Our Services / Sports Medicine

Sports Medicine services offered in Columbus, GA

Sports medicine treats common sports injuries, including rotator cuff tears, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, and ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries. At St. Francis Orthopaedic Institute in Columbus, Georgia, board-certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist Jake Dunn, DO, provides sports medicine to children, teens, and adults. A former athlete, Dr. Dunn knows what it takes to reduce the risk of injury and promote healing in the event of one. Call the St. Francis Orthopaedic Institute office today to make an appointment, or book your visit online.

Sports Medicine Q & A

What is sports medicine?

Sports medicine is an orthopedics subspecialty focused on preventing and treating activity-related injuries. Exercising is good for you and fun, but it takes a toll on your bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Partnering with a sports medicine physician like Dr. Dunn helps you optimize your performance and address injuries promptly.

Which injuries does sports medicine treat?

At St. Francis Orthopaedic Institute, Dr. Dunn uses sports medicine to treat various musculoskeletal injuries, including:

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and ruptures
Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injuries
Shoulder instability
Rotator cuff tears
Achilles tendinitis
Sprains and strains
Meniscus tears
Post-traumatic arthritis
Turf toe
Tennis elbow
Runner’s knee
Golfer’s elbow
Joint dislocations
Cartilage injuries

You could benefit from sports medicine if you break a bone. Dr. Dunn treats stress fractures, complex fractures, and crush injuries.

What does sports medicine involve?

At St. Francis Orthopaedic Institute, Dr. Dunn tailors sports medicine to your personal needs. He could suggest:

Injury prevention education

Most sports injuries are preventable by wearing the proper safety equipment and following safety guidelines. Warming up before exercise and cooling down afterward reduces your risk of strains, sprains, and other soft-tissue injuries. Wearing a shoulder brace if you have shoulder instability can prevent the joint from being dislocated.

Dr. Dunn works with you to identify the activities that put you at risk for musculoskeletal problems. He then makes personalized recommendations to prevent them from happening.

Platelet-rich plasma injections

Mild to moderate sports injuries often improve with non- and minimally invasive treatments like ice, rest, and over-the-counter pain medication. You could also benefit from platelet-rich plasma injections (PRP). PRP treatment injects a platelet-rich solution directly into a damaged joint or area of soft tissue. This increases blood flow to the area, relieves pain, and promotes healing.

Orthopedic surgery

Dr. Dunn recommends orthopedic surgery if you suffer a severe injury that’s painful or affecting your mobility. He’s trained in minimally invasive and open procedures and develops treatment plans that align with patients’ needs.

What is the outlook for sports injuries?

Most sports injuries heal within 3-4 weeks, but depending on where and how severe the injury is, it can take longer. Follow Dr. Dunn’s recovery instructions, take your medication as prescribed, and attend each physical therapy session.

Call the St. Francis Orthopaedic Institute office today to schedule a sports medicine appointment, or book your visit online.