Blog Posts for Primary Care Sports Medicine

Youth Sports Injuries

Youth sports participation promotes physical health and leadership skills and is a positive outlet for children within our communities. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 3.5 million youth sports injuries occur each year in the U.S. Of those injuries, one in three participants seeks medical attention, resulting in lost sports and school time. Fortunately, the CDC also concluded that more than 50 percent of these injuries are preventable.

Arthritis Treatments

Arthritis is the degenerative process through which a joint space loses its “cushioning” due to injury, illness or the natural process of aging. Translated to “inflammation of the joint,” this painful condition is the leading cause of musculoskeletal pain and can be found in almost every part of the body. As we make our way into May for National Arthritis Awareness Month, it’s important to recognize the symptoms, causes, and risk factors and explore non-surgical treatment options such as hyaluronic acid injections.

Men's Physicals & Hormone Levels

As we recognize Men’s Health Month in June, annual physical exams are an essential topic of discussion. After all, these yearly visits are considered a preventative measure to get in front of issues before they develop into conditions or diseases. However, unlike a routine annual physical, a sports medicine physical evaluates your current health status and medical history to ensure you are healthy enough to participate in physical activity.

Regenerative Medicine Treatments

Strong Bones & Aging

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, approximately 2 million older Americans sustain fractures yearly due to weak bones. By 2025, that number is predicted to rise to 3 million fractures annually. At North Florida Bone & Joint Specialists, we recognize the importance of maintaining strong bones, particularly as you age. In honor of Healthy Aging Month, the following tips can help you maintain, and even improve, your bone strength:

Welcome Ryan Riggs, MD

Please join Northwest Florida Bone & Joint Specialists in welcoming Dr. Ryan Riggs to our highly-trained group of expert providers. As a board-certified and fellowship-trained sports medicine physician, Dr. Riggs specializes in treating various musculoskeletal and orthopaedic conditions and injuries of the upper extremities, hip, knee, foot and ankle, and spine.

Ultrasound Use in Sports Medicine

Musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging offers orthopaedic patients safe, painless, and real-time imaging, without any harmful ionizing radiation or the need for uncomfortable positioning. As the first sports medicine physician in the region to utilize ultrasound for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, Dr. Josh Hackel’s commitment to innovation has improved the accessibility of care for his patients.

Aging & Inactivity

Throughout my career, I’ve treated athletes from all walks of life and at various skill levels. From the amateur cross-country runner to both professional and college football players, one thing is consistent, as it is with us all, how we’ve treated our bodies when we were younger impacts our health as we age. I’m reminded of this weekly as I watch from the sidelines serving as a team physician for the University of West Florida football team.

Baseball Injury Prevention

While baseball is considered a non-contact sport, injuries and conditions related to America’s favorite pastime can yield equally traumatic consequences if not correctly diagnosed and treated. Aside from painful strains, sprains and bruises, the most common injuries that players experience are overuse of the rotator cuff in the shoulder and ulnar collateral ligament tears in the elbow.

Partial Thickness Rotator Cuff Tear Study

In partnership with the Andrews Research & Education Foundation, I am serving as the Principal Investigator on a clinical study involving the use of regenerative cells in patients who have partial-thickness rotator cuff tears. These are tears in the tendon that contribute to shoulder pain, dysfunction, and occupational disability. The use of regenerative stem cells is investigational. In this study, regenerative cells from your fat tissue will be isolated, concentrated, and injected into your tendon tear.

Ultrasound: Not Just for Babies!

Ultrasound: Not Just for Babies!

Sports Medicine: Not Just for Athletes

When most people think of sports medicine, they envision a physician treating their favorite player who was carted off the field after receiving a game-ended injury. However, a fairly common misconception is that you have to be an elite athlete to see a sports medicine doctor.

Research and the Evolution of Sports Medicine

Research and the Evolution of Sports Medicine

Three Reasons to Consider Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

Three Reasons to Consider Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

What Is Primary Care Sports Medicine?

What is a primary care sports medicine physician?