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Sports Injuries in Mature Athletes
By Eric Rightmire, MD
I’m a 60-year old woman who has always lived an active, healthy lifestyle. Recently my knee has been very sore during and after playing tennis. I play twice each week and I’d like to keep competing into my seventies. What treatment options are available to me at my age?
With many new advances in orthopedic medicine, athletes have a variety of medical and surgical options available to treat their bone and joint issues. Even better news is that many of these treatments are also available for mature athletes. We are seeing more and more athletes competing into their mature years. With well-planned exercise and training programs, many of these athletes can remain injury free. When there is an injury, however, we can administer successful treatment and keep mature athletes competing safely.
During the summer, outdoor sports such as tennis and golf are more prevalent. These sports require more twisting movements and quick changes in direction. The typical sports injuries we see include problems with knees, shoulders, hips, and elbows. But, knee injuries including ligament tears, meniscus tears, and patella tendonitis tend to affect a larger number of athletes.
ACL Tears
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) stabilizes the knee. ACL injuries occur most often during athletic activities when an athlete’s leg is rotating inward, while the rest of the body is turning outward, such as when abruptly changing direction.
At one time, these injuries were devastating to athletes, potentially ending their sporting life, but with new techniques, ACL treatment and reconstruction are safe and common surgical procedures.
The way we treat your ACL injury will depend on many factors. These factors include your lifestyle and the severity of the damage. An ACL tear affects the stability of your knee. If physical therapy and devices such as braces do not offer enough support, we’ll need to consider surgery.
Ligament reconstruction surgery has taken huge leaps forward in recent years. Most ACL repairs and reconstructions are performed using an arthroscope guided through very small incisions. Typically, the damaged ligament is replaced with a graft from another tendon. Following surgery, there may be some therapy and a specific exercise program to re-establish strength and range of motion recommended.
Meniscus Tears
There are two menisci in your knee; one on the inside and the other is on the outside of the knee. They are made of a tough cartilage and their function is to distribute you body weight across the knee joint. The meniscus can tear when the knee is bent or twisted in an awkward way. Symptoms may include pain and swelling of the knee, limited motion, or a popping or clicking within the knee. An x-ray or MRI are the most common tests for diagnosis, and treatment will depend on the severity of the tear. Therapies and support braces may be prescribed, but there are several surgical options for repair.
Patella Tendinitis/Anterior Knee Pain
Patella tendinitis, also known as “jumper’s knee”, is an inflammation in the band of tissue that connects the kneecap and the shinbone. It typically occurs in athletes whose activities put repeated stress on their knees, such as walking, running, jumping, or bicycling. It also occurs in people who have problems with the alignment of their legs, hips, knees or feet. Symptoms may include pain, tenderness or swelling around or behind the kneecap, pain when running, jumping, or walking (particularly downhill or downstairs), or pain when straightening or bending the leg.
The most common treatment will include ice, elevation, anti-inflammatory medications, and recommended exercises. There are also shoe inserts and knee braces or straps that may be recommended by your physician. In very severe cases, surgery may also be recommended.
Athletes with bone and joint issues need to discuss their concerns with a trainer and/or physician. The advancement of treatments and procedures has helped athletes to participate and compete well into their adult lives.
Eric Rightmire, MD
Dr. Rightmire, is an Orthopedic Surgeon at Jordan Hospital and Plymouth Bay Orthopedic Associates.
For more information or to make an appointment with Dr. Rightmire, please call Plymouth Bay Orthopedic Associates at 781-934-2400.
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