fractures and shin splints.

“Most of these common overuse injuries don’t require surgery,” says Robert Najarian, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at Inova Fairfax Hospital. “Usually the swelling and pain resulting from these injuries can be treated with rest, ice and anti-inflammatory medications.”

Cyclists share some of the same types of slow-onset injuries as runners, such as ITBS and knee pain, and they are also vulnerable to acute injuries such as collarbone fractures and mild head and neck injury caused by falls.

For athletes with traumatic bone and muscle-related injuries, Inova’s full-time, orthopedic trauma team is available around the clock. The dedicated team uses the most advanced technology to provide each patient with a superior outcome.

Looking Ahead
In November 2013, Inova will open the Ballston sports medicine center providing a comprehensive array of orthopedic subspecialties in a single, convenient location.

“The new center will provide our patients with a centralized location where our orthopedic services, physical therapy, sports performance services and urgent care will all be under one roof,” says Matthew Levine, MD.

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Click to see more news and articles from Inova Fairfax Hospital in the Summer / Fall 2013 issue of INhealth magazine:  Read more