If you test the laws of physics and gravity as a professional athlete, a weekend warrior, or while playing amateur sports at school in Reading, PA, injuries are bound to happen. Although they may be minor, such as sprains, strains and bruises, you may want to seek treatment from a physician who specializes in sports medicine.

Sports Medicine Physician in Reading PADr. Stephen Soffer is a board certified orthopedic surgeon in Wyomissing who specializes in arthroscopy and the treatment of many sports-related injuries, as well as the open and arthroscopic treatment of knee, shoulder and elbow injuries. He also performs artificial joint replacement for arthritis of the knee, shoulder and hip.

The field of sports medicine concerns the treatment of injuries that occur during sports and other physical activity. It focuses on helping patients recover from injury and on preventing future injuries to different areas of the body, such as:

The Head – Injuries to the head are common for athletes, especially during high-contact sports such as soccer, football and hockey. Concussions may occur when the head is hit violently enough to shake the brain inside the skull, and may cause a person to briefly lose consciousness. This can signify a serious injury and requires immediate medical care.

The Shoulders – The shoulder joint is amazingly mobile thanks to the ligaments that connect bone to bone and the tendons that connect muscle to bone. But it is also prone to stress and injury. Rotator cuff injury and inflammation is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain. And shoulder dislocation, which occurs when the upper arm bone pops out of the cup-shaped socket that is part of the shoulder blade, can be a very painful and often incapacitating injury.

The Elbows – Especially if you are a golfer or tennis player, you may be familiar with inflammation and soreness on the inside or outside of your elbow which can be caused by a tear in the tendon that connects the muscle to the bone.

The Hips – Serious hip injuries, such as fractures and dislocation, require immediate medical care. But there are a variety of other injuries that can occur to hip muscles, ligaments, and tendons as a result of impact and/or repetitive use. It’s also possible to tear, fray or damage the acetabular labrum, the ring of cartilage around the hip socket. Sports injuries are a major cause of labral tears.

The Knees – The knee is the largest joint in the body. It is one of the most easily injured and one that often requires surgery. Although direct blows happen, the knee is more susceptible to twisting and stretching injuries that put it through more motion than it can tolerate. Many athletes suffer from damage to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or the pads of cartilage between the bones called menisci. Knees are also susceptible to inflammation caused by arthritis and bursitis.

If you have tendon, muscle or joint pain, an orthopedic doctor can play an important role in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation of your musculoskeletal conditions. Most orthopedic doctors use surgery as a last resort, and do everything that they can to delay it as long as possible in favor of less invasive treatments such as medication and physical therapy.

Players, coaches and team owners from National Leagues (NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS) as well as athletes in semi-pro, college and high school leagues, and senior living active lifestyles have come to rely on the experience of Dr. Soffer as a trusted advisor and provider when considering surgical procedures and care options.

For injuries and chronic conditions, talk to a sports medicine physician, such as Dr. Stephen Soffer who serves patients throughout the Reading, PA area and beyond, to enable you to make a complete recovery.


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