Basketball injuries fall under two distinct categories. Traumatic, like an ACL tear and cumulative-traumatic like a hamstring or achilles pull/strain. While traumatic basketball injuries will require a lengthy rest period cumulative traumatic basketball injuries can often be treated so that the athlete can still play while the injury heals.
Examples of traumatic basketball injuries that may require a lengthy rest period are ACL and MCL tears, meniscus tears, hamstring and achilles tears and extremity dislocations and seperations. These types of injuries are too severe to play with and may require extended rest periods, constant therapy or even casts and surgery. The two key words are, "May Require". Tears and sprains come in many varieties. They are typically diagnosed on a sliding scale of 1-4. A grade 1 or 2 tear or sprain can often be repaired without casts or surgery while a grade 3 or 4 almost certainly will. By performing a thorough orthopedic and neurological examination Dr. Runco can tell you accurately what grade tear or sprain you have and then give you the best possible course of action.
Examples of cumulative-traumatic basketball injuries are hamstring and achilles pulls, plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, ankle sprains, shin splints, jumper's knee, hip and back pain ,wrist sprains, elbow pain and rotator cuff strains. These injuries are simple to diagnose and treat usually while the athlete continues to train and play. The difference between cumulative-traumatic basketball injuries and traumatic basketball injuries is the severity of the damage to the ligamant, cartilage, tendon or muscle. Cumulative-traumatic basketball injuries are mostly in the grade 1- grade 2 diagnostic range. What this means is that the tissue is not damaged enough to require surgery and can be treated effectively with conservative methods. After providing a accurate diagnosis Dr. Runco will be able to give the athlete multiple options for their course of treatment. Options usually include a home program that is taught to the athlete. The home program involves stretching and strengthening, self massage using either a "Stick" or "Foam Roller", a portable electrical muscle stimulator and posibbly a compression brace or other support. Other options are in-house therapy. Therapy treatments at Dr. Runco's office typically include theraputic ultrasound, electrical stimulation, myofascial release which is similar to ART but is not associated with ART nor the doctor who coined the phrase and if necessary manipulation to the bones, muscles and joints around the injuried region. Kinseiotape and Rocktape are often employed to provide support and stability to the area before the athlete leaves.
"I played football for Cornell University. I had pain below my kneecap for years and had seen top sports doctors for it. I had been to PT, rested, received shots and was ready to have it scoped. When I came to see Dr. Runco he asked me to jump up and down on the bed knee. I told him I couldn't, that it would hurt and pointed to my patella tendon. He said I had "Jumper's Knee" and dissapeared out the door. Before I knew it he returned and strapped a circular brace around my knee just under my kneecap and said "jump now". I jumped and there was virtually no pain. Unfreakin believable. I had htis pain all these years and all I needed was this stupid strap! He recommended a course of therapy to eliminate the scar tissue, which it did. Now I do not need the strap and have no knee pain. WOW!"
