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Sports Medicine Resources & FAQs

The doctors and specialists at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health are relentlessly devoted to providing our community with the resources it needs to stay healthy, active, and pain-free. If you have a sports-related concern, you’ll want to see a sports medicine specialist and possibly an orthopedic surgeon. 

Who to see for your sports-related condition

Sports medicine specialist

The sports medicine primary care providers at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health can help you maximize your nonoperative treatment, guiding you through therapy options as you progress through your healing. We provide individualized treatment to each person in our care so you can heal and get back to the activities you enjoy. We can also help you train to reach your peak fitness level and reduce your chances for a future sports injury.  

Some of the conditions our sports medicine specialists treat include:

  • Ankle sprains
  • Finger and hand sprains
  • Knee injuries
  • Muscle strains
  • Shoulder injuries
  • Wrist and elbow injuries
  • Stress fractures
  • Rotator cuff tendonitis
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Wear-and-tear arthritis

Orthopedic surgeon

When surgery is the best option for your sports injury, our orthopedic surgeons can keep you moving. We have specialists who treat you from head to toe, with experts in back and spine injuries; foot and ankle conditions; hand, wrist, and elbow ailments; hip and knee joint replacement; and neck and shoulder issues.

Our orthopedic surgeons provide a variety of surgical treatments, including: 

  • anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury repair 
  • Elbow, wrist and hand surgery repair
  • Foot and ankle surgery 
  • Hip replacement surgery 
  • Hip revision surgery
  • Meniscus injury repair 
  • Shoulder replacement
  • Knee replacement
  • Rotator cuff injury repair 
  • Spine surgery
  • Tendon and fascia repair
  • Carpal tunnel and trigger finger release surgery

Learn more about joint replacement surgery.

FAQs about ACL surgery

  • The ACL is one of four ligaments in the knee that helps stabilize the knee joint. The ACL and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) are positioned in the middle of the joint and cross over one another. These ligaments keep the knee bones—tibia and femur—from sliding forward or under one another, thus keeping the knee in alignment.

    The most common ligament injury in the knee is to the ACL. Depending on the extent of the injury, damage also can occur to the PCL, the cartilage (meniscus) and two other stabilizing ligaments in the knee: the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL). These two ligaments are positioned along the inner and outer part of the knee, respectively.

  • ACL tears can occur either from contact or noncontact injury. Contact injuries involve a direct blow to the knee, often with damage to other ligaments as well. Noncontact injuries are the source of over 70 percent of ACL ruptures. They usually occur during deceleration or pivoting of the knee.

  • A large percentage of people have reported hearing a "pop" in the knee when the ligament ruptures. Swelling in the knee occurs in nearly all ACL tears. The swelling may not be significant, and the onset may be delayed for six to 24 hours. Swelling within 24 hours of an acute injury means there is blood in the knee and medical attention should be sought.

    If the torn or ruptured ACL isn’t surgically repaired, you may experience repetitive instability bouts with the knee buckling and giving way. These difficulties occur in 80 to 90 percent of people who attempt to return to aggressive physical activities.

  • The diagnosis of an ACL tear is made in most cases by reviewing a patient's history as well as a thorough physical examination that may include X-rays or an MRI.

  • In active individuals, the recommended treatment for an ACL tear is typically surgical reconstruction. Current techniques have achieved well over 90 percent success in restoring stability to the knee. The current standard of care is to reconstruct the ligament with another piece of tissue because studies have shown a high failure rate with repair of the torn ligament itself.

    The surgeons at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health have extensive experience in the use of all the currently used tissues for ACL replacement. These include the patient's own tissue, including patellar tendon grafts, hamstring grafts, or quadriceps tendon grafts. Our surgeons also have extensive experience using transplant tissue, which avoids the need to remove portions of the patient's own normal tissue. Your surgeon will thoroughly discuss the pros and cons of each graft option and determine with you the best graft for your knee.

  • Yes, after an extensive rehabilitation program, which begins two days after surgery with early strengthening and weight-bearing exercises. It's a critical part of recovery to fully participate in a guided rehabilitation program that incrementally increases strength and activity. Regaining control and strength in the knee is critical in preventing reinjuring the knee when returning to sports. Patients are advised to protect the graft from aggressive sports activities for six to eight months after reconstruction. No matter how quickly you recover from surgery, the graft is undergoing a remodeling process that weakens it. It gradually regains strength over six to eight months. Returning to sports prior to this time increases the risk of rupturing the graft.

  • Yes, both amateur and professional athletes have reinjured the reconstructed knee even after an extensive rehabilitation program. You’ll be advised to follow their rehabilitation program closely and not resume aggressive sports activities too soon. Your surgeon will answer specific questions about returning to active sports participation.

Selecting shoes for an active lifestyle

Selecting the appropriate pair of shoes for your activities is a vital part of injury prevention. Mark T. Reeves, DPM, has compiled a checklist of shoes appropriate for various activities.

Patient information and forms

Find a provider

Schedule a consultation with one of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health’s orthopedic and sports medicine specialists.