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Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge
Bone & Joint Staff • June 1, 2022
5 Common Athletic Injuries Seen in Sports Medicine

Athletes are no strangers to injury. The hours of grueling work put in during practice and game play, along with the physical nature of many sports, leaves many athletes susceptible to both acute and chronic injuries. From head to toe, there aren’t many parts of the body that can’t be injured during athletic pursuits. In our Baton Rouge orthopedic clinic, sports medicine comprises a large portion of our work, and we’ve grown accustomed to seeing many of the same types of injuries repeatedly, including the following five:


Athletic Knee Injuries

The knee bears the brunt of many athletic activities, particularly those which require large amounts of running and jumping. Two of the most common knee injuries in sports are patellofemoral syndrome and ACL tears.


Patellofemoral syndrome is a pain in the front of the knee or around the kneecap area. It often occurs following overuse or a blow to the knee and is common in runners.


The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is a major stabilizing ligament in the knee, connecting the shin and thigh bones. Tears to the ACL often occur due to sudden movements such as pivoting, cutting, or following a forceful impact. 


Athletic Shoulder Injuries

Most shoulder injuries come from damage to the ligaments, tendons, or cartilage that surrounds the ball and socket joint. In many cases, the shoulder may not suffer an acute injury, but is broken down by long-term repetitive motions.


Rotator cuff tears and tendonitis are among the most common cause of shoulder pain in athletes. Other common shoulder injuries include impingement syndrome and labrum tears.


Sprains and Strains in Sports

Sprains and strains are degrees of tearing that occur in soft tissue and range from microtears to complete tears. Immediate symptoms often include pain, swelling, the sound or sensation of a “pop” and loss of stability in the affected area. Common examples of these include ligament injuries in the knee (such as the ACL tears mentioned above) or in the ankle such as lateral ligament injuries. 


Sciatica in Athletes

Sciatica is yet another example of a common overuse / repetitive motion injury. In the condition, the sciatic nerve becomes irritated or compressed, resulting in pain that can affect the lower back, buttock, and leg. While it can impact anyone, athletes whose sport requires frequent trunk rotation (like golf) or the foot to be in forward, flexed position (like cycling) are at a higher risk.


Shin Splints in Athletes

Shin Splints are all too familiar to runners or athletes whose sports require a great deal of running. Also referred to as tibial stress syndrome, shin splints cause pain in the front of the lower leg. A common culprit behind shin splints is a failure to properly pace one’s training. Jumping into a new activity or quickly increasing running distance are both likely contributors.


Treating Sports Injuries in Baton Rouge

Bone and Joint Clinic is home to the area’s most skilled sports medicine specialists. Our orthopedic physicians have an intimate knowledge of the human body, its structure, and the injuries or ailments that can impact it. Many are former athletes themselves! To get started with any one of our experienced doctors, click the button below.

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The Signs and Symptoms of a Torn Meniscus

The Signs and Symptoms of a Torn Meniscus

By The Bone & Joint Clinic Staff • February 11, 2025
Damage to the meniscus, which serves as a cushion between the thigh and shin bones, can cause severe pain and impair movement.
Understanding the Most Common Types of Arthritis and Managing It at Different Life Stages

Understanding the Most Common Types of Arthritis and Managing It at Different Life Stages

By The Bone & Joint Clinic Staff • January 31, 2025
While it is often associated with aging, arthritis can affect individuals at any stage of life. Understanding the different types of arthritis and how to manage them at various life stages is key to maintaining a high quality of life.

Bone & Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge Physician Practice Transition – Effective April 1, 2025

By Bone and Joint Clinic Staff • January 30, 2025
BATON ROUGE, LA, January 30, 2025 – Effective April 1, 2025, four distinguished orthopedic surgeons from The Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge will transition to Baton Rouge Orthopedic Clinic (BROC), continuing their commitment to providing high-quality orthopedic care. The physicians joining BROC are: 1. Joseph "Jeb" Broyles, MD – Specializes in joint replacement surgery, knee arthroscopy, and cartilage regeneration. 2. Arthur "Art" Hess, MD – Specializes in trauma, hip, knee, and shoulder reconstruction, and total joint replacement surgery. 3. Mat hew "Matt" Mazoch, M D – Specializes in shoulder and knee surgery. 4. Alan Schroeder, MD – Specializes in sports medicine and shoulder surgery. Beginning April 1, 2025, these physicians will operate under BROC's umbrella while continuing to see patients at The Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge's current location, 7301 Hennessy Blvd. Eventually, the doctors plan to transition to BROC's campus on Bluebonnet Blvd. The estimated timeline for that move is Summer/Fall 2025. In addition, Dr. Patrick Hall will be transitioning to his own practice, Hall Podiatry, that will continue to provide quality podiatric care to patients. Dr. Hall will continue to practice at 7301 Hennessy Blvd. until May/June 2025. After that date, patients may see him at a new nearby location. Dr. Zachary Rohr and Christopher Belleau will also transition their practice to a new location effective March 31, 2025. We will update our patients once those details are finalized. Dr. Gerard Murtagh of The Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge will be retiring effective March 2025. Dr. Murtagh has been a vital part of the clinic since 1988 and has significantly contributed to its success. We thank Dr. Murtagh for his many years of service to the patients of Bone & Joint Clinic. Patients are encouraged to continue scheduling appointments at The Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge using the current process for the foreseeable future. To ensure a seamless transition, The Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge will provide detailed information to patients in the coming weeks, including the secure transfer of medical records and continuity of care. The health and well-being of patients remain the top priority, and The Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge, BROC, and Hall Podiatry are working together to make this transition as smooth as possible while maintaining uninterrupted care. For more information or to schedule an appointment, patients can contact The Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge at 225-766-0050 or by visiting bjcbr.com . Patients can also reach BROC at 225-924-2424 or by visiting brortho.com .
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