Bryn Mawr's Team Puts You Back in the Game
Youth athletes. College players. Energetic exercisers. Spirited seniors. Whether you're a "weekend warrior" or a fitness fanatic, the more active you are in sports and exercise, the greater the possibility of getting injured.
From the delicate bones in your hands to the tendons in your feet—and all the ligaments, cartilage, muscles and joints in between—the Orthopedic Center at Bryn Mawr Hospital in the Philadelphia suburbs can get you back on track should an injury put you on the sidelines.
"We take care of children in youth leagues, college athletes, and retirees who play golf and tennis," says William D. Emper, M.D., orthopedic surgeon. "From the highly competitive to those who just want to stay active, we treat a whole range of athletes."
If you are injured, the important first step is to seek medical attention from a physician or trainer. Many problems can be resolved with nonoperative treatments, such as medications, splinting, taping and physical therapy. Should you need surgery, however, Bryn Mawr's team of orthopedists are specialists in getting athletes back to active.
Cartilage Restoration
Knee injuries are common among amateur and professional athletes alike. Cartilage restoration, one of the most significant advances in orthopedic surgery since joint replacement, offers an alternative to simply living with knee pain.
This treatment utilizes techniques to preserve, repair and replace damaged knee cartilage. "The significant advantage to these new techniques is that natural biological methods are used instead of replacing the damaged knee cartilage with metal and plastic," says Kevin B. Freedman, M.D., medical director of the Bryn Mawr Hospital Cartilage Restoration Program.
Active people under age 50 who have cartilage injuries may be good candidates for cartilage restoration. Treatment depends on the extent of the damage, the patient's age and his or her level of activity.
"For young and active patients," Freedman says, "cartilage restoration is a promising treatment that can halt further degeneration and hopefully eliminate the need for additional surgery or knee replacement in the future."
What Our Patients Say
ACL Reconstruction: A Personal Story
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most common knee ligaments to be injured in sports. The ACL is often stretched and/or torn during a sudden twisting motion (when the feet stay planted one way, but the knees turn the other way). Skiing, basketball, and football are sports that have a higher risk of ACL injuries.
Soccer player Susan Cirilli of Wallingford, Pa., knows about ACL injuries. "ACL injuries are pretty common among soccer players. It's certainly not the end of the world, but when it's your senior year in high school and you're talking with college coaches, it feels like it!"
Cirilli sought help for her injury from the Orthopedic Center at Bryn Mawr Hospital. "After the surgery, the physical therapist showed me exercises that day. From the very beginning, they really focused on getting me better again. I wanted to get back to playing at the same level again, and I'm almost there."
Cirilli now attends the University of Vermont, where she plays for the school's soccer team.
Learn more about sports medicine from our Health Library!
