Sports Medicine
Pittsburgh's Most Trusted Sports Medicine
Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine
Every year, millions of teenagers participate in high school sports. While these activities provide fun and exercise to participants, they can also lead to serious orthopaedic injury. High school sports injuries can often cause problems that require surgery as an adult, and may lead to arthritis later in life.
At Prisk Orthopaedics and Wellness, we strive to help families address this concerning health issue. Dr. Prisk of Prisk Orthopaedics and Wellness is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon who is trained in evaluating musculoskeletal conditions throughout the entire body. His evaluations can focus on joint, bone, tendon, ligament, or muscular pain or injury. Following an exam, he can assess your - or your child’s - need for conservative or operative care. And should any care needs fall outside of his specialty, he can offer direct referrals as needed to ensure treatment is provided.
To report a sport-related injury and begin discussing your or your family’s care needs, please contact Dr. Prisk at (412) 525-7692 or submit an online appointment request form.
Dance Injury Treatment by Top Sports Medicine Specialist
The art of dance is a unique practice due to its mixture of artistic and sport-related exercises and presentations. Dancing requires strength, flexibility, and stamina. But it can also come with a high risk of injuries. In fact, studies have shown that dancing five hours a day or longer leads to increased risk of stress fractures and other injuries. From hip and back problems, to foot and ankle injuries, to knee issues, dance can take a toll on the body - often to a point where rest is not enough to support one's recovery.
If your ability to practice your art or live your daily life has been compromised be a dancing injury, we can help. At Prisk Orthopaedics and Wellness, we strive to help families address the health issues that can arise from dance practice. Dr. Prisk of Prisk Orthopaedics and Wellness is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon who is trained in evaluating musculoskeletal conditions throughout the entire body. His evaluations can focus on joint, bone, tendon, ligament, or muscular pain or injury. Following an exam, he can assess your - or your child’s - need for conservative or operative care. And should any care needs fall outside of his specialty, he can offer direct referrals as needed to ensure treatment is provided.
To report a dance-related injury and begin discussing your or your family’s care needs, please contact Dr. Prisk at (412) 525-7692 or submit an online appointment request form.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Common Are Teen Sports-Related Injuries?
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons notes that teenage athletes are injured at about the same rate as professional athletes. However, their injuries often develop or present differently than in adults. This is because teen bodies are still in development. As a result, younger athletes and more susceptible to muscle, tendon, and growth plate injuries.
Common overuse injuries (due to repetitive motions) can affect muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones, and growth plates. And specific common acute (sudden trauma) injuries among young athletes include:
- contusions (bruises)
- sprains (a partial or complete tear of a ligament)
- strains (a partial or complete tear of a muscle or tendon)
- fractures
So Sports-Related Injuries That Need Orthopaedic Care Don’t Just Include Impact-Related Fractures?
Definitely not. Soft tissues are as susceptible as bones to both acute and overuse injuries. And depending on the nature of the injury, rest may not be enough for a full recovery.
What Types Of Sports-Related Services Are Available At Prisk Orthopaedics and Wellness?
Our practice focuses on several key areas of sports injury medicine, including:
- Pre-participation Physicals. We offer Walk-In and Same Day Appointments for pre-participation physicals for schools and sports organizations. It is important for all athletes of all ages to undergo one of these physicals. They allow doctors to screen for potential risks to injury prior to engaging in rigorous exercise programs. Screenings involve functional movement assessment and anatomical alignment evaluations.
- Non-Operative Injury Management. Some injuries cannot be avoided - but some surgeries can be. Dr. Prisk is a conservative surgeon who will explore with you the non-operative management of your condition, when possible, and help you to work around injuries to stay active in your art or your sport. Care options like Bracing, Physical Therapy, E-Stim, Nutritional Interventions, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy, and Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrates can be explored.
- Arthroscopy and Biological Treatments. Arthroscopy involves the use of small incisions and the insertion of a special camera, which allows for a close examination of joint conditions and some soft-tissue conditions. In these cases, an inside look at an injury can help with treatment planning, and even potentially lead to a quicker recovery.
In combination with biological treatments (like PRP and autologous stem cell harvest), some patients have a quicker recovery from their condition. Dr. Prisk is a specialist in arthroscopy around the ankle, including hindfoot endoscopy for conditions like Os Trigonum Syndrome/Posterior Ankle Impingement and Haglund's Deformity at the Achilles Tendon.
Do you provide specialized treatment for dance-related injuries?
Dancers are susceptible to unique injuries and stress fractures that require specialized care. That’s why we provide pre-participation physicals for dancers and surgery-free treatment options designed to heal injuries using the latest, minimally-invasive techniques. Request an appointment online or call our office to learn how Prisk Orthopaedics and Wellness can help!
Because orthopaedic health issues affect every individual differently, it's impossible for us to answer every question about your care needs here. We want to help you properly, via a collaborative care process that puts you and your health needs in full focus. And it all begins with a conversation about your health, needs, and goals. To review your care options in-depth, and to prepare for your initial and general evaluation, please contact us at (412) 525-7692 or submit an online appointment request form.
Get the Best Sports Medicine Care in Pittsburgh, PA!
Call us or schedule an appointment with us today!