Sports Medicine Specialist

Tobin Bone and Joint Surgery

Joseph P. Tobin, MD, FAAOS

Orthopedic Surgeon located in Hilton Head, SC & Pooler, GA

Whether you play sports or take part in any form of physical activity, injuries are almost inevitable. If you’re out of the game with an injury, sports medicine expert Joseph Tobin, MD, of Tobin Bone and Joint Surgery, offers effective treatments to athletes of every age. At offices in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and Pooler, Georgia, Dr. Tobin diagnoses your injury and offers both conservative approaches and surgery where needed that get you back in the game. To benefit from his expertise in sports medicine, call your nearest Tobin Bone and Joint Surgery office or book an appointment online today.

Sports Medicine Q&A

What is sports medicine?

Sports medicine is a specialty within orthopedics that focuses on repairing musculoskeletal injuries and restoring optimal function. The aim is to get athletes and other active people back to their sports and physical pursuits as soon as possible.

Experts in sports medicine like Dr. Tobin also help prevent injuries, showing you how to train, the techniques to use, and the importance of having the correct footwear and equipment.

What conditions do sports medicine specialists treat?

At Tobin Bone and Joint Surgery, Dr. Tobin diagnoses and treats a comprehensive range of sports injuries, some common ones being:

Sprains and strains

Sprains are injuries to your ligaments, which connect the bones in your joints and keep them stable. Strains can affect muscles or tendons (tissues that attach muscles to bone). Injuries range from mild stretching to partial tears and complete ruptures. Common examples include anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in the knees and biceps tendon ruptures.

Fractures

Fractures are broken or cracked bones. Impact injuries and turning or twisting at speed can cause bones to fracture, causing severe pain. Some fractures are simple breaks where the bones stay in place. Others are complex injuries where the bone shatters or protrudes through your skin.

Dislocations

Dislocations occur when parts of a joint move out of position, like the ball of your shoulder joint coming out of the socket in your shoulder blade. They often cause soft tissue damage, too, like rotator cuff tears in the shoulder, and can cause joint instability.

Cartilage damage

Cartilage wedges like the meniscus in the knee, or rings like the labrum in your shoulder and hip, can tear under enough stress. The articular cartilage covering your bones inside the joints can also suffer damage.

Overuse injuries

Making the same movements repeatedly over long periods can cause irritation and inflammation in the tendons and bursae (small sacs of fluid that cushion your joints). Common examples include medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow), lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), Achilles tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, and bursitis.

What treatments does sports medicine utilize?

After assessing your injury and determining the extent of the damage, Dr. Tobin might recommend treatments such as:

Rest and activity modification
Physical therapy
A brace, sling, or splint
Anti-inflammatory medications
Strengthening and stretching exercises
Tuli’s heel cups
Thermal therapy
Spinal traction
Steroid injections

Dr. Tobin can often restore you to health and full function without the need for surgery. However, if surgery is necessary, he performs a range of advanced procedures such as rotator cuff, meniscus, and labrum repairs, tendon and ligament reconstruction, spine surgery, and joint replacement.

Dr. Tobin uses arthroscopic techniques to perform many procedures, a minimally invasive approach that causes less post-surgical pain and promotes faster recovery.

For effective sports medicine treatments, call Tobin Bone and Joint Surgery or book an appointment online today.

What we offer