Youth Sports
Care for school athletes, sideline injuries, parents who need answers and safe return-to-play decisions, including local Lake Havasu High School coverage.
ACLMeniscusLabrumAnkle sprains
Sports Medicine built around the Havasu lifestyle.
Patients rarely start with medical terminology. They start with a problem: my knee hurts after pickleball, my shoulder slipped on the lake, my athlete twisted something, or I want to keep hiking, golfing, riding and training.
Active Adults
For people who want to stay strong, independent and active with practical nonoperative and surgical options when needed.
Tennis elbowRotator cuffAchillesArthritis
Water Sports
Lake injuries often involve the shoulder, knee, hand, wrist and sometimes higher-energy trauma.
DislocationLabrumRotator cuffFractures
Desert Sports
Care for injuries from trail running, hiking, mountain biking, off-road riding and desert recreation.
ClavicleWristAnkleMeniscus
Common injuries and conditions treated.
Sports Medicine care includes diagnosis, nonoperative treatment, injections when appropriate and surgery for selected injuries.
The road back: diagnose, recover, return.
The best Sports Medicine care is not just about the procedure. It is about the full path back to sport, fitness, work and the activities that matter.
1. Diagnose the injury
Start with a careful history, exam and imaging review so the plan matches the actual problem.
2. Build the recovery plan
Physical therapy, bracing, medications, injections, orthobiologics or surgery are matched to the injury and goals.
3. Return with confidence
Return-to-activity decisions are based on healing, strength, motion, sport demands and risk of re-injury.
How treatment is usually approached.
The right treatment depends on the diagnosis, imaging, activity goals and how much the injury is limiting your life.
1
Clear diagnosis
History, examination and imaging review to identify the source of pain.
2
Nonoperative plan
Physical therapy, bracing, activity modification and topical or oral NSAIDs when appropriate.
3
Injections when helpful
Cortisone or orthobiologics such as PRP or BMAC may be considered for selected patients.
4
Surgery when needed
Arthroscopy or tendon repair may be recommended when an injury is unlikely to heal or fails conservative care.
Common Sports Medicine procedures.
Surgery is not the first answer for every injury, but it can be the right answer for selected patients.
Knee Arthroscopy
- Meniscus repair
- Partial meniscectomy
- Loose body removal
ACL Reconstruction
- Instability treatment
- Return-to-sport planning
- Rehabilitation coordination
Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Rotator cuff repair or debridement
- Labrum repair for instability
- Biceps tenotomy or tenodesis
- Subacromial decompression/acromioplasty
Elbow & Tendon Surgery
- Tennis elbow surgery
- Biceps tendon ruptures
- Selected tendon repairs
Surgical risks
All surgery has risk, including pain, bleeding, infection, damage to surrounding tissues, need for additional procedures, bone failure, implant failure, soft-tissue failure, blood clot, heart attack, stroke and death. These risks are low, but they are not zero.
Sports Medicine FAQ.
Common questions from athletes, active adults and parents.
Do I need surgery?
Not necessarily. Many sports injuries improve with therapy, bracing, medications, injections or orthobiologics. Surgery is considered when an injury is unlikely to heal, remains limiting despite appropriate care or requires repair for function.
Do I need an MRI?
Sometimes. X-rays, exam findings and your symptoms guide whether advanced imaging is needed. MRI can be helpful for suspected meniscus tears, ACL tears, rotator cuff tears, labral injuries and some occult fractures or stress injuries.
Can I play through my injury?
Some soreness can be monitored, but instability, swelling, weakness, loss of motion, deformity, neurologic symptoms or inability to bear weight should be evaluated. Playing through the wrong injury can make the problem worse.
What is the difference between a strain and a tear?
A strain usually refers to muscle or tendon injury. A tear means fibers have been disrupted. Tears can be partial or complete, and treatment depends on the location, severity and your goals.
Can PRP help my sports injury?
PRP may be considered for selected tendon, ligament, cartilage and joint conditions. It is not the right choice for every injury, and many insurance plans do not cover orthobiologic treatments. Learn more on the Orthobiologics page.
When can I return to sport?
Return-to-play depends on healing, pain control, strength, motion, balance, sport-specific function and the risk of re-injury. The timeline is individualized.
What injuries are common in pickleball?
Common problems include tennis elbow, shoulder pain, Achilles tendonitis, calf strains, meniscus flares, knee arthritis symptoms and falls that can cause wrist or shoulder injuries.
What injuries are common in watersports?
Wakeboarding, waterskiing and PWC injuries can involve shoulder dislocations, labral tears, rotator cuff injuries, AC separations, knee ligament injuries, hand injuries and fractures.
What injuries are common in UTV or desert sports?
Common injuries include clavicle fractures, shoulder separations, wrist fractures, ankle injuries, ACL tears, meniscus tears and higher-energy trauma after falls or crashes.
Ready to get moving again?
Start with a focused Sports Medicine evaluation and a plan matched to your sport, lifestyle and goals.