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Sports Medicine

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    Sports Medicine & Injury Care — Bethesda & Northern Virginia

    If you’re facing a sports-related injury, joint pain from activity, or want to optimize your performance and prevent future setbacks, OrthoBethesda’s Sports Medicine Team is here for you. Our fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons and sports-medicine physicians deliver expert care—from acute injury management to long-term joint health—so you can return to your sport, fitness routine or active lifestyle with confidence.

     

    What Is Sports Medicine Care?

    Sports medicine encompasses the treatment, rehabilitation and prevention of injuries to the musculoskeletal system—bones, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments—that occur in athletes and active individuals of all ages. Whether you’ve suffered a sudden injury (like an ACL tear) or are dealing with overuse pain (like tennis elbow or runner’s knee), our experts blend medical, surgical and therapeutic approaches to help you recover, safely progress, and perform at your best.

    Common Injuries & Conditions We Treat

    Our team frequently addresses injuries and conditions including:

    • ACL, MCL and other ligament tears of the knee
    • Meniscus injuries and cartilage damage
    • Rotator cuff tears, shoulder labral injuries, elbow tendonitis
    • Hip labral tears, femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)
    • Ankle sprains, Achilles tendon injuries, foot & ankle fractures
    • Overuse syndromes: runner’s knee, jumpers knee, tennis elbow, shoulder impingement
    • Sports-related fractures and bone injuries
    • Joint pain from early arthritis in active patients

    Our Sports Medicine Doctors

    Edward J. Bieber, MD

    Edward J. Bieber, MD

    Orthopedic Hand, Wrist, Elbow and Shoulder Surgeon

    Edward J. Bieber, MD
    Kurt C. Schluntz, MD

    Kurt C. Schluntz, MD

    Orthopedic Knee & Shoulder Surgeon

    Kurt C. Schluntz, MD
    Craig A. Miller, MD

    Craig A. Miller, MD

    Orthopedic Knee, Shoulder & Elbow Surgeon

    Craig A. Miller, MD

    Lonnie D. Davis, MD

    Orthopedic Shoulder, Knee, and Hip Surgeon

    Lonnie D. Davis

    Raymond Thal, MD

    Elbow, Knee Shoulder

    Raymond Thal, MD

    Rajeev Pandarinath, MD

    Hip, Knee, Shoulder

    Rajeev Pandarinath, MD

    Marc Gruner, DO

    Interventional Sports Physiatrist

    Marc Gruner, DO

    Our Comprehensive Sports Medicine Approach

    Injury Assessment & Diagnosis

    We provide same-day or rapid access for urgent sports injuries, with on-site imaging (X-ray, MRI) and advanced evaluation to determine the full extent of your condition—so you get clear answers fast.

    Non-Surgical Management & Performance

    Our sports-medicine physicians focus on conservative care when possible: activity modification, targeted injections, rehabilitation, movement correction and preventative strategies designed to reduce re-injury and keep you active for the long term.

    Minimally Invasive & Surgical Treatments

    When surgery is needed, our fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons specialize in arthroscopic and minimally invasive procedures for joints and soft-tissue injuries. We focus on faster recovery, fewer scars and safe returns to sport.

    Collaborative Rehabilitation & Return-to-Play

    Your treatment doesn’t stop when the surgery or initial care ends. Our in-office physical therapists work hand-in-hand with your surgeon, designing individualized rehab and return-to-sport programs—including strength, conditioning and injury-prevention plans.

    OrthoBethesda Sports Medicine for Today’s Athlete

    An ACL tear is one of the most common injuries we see in sports medicine. The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is one of the four main stabilizing ligaments of the knee. Ligaments are the soft tissues that connect our joints. If one or more of the ligaments around a joint is torn the joint may become unstable.

     

    How does the ACL tear?

    This injury most commonly occurs when someone either lands from a jump or pivots while running.  The gliding and rotation that occurs at the knee joint overloads the ACL and it snaps. Patients may sense an uncomfortable feeling in the knee when it occurs and feel or hear a pop.

    After you tear your ACL your tibia may slide forward abnormally. But you may also sense the joint sliding out of place when you step off of a curb or twist your knee. This makes ACL injuries very noticeable and symptomatic. Surprisingly, the initial injury might not cause much pain. But over the course of hours as the knee begins to swell and the pressure builds inside the knee the pain often increases.

     

    If you suspect you have a torn ACL

    If you are concerned that you have a potential ACL tear you should seek medical care, whether it be a doctor’s office, urgent care facility or emergency department. Typically, an x-ray of your knee will be obtained. You may be placed into a knee brace or immobilizer and given crutches. It is helpful to place ice or frozen peas on the knee for 20 minutes at a time and allow 40 minutes between sessions of icing. Never put the ice directly on the skin – always protect the skin with a thin towel or cloth. This will prevent burns. To help the swelling, you may elevate the affected knee. You should obtain an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon within the first few days of your injury.

    Whether or not you will need surgery will be determined by you and your surgeon.

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    Q. What counts as a “sports injury”?
    A. A sports injury is any condition caused or worsened by movement, stress or trauma related to physical activity—from acute trauma (e.g., joint dislocation) to overuse syndromes (e.g., tendonitis).

    Q. When should I see a sports medicine doctor instead of a general orthopedic doctor?
    A. See a sports-medicine specialist if you:

    • Have an injury related to an athletic/active event

    • Want to return to sport or performance level

    • Need a movement-based rehab strategy

    • Have recurring overuse pain despite rest

    Q. How long does recovery take after arthroscopic surgery for a sports injury?
    A. Recovery time depends on the injury and the sport. Many patients return to non-impact activity in weeks, and full sport participation may take 3-9 months. Our team provides personalized timelines based on your goals.

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    Contact OrthoBethesda Today!

    Whether you’ve received a referral from your primary care physician or would like to visit our premier team to discuss any orthopedic issues you may be experiencing, we invite you to contact us today. Patients in Bethesda, MD, Arlington, and Tysons, VA, and beyond can give us a call at (301) 530-1010.