Sports Medicine

Almost everyone who considers themselves an athlete or regularly plays sports will experience some level of sports-related or exercise-induced pain, such as from a strain or sprain. Usually, these issues go away on their own. However, sometimes sports-related injuries don’t improve without treatment or are serious enough to require sports medicine care from a skilled doctor.

When this happens, a medical doctor working within the field of orthopedics and specializing in sports medicine, also known as a sports medicine physician, can help. This type of physician or surgeon is a medical expert who provides nonsurgical and surgical treatments for sports-related injuries and conditions. Our sports medicine experts at Orthopedic Associates in St. Louis, Dr. James Burke, Dr. Richard Hulsey, Dr. Ryan Pitts, and Dr. Frank Thomas, have a wide range of expertise and experience in sports-related ailments and have additional education and training in specific areas of the body and treatment techniques. Additionally, all of our sports medicine surgeons are board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery for orthopedic surgery, which is an additional mark of distinction that extends beyond minimum standards and competency for their specialty, and Dr. Pitts is one of few orthopedic surgeons in St. Louis to also carry a subspecialty certificate in orthopedic sports medicine.

Dr. Pitts is one of few orthopedic surgeons in St. Louis to also carry a subspecialty certificate in orthopedic sports medicine. He also takes pride in giving back to the community by serving as a team physician for Columbia High School and the Gateway Grizzlies professional baseball team in the Frontier League.

At Orthopedic Associates, we're dedicated to providing you with superior access to exceptional sports medicine care. Our sports medicine physicians understand the frustrations and challenges many athletes and weekend warriors face with an injury or condition, which is why they work diligently to determine the best course of treatment for your injury and condition to return you quickly and safely to your active lifestyle.

SIGNS YOU HAVE SUFFERED A SPORTS INJURY

Your specific type of pain and other symptoms offer insights into your sports medicine condition, its severity, and how to treat it. If you are experiencing any of the following, you may need to consult with a sports medicine expert:

Exercise-induced hip pain after high-intensity exercise
Knee pain after playing sports
Pain when raising or lowering your arm
Pain when trying to twist or turn your knee
Popping sensation in the knee
Shoulder pain
Swollen ankle or elbow

If any of the issues above sound familiar to you, your orthopedic sports medicine specialist may diagnose you with one of these sports medicine conditions or injuries:

ACL injury
Bursitis
Concussion
Fracture
Labral tear
Ligament injury
Meniscus tear
Rotator cuff tear
Sprain
Tendonitis
Tennis elbow

BEAR^® Implant Procedure

The minimally invasive BEAR Implant is a leading-edge procedure that helps your ACL heal itself.

Learn More About the BEAR Implant

SUPERIOR ACCESS TO EXCEPTIONAL SPORTS MEDICINE CARE

At Orthopedic Associates, our team of board-certified specialists and staff strive for excellence in orthopedic medicine and podiatry, offering exceptional knowledge and skill in every patient encounter. When diagnosing injuries and conditions, our doctors consider all factors and options before offering a care recommendation and are committed to attempting nonsurgical treatment options first before recommending surgery. Our sports medicine physicians, Dr. James Burke, Dr. Richard Hulsey, Dr. Ryan Pitts, and Dr. Frank Thomas, will work with you to develop a custom treatment plan that specifically meets your individual needs and concerns.

However, for advanced conditions or serious injuries, minimally invasive surgery may be the best treatment choice. If this is true for you, you can move forward in confidence knowing our dedicated surgeons are board-certified, have additional training, and will perform the procedure with care, skill, and precision.

All along the way—from diagnosis to treatment and surgery as well as postoperative recovery—we are here for you. Our additional services, including digital X-ray, MRI, durable medical equipment (DME), physical therapy, and our surgery center, are all conveniently accessible to you.

We also have the following locations available to you in St. Louis as well as throughout Missouri and Illinois:

To schedule an appointment with one of our sports medicine experts, please call (314) 569-0616 or use the button below.

Request an Appointment